Embroidery of the Greek Muses, depicted as women playing musical instruments and singing, surrounded by embroidered green foliage on fabric background.

The Muses

Goddesses of Inspiration

This embroidery features the Muses, the goddesses of inspiration in art, poetry, and science in Ancient Greek mythology. Each Muse represents a different branch of the arts, and here they are depicted surrounded by olive branches. The embroidery includes musical instruