The Muses are the nine Greek goddesses of inspiration for literature, science, and the arts, daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, including Calliope (epic poetry), Clio (history), Erato (lyric poetry), Euterpe (music/flute), Melpomene (tragedy), Polyhymnia (sacred hymns), Terpsichore (dance), Thalia (comedy), and Urania (astronomy).