We Are Mused
Two months ago, we did reindeers. This time round, going up a brow or two, we turn our focus to another notable nine – the Muses. You know these inspiring sisters by heart, I’m sure:
Calliope, the Muse of epic poetry
Clio, history
Erato, lyric poetry (as opposed to net porn)
Euterpe, music
Melpomene, tragedy
Polyhymnia, choral poetry
Terpsichore, dance
Thalia, comedy
Urania, astronomy
Your challenge is to compose a neat cryptic clue for any sister who tickles your fancy. For TERPSICHORE, say, you may suggest:
Priest buggered task (mix of PRIEST + CHORE)
Or for CLIO:
C-crude comeback (C + OIL reversed)
As with my two stabs, there’s no need to provide a definition. Just nominate the Muse you choose, and lay the clue upon us. The nine best nine – one for each sister – will make the Master List on Saturday. The winner is the stormer to craft the most top clues.
Feel free to revisit any one Muse on numerous occasions, improving your draft, or taking a new approach. If ERATO has earned several gems, then test your nerve with POLYHYMNIA, or vice versa, wherever the Muse leads you. So invoke the family’s second cousin – Cryptica – and get composing.
March 2nd, 2010 at 12:33 pm
One near anagram caught my eye immediately…
TERPSICHORE: Prehistoric dance, with one step out, to end in failure.
March 2nd, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Let’s get things going with:
TERPSICHORE: Mr X is caught between the grog, it’s rumoured, and work.
March 2nd, 2010 at 12:43 pm
I think this one reads better with the definition ( I guess you could replace the “love poetry” with “…”):
ERATO: Love poetry or eat rubbish
March 2nd, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Mr X, how about “Love poetry or eat #@%#” ?
March 2nd, 2010 at 12:57 pm
The Kink’s Lola – epic babe!
March 2nd, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Another one that I think works better with the sister’s field of expertise:
EUTERPE: Music to the ears, you peter out.
March 2nd, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Howl at the moon, sport
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:01 pm
Erato: Address bipolar temper?
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:02 pm
MELPOMENE: Gibson poem about direction.
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:03 pm
CLIO: Recession in Rome
THALIA: Stop?!? It’s back to front, I answer
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:03 pm
THALIA: Comedy with a liar’s heart.
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Some fine early candidates. Let’s make it easier on ourselves, if we can, with two simple rules:
+ no need for definition [or the Muse's portfolio, unless it forms part of the wordplay]
+ announce the Muse you choose, as most of you have done. [Just saves any misreading.]
Something like so -
EUTERPE: Neuter pet slice
Ouch. Good musing.
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Start out simply:
CLIO: Coil uncoiled.
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Urania: Who had grace? Prince hears response.
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:15 pm
Revision for Calliope:
Kinks’ Lola – epic babe!
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:21 pm
CLIOL: Workaholic without a husband.
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:22 pm
… and an extraneous L!
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:22 pm
Can we include a literal definition to improve surface reading? eg:
CLIO: Amnesiac lion heartened by history
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:30 pm
CALLIOPE: Howl at the moon, sport
THALIA: Maria embraces computer
ERATO: Antikythera tossed from core study
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:31 pm
Clio: Dame loses way in recital
March 2nd, 2010 at 2:13 pm
CALLIOPE: Carbon fossil fuel left back in Bubbles, for example.
March 2nd, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Terpsichore: Can chorister take half-step for dance legend?
March 2nd, 2010 at 2:21 pm
CLIO: Socket shorted nymph
URANIA: Upper Anatolia ends
March 2nd, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Thalia: She used to hail a t-tragedy? Quite the reverse!
March 2nd, 2010 at 2:39 pm
POLYHYMNIA: Mobs pity holy man losing shirt
She is a toughie, ye olde Muse of choral poetry, no doubt. But some gen-u-ine gems already in the showcase. Some bemusing ones too. All in all, some fine crafting – and it’s only Tuesday.
March 2nd, 2010 at 2:40 pm
MELPOMENE: I mop up in Evans East
March 2nd, 2010 at 2:44 pm
TERPSICHORE: Christ, opener smashes loose, no?
March 2nd, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Euterpe: That’s odd. Athenry usurped central Europe radio format
March 2nd, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Revision
Euterpe: That’s odd. Athenry usurped central Europe
March 2nd, 2010 at 2:50 pm
POLYHYMNIA: Land of biblical song
March 2nd, 2010 at 2:51 pm
POLYHYMNIA: Begin our last years amazing Grace in Miranda
March 2nd, 2010 at 3:30 pm
POLYHYMNIA: Handy Olympian in curling
March 2nd, 2010 at 3:34 pm
POLYHYMNIA: Almost daily nympho depravity
March 2nd, 2010 at 3:52 pm
DG wins with his POLYHYMNIA!
March 2nd, 2010 at 4:03 pm
And finally, my set is complete:
URANIA: Turn Delhi princess at midday.
March 2nd, 2010 at 4:14 pm
And if we want a clue for the theme:
MUSE: Think we’re in yours truly
or
MUSES: Sounds like you’re in an awful mess, arty sisters
March 2nd, 2010 at 4:35 pm
Melpomene: Writer of tragic situations for humanity went after essential dilemma was over?!
March 2nd, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Muse: Source of enlightenment energy losing crystal aura
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Clio: Muscles lose weekly definition for X?
