Muses, Mosaic and Music.

Did you know that the two words Mosaic and Music have a similar ancient Greek root "μουσ" (mous) ?

Both words are relatives to the Muses, goddesses of the arts. Themselves a favourite theme of classical Roman mosaicists !

The nine Muses mosaic of Kos (Rhodes Island)

"Music" comes from the ancient Greek “μουσικός” (Mousikos)

"Mosaic" was formed from the ancient Greek "μουσεῖον" (Mouseîon)

This video is an accelerated take of my building the Mugen mosaic, a portrait of my late Border Collie Mugen who died 3 years ago, realized in Opus Pixellatum. The music is from Beethoven, and it is interpreted by my 2 nieces Charlotte and Luana. So here, you have the best of the 2 worlds of music and mosaic, a family business ! 

If you would like me to build a model of a mosaic portrait of your pet please contact me at frederic.lecut@mosaicblues.com

I am a modern mosaic artist with a deep admiration for ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine Arts.

You can see my own mosaics on my site at mosaicblues.  

If you are interested by my work or would like to drop me a line please contact me by email at frederic.lecut@mosaicblues.com 
or by phone at (334) 798 1639. 

You can also 

SUBSCRIBE to my

NEWSLETTER

Mosaic Muses

The Muses (Ancient Greek: Μοῦσαι Mousai; perhaps from the Proto-Indo-European root *men- "think") in Greek mythology are the goddesses of the inspiration of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the poetry, song-lyrics, and myths that were related orally for centuries in these ancient cultures. They were later adopted by the Romans as a part of their pantheon.

The Muses, the personification of knowledge and the arts, especially literature, dance and music, are the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (memory personified). Hesiod's account and description of the Muses was the one generally followed by the writers of antiquity. 

It was not until Roman times that the following functions were assigned to them, and even then there was some variation in both their names and their attributes: Calliope (epic poetry), Clio (history), Euterpe (flutes and lyric poetry), Thalia (comedy and pastoral poetry), Melpomene (tragedy), Terpsichore (dance), Erato (love poetry), Polyhymnia (sacred poetry), Urania (astronomy).

Muse	Domain	Emblem
Calliope	Epic Poetry	Writing tablet, Stylus, Lyre
Clio	History	Scrolls, Books, Cornet, Laurel wreath
Euterpe	Music, Song, Ellegiac Poetry	Aulos (an ancient Greek musical instrument like  a flute), panpipes, laurel wreath.
Aerato	Lyric Poetry	Cithara (an ancient Greek musical instrument  in the lyre family)
Melpomene	Tragedy	Tragic mask, Sword (or any kind of blade), Club, Kothornos  (boots)
Polyhymnia	Hymns	Veil, Grapes (referring to her as an agricultural  goddess)
Terpsichore	Dance	Lyre, Plectrum
Thalia	Comedy	Comic mask, Shepherd's crook (the vaudeville  act of pulling someone off the stage with a  hook is a reference to Thalia's crook),  Ivy wreath
Urania	Astronomy	Globe and compass

It is interesting to note that both words "Muse" and "Mosaic" share the same etymology. Medieval Latin "musaicum" literally meant "of the muses" and was used to designate what we later called "mosaic".

And so we know of many mosaics describing them 9 muses. 

A gorgeous Set was discovered in Zeugma, Turkey in 2014.

And an other amazing set in the Island of Rhodes.

And an amazing one was unearthed much more to the North in the Vilage of Viichter close to Luxembourg. 

In a next Post, I'll show you some individual portraits of our 9 Μοῦσαι.

I am a modern mosaic artist with a deep admiration for ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine Arts. You can see some of my own mosaics on my site mosaicblues.

 

If you are interested by my work

or if you would like to drop me a line, please 

contact me by email at frederic.lecut@gmail.com  

or by phone at (334) 798 1639. 

 

 

You can also

SUBSCRIBE to my

NEWSLETTER

to receive regular updates on my present

Yezidi Eyes Mosaic Project, 

and my work in general.

 

 

The Mosaics of the Bardo Museum

I have been several times to Tunisia and was always well received by friendly people. 

Yesterday, this country was hit by ignorant murderers sponsored by haters of individual freedom seeking to bring the world back into the dark ages and my heart bleeds with Tunisia, like it did with France 2 month ago.

The Pakistani talibans who shot Malala - a defensor of education for young women - and the terrorists who attacked the Bardo National Museum - a place to preserve and promote a culture dating back way before the Prophet they claim and betray was born - share a common hatred of education, for it is the only safe way to make sure average citizens do not get abused by powerful commercial, political or religious groups.

Today I would simply like to share with you a few of the wonderful mosaics - attesting of the magnificent Culture of ancient Tunisia - displayed at this Bardo Museum.

Ulysses and the Sirens.

Floor Mosaic

Virgil and his muses Clio and Melpomene.

A lion and four millet stems

I am a modern mosaic artist. I admire ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine Arts and my own mosaics are often inspired by the work of ancient masters. You can visit my site at mosaicblues.  If you are interested by my works, or would like to drop me a line please contact me by email at frederic.lecut@gmail.com or by phone at (334) 798 1639.

You may also want to

SUBSCRIBE to my

NEWSLETTER

 

 

Surrounding the blood of the 

victims the crowd lays down 

flowers and candles 

...