Muses "music", and "musing upon". In current literature, the influential role that the Muse plays has been extended to the political sphere. In "Down to Earth", the Muses, espcially Terpsichore (Rita Hayworth), are offended by a vulgar Broadway musical called "Hot Muses", in which they are portrayed as besotted by two American flyers who crash-land on Parnassus. Terpsichore masquerades as a mortal to get the show "improved". All nine Muses appear in the 1980 film "Xanadu", with actress Olivia Newton-John as Terpsichore. Many of the Greek gods, including five of the Muses (Thalia, Clio, Calliope, Melpomene, and Terpsichore) appear in the
Valley of the Muses Valley of the Muses The Valley of the Muses was the site of an ancient Greek sanctuary to the Muses and the "Mouseia" festivals held in their honor. It is an open-air historical site open permanently to the public. It is located at Thespies on the eastern slopes of Mount Helicon in Boeotia, Greece. The recorded history of the valley began in the 6th century BC. Its greatest period started in the 3rd century BC with the establishment of the "Mouseia" festivals (Grk "Μουσεῖα"), organised every fifth year by the Thespians. Poets and musicians from all over Greece participated in