The Names of the Muses

Abstract

The chapter explores Hesiod’s presentation and etymology of the Muses’ names in the proem of the Theogony. The catalogue of the Muses’ names at vv. 77–9 is prepared by the preceding narrative that repeats words and word-parts cognate with these names. This implicit etymological network has a bearing on questions of poetic authority, especially since it allows Hesiod to contrast his account of the Muses’ number and names from other traditional versions reflected in textual and artistic sources. Finally, the chapter considers the implicit etymological explanation of the narrator’s name Ἡσίοδος‎ in the Theogony proem, through which he conveys the homology of his and the Muses’ task and exerts influence on the contents and organization of the Muses’ song.