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:30 pm
Clio: Muscles lost this challenge to X
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:35 pm
Melpomene: I record the writing on the wall telegraphically.
March 2nd, 2010 at 11:34 pm
Calliope: King hit with other hand twice and open cut
Keep oil laced with retro essence
Erato: Sever atomic particle
Show tax collector she inspires romantic offerings
Abridge period play
Clio: Part over oilcloth
Ring after half past
Strike back slightly at the end
If Lila hangs with this company she’s history!
Melpomene: Thespian (American/Australian/Brit) gets plenty of direction
Brooks River was where I was born
“Scary” beat poem that I’d say any writer of tragedies…
…may phonily sing the low praises of (Polyhymnia)
March 4th, 2010 at 8:45 am
Another overall theme clue:
THE MUSES: Those applications are sources of inspiration
or, if this was going to be used in an “all across clues share a common theme” crossword, the following self-referntial &lit :
THE MUSES: In this crossword, we’ve added to car brands, Japanese words, cricket terms etc.
March 4th, 2010 at 11:58 am
Any anthem uses these?!
March 4th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Forty-plus suggestions, the meta-clue included. (Welcome to my drawing board….)
Even if we don’t storm the odd redraft by end of Friday, or transfuse new cryptic blood, it won’t be simple to sift for the finest sisters.
Some great ideas and original tangents. Thanks for the deluge.
March 4th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
The Muses: How I want to “exploit Ancient Greek faculty”?
March 4th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
This Greek sorority uses them in reverse!
March 4th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Minor possible modifications to a couple of mine
If fields of expertise are forbidden, then EUTERPE could become:
It’s whispered you peter out
On the other hand, if they’re allowed URANIA could become:
Stars turn Delhi princess at midday.
March 4th, 2010 at 9:11 pm
Clio: The hundred and fifty it’s said I owe her is “history”
If Lil loses her head over in this company she’s history!
History: Page 1510?
Melpomene: Melbourne replaces smelly old ‘apple’ with apple.
Euterpe: U/T Spooner
Everyone understands the enormous respect politicians earn, President.
…. and she would hang around Latin Soho without you? (Terpsichore)
Choir peters out to dance inspiration.
More filthy about loud band, Interpol, headlining dance.
Thalia: Asian storyteller lacks basic comedic potential
Rob, South Australian brontosaurus exterminator, has warped sense of humour.
Urania: Cure bank bias in Sky Channel
Without hesitation outback treasure should be found by a diviner?
March 4th, 2010 at 9:14 pm
CALLIOPE: Long story contains nothing, conversely, contains everything
March 5th, 2010 at 2:03 am
MELPOMENE: Confusion contains foreboding as pisshead replaces an electron
CALLIOPE: Long story is about nothing, conversely, about everything
March 5th, 2010 at 8:59 am
EUTERPE: We hear Ian’s chasing European market
ERATO: Hold forth in some confusion
THALIA: Greek mariner sees me instead of donkey
March 5th, 2010 at 11:05 am
Sorry DG, I missed your first Erato! I knew it was too neat an anagram to have gone unnoticed.
CALLIOPE: Wilson upends booty, gyrating anticlockwise
March 5th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Anagram?
Euterpe: Upton Spooner’s….
… ‘anging around Latin Soho residence – undercover! (Terpsichore)
March 5th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Urania: Cure bank bias in Sky Channel?
March 5th, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Anagram: Erato -> orate.
A trio of dodgy Clios:
Deprograms frozen treat
Diminutive queen chucks drugs, embraces yours truly
Just above the cut
March 5th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
Just came across this post, but I couldn’t resist quickly trying these words. Haven’t had time to read the rest, so hopefully I haven’t stolen anyone’s ideas upthread.
CALLIOPE: Ring moon to phone home.
CLIO: Romans decreasing to zero?
ERATO: Weightless orbit?
EUTERPE: How to stop your dog or cat breeding endlessly?
MELPOMENE: I took Cockney’s advice with a warning.
POLYHYMNIA: Holy crap! Mandy is rolling in terrible pain.
TERPSICHORE: Called booze a heavenly liquid by the end.
THALIA: Particular perjurer pruned?
URANIA: Return the best score in a game.
March 5th, 2010 at 10:30 pm
My attempt at an &lit:
TERPSICHORE: Hey, her sacred portfolio’s dancing, but not foolhardy or weak-headed!
March 5th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
Whoops, that should be:
TERPSICHORE: Why, her sacred portfolio’s dancing, but not foolhardy or weak-headed!
March 5th, 2010 at 10:37 pm
CLIO: Oh, I see. In the canal, put a litre in, and then turn around.
March 6th, 2010 at 10:38 am
I LOVE SG’s idea of diminishing Roman numerals. Merging that with my Clio being history’s page we could get something anthem-like like:
In history’s page, let every stage subtract the Romans’ fare?
March 6th, 2010 at 10:58 am
Love it DG, blending Rome with Greece with oy-oy-oy. I’m now heading for the porch with the week’s posts, trying to work out who out-mused whom. Wish me luck. This won’t be easy.
March 6th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
(Sorry, the anthem’s in my head(line) now….)
‘Of fruity, rich and rare’ – poets dismiss original Aussie rhyme
March 6th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
= terpsichore