Literature of antiquity and the Middle Ages - Summary - 2019

Apollo and muses
Folk

In the spring and summer on the slopes of the wooded Helicon (2), where the sacred waters of the source of Gippocrena (3) and the high Parnassus (4) mysteriously squeal in the clear waters of the Castilian Spring (5), Apollo (1) leads a round dance with nine muses. Young, beautiful muses, daughters of Zeus and Memosina (6), are the constant companions of Apollo. He leads the choir of muses and accompanies their singing with their golden kifar game (7). The Apollo goes majestically ahead of the choir of muses crowned with a laurel wreath followed by all nine muses: Calliopa is a muse of epic (8) poetry, Euterpa - a lyric song (9), Erato - a muse of love songs, Melpomene - a muse of tragedy (10) - muse comedy, Terpsichore - music of dances, Klio-muse of history, Urania -muse of astronomy and Polygimnia - muse of sacred hymns (11). Their choir rattles solemnly, and the whole nature, as enchanted, listens to their divine singing.

When Apollo accompanied by muses appears in the sleep of the gods on the light Olympus, and the sounds of his kifara and the singing of the music are heard, then everything is stopped at Olympus. Forgets Ares (12) about the noise of bloody battles, lightning does not shine in the hands of the tediatrist Zeus, the gods forget the discord, peace and silence reign on Olympus. Even the eagle of Zeus lowers his mighty wings and closes his sharp eyes, his terrible whimble can not be heard, he quietly drowses on the baton of Zeus. In full silence, the souls of the kyphars of Apollo sound solemnly. When Apollo is striking fun golden strings of kifar, then a bright, radiant round dance moves in the hall of the gods. Muses, Hari, ever-young Aphrodite (13), Ares with Hermes (14) - all participate in a fun round dance, and in front of them there comes a majestic maiden, the sister of Apollo, the beautiful Artemis (15). Filled with streams of golden light, the young gods are dancing to the sounds of the kithara of Apollo.

(1) Apollo is one of the most ancient gods in Greece, the patron of art, poetry and music. Therefore, in Moscow, on the building of the Great Academic Theater there is a statue of Apollo with a lyre in his hand, riding in a chariot.

(2) Helikon is a mountain in central Greece, on which, according to the Greeks, lived muses. They were sometimes called "the queen of Helikon".

(3) Hypocrene - a key (spring) on the top of the Helikon mountain ridge. According to the legend, a key came from the knife of a Pegasus winged horse. In the figurative sense, "Saddle Pegasus" - to become a poet.

(4) Parnas - in the myths - the habitat of Apollo and muses. In a figurative sense, Parnas is a community of poets.

(5) The Kastal Spring (the key) is a source on Mount Parnas. In the modern language, the Kastal Key means a source of inspiration.

(6) Memosina (Mnemozina) - the goddess of memory.

(7) Kifar is a string instrument similar to a lyre.

(8) Epic - narrative.

(9) Lyrics - one of three types of literature (epic, lyric, drama), poems, songs.

(10) Tragedy is a dramatic work, often ending with the death of the protagonist.

(11) The anthem is a solemn song.

(12) Ares (Araj) is the god of war.

(13) Aphrodite - the goddess of beauty and love.

(14) Hermes is god, the messenger of the gods, the patron of the trade.

(15) Artemis is a hunter goddess.