Muzy i politeizm grecki

Abstrakt

This article analyses the role of the Muses in the Greek polytheistic system – focusing attention on lesser-known aspects, e.g. the cult of the Muses, their functions, as well as their relationships with other gods. The latter aspect has hitherto been neglected in 
the assessment of the specificity of this group deity, as the focus has been almost entirely on the relationship of the Muses with Apollo. The conclusions of the analysis indicate that the Muses played an important role in Greek religiosity and that their roles and functions depended on the cultic configuration, changes in ancient culture and local specificities. The new approach to Greek polytheism allows us to propose a broader view of the areas of human activity associated with the Muses in antiquity and to describe them as a so-called ‘network of powers’.