Final answer:
The Muses are nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne in ancient Greek mythology, each of whom presides over a specific realm of the arts. Their names and fields range from epic poetry to astronomy. The distinction between fine and applied arts emerged centuries later during the Renaissance.
Step-by-step explanation:
In ancient Greek mythology, there are nine Muses who each oversee a different field of human creation, focusing on the arts rather than manual labor or applied arts. The Muses are considered divine inspirations behind poetry and music, which were highly esteemed in Greek culture. They were born as the daughters of Zeus, the king of the gods, and Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory.
The names of the nine Muses and their respective fields are:
- Calliope (epic poetry)
- Clio (history)
- Erato (love poetry)
- Euterpe (music)
- Melpomene (tragedy)
- Polyhymnia (hymns)
- Terpsichore (dance)
- Thalia (comedy)
- Urania (astronomy)
The distinction between fine arts and applied arts developed much later, with 'major' and 'minor' arts emerging in the 1400s and the establishment of formal academies in the 16th century solidifying the conceptual gap between them.