the muse
As a poet, that was his way of honoring the goddess who he thought was helping him compose his epic. In this case it would have been Calliope.
Sing in me, Muse
In the opening, Homer only invokes the "goddess" or "muse", but not by name. Probably because any contemporary of Homer would have taken for granted that the goddess or Muse in question would have been Calliope, the Muse of Epic Poetry.
The muse was invoked by a prayer. Invoking the muse was a common literary convention in Greek epic poems. The narrator would invoke the muse to elicit her assistance in the telling of the story. The goddesses were known to possess knowledge so would be able to guide him to tell the story in the best way.
Homer, as the author of The Iliad, established many of the epic conventions found in the poem, such as the invocation of the Muse, the use of epithets, and the inclusion of epic similes. His work set the standard for later epic poetry in ancient Greece.
Homer opens the Odyssey with an invocation to the Muse to inspire and guide him in telling the story of Odysseus' journey. This sets the tone for the epic and emphasizes the importance of storytelling and divine inspiration in the narrative. By invoking the Muse, Homer establishes the epic as a work of poetry that draws on divine inspiration and sets the stage for the epic tale that follows.
Often called an "invocation" or "an appeal to a muse"
In "Paradise Lost," John Milton invokes the muse a total of three times. The most notable invocation occurs at the beginning of Book I, where he calls upon the "Heav'nly Muse" to inspire him in his epic endeavor. This appeal highlights the poem's grand themes and Milton's desire for divine guidance as he explores profound theological and philosophical concepts.
Homer invokes the Muse at the beginning of his epics to seek divine inspiration and guidance in recounting the tale. This act acknowledges the Muse's role as a source of creativity and wisdom, emphasizing the importance of storytelling in ancient Greek culture. By asking for help, Homer also establishes the narrative's significance and his own humility as a storyteller, recognizing that the story is greater than himself. This invocation sets the tone for the epic and connects the narrative to the broader tradition of oral storytelling.
No, the muse is a symbol of the inspiration of the poet.
Calliope was the muse of epic poetry.
Calliope was the Muse of epic poetry.