Muses's Clique: Band, Chorus, and Dance Club
These kids are all about music and dancing. They're either playing instruments in the parking lot after school, singing loudly in the hallway between classes, or breaking it down in the lunchroom. They've got a need to express themselves, and nothing makes them happier than when everyone joins in. Come on, Shmoopers—join in!
Sirens
The Sirens are definitely the bad-girls of this popular clique. Most of the other members are all about using music to inspire joy and inspiration in those around them. The Sirens, on the other hand, like to use music to cause death and destruction by luring sailors to their deaths on jagged rocks. Hmmm, not as awesome.
Orpheus
This Greek hero was the greatest musician of them all, and was said to be the son of the Muse, Calliope. He basically invented the job of rock star. Among other things, he's famous for saving his fellow Argonauts from the Sirens' song by drowning out their voices with a song of his own.
Linus
Orpheus' brother was a musician, too. Actually, he was said to have been one of Orpheus's first music teachers. Well done, big bro. Linus was also the musical tutor of young Heracles, but that ended up being the job that killed him. Unfortunately for Linus, Heracles had an awful temper even when he was a kid: he cracked him on the head with Linus' own lyre after Linus corrected him. Ouch.
Apollo
Apollo was the god of music itself and was said to be a master of the lyre. Among his many other duties, he was said to lead the choir of the Muses. Clearly, this dude was in the music club.
Hermes
This famous messenger of the gods may not have been the god of music, but he did invent the lyre. That makes him a pretty important member of his clique if you ask us.
The Asparas and the Gandharvas
The Asparas are ladies from Indian mythology who are whole lot like the Muses. In the same way that the Muses spend most of their time singing and dancing in the court of Zeus, the Asparas spend a lot of time entertaining in the god Indra's court. The Asparas are said to be married to the Gandharvas, dudes who hang out in Indra's court all day, playing music for their lovely wives to dance to. Sounds pretty sweet.
Hathor
This early Egyptian goddess is all about music and dancing. She's closely associated with the sistrum, a rattle-like instrument that's perfect for when you want to shake your booty like it's nobody's business. Hathor was usually seen breaking it down with her son, Ihy. The Greeks generally associated Hathor and Ihy with Aphrodite and Eros.
Kinnaras
These horse-headed spirits from Indian tradition spend all day singing and dancing in the court of Kubera, the ugly dwarf god of riches. Basically, the Kinnaras are kind of like a bizzaro world version of the Muses.
Kulitta
This lady is a Mesopotamian goddess of music who did a lot of mournful wailing with the goddess Ishtar when she lost her love, Tamuz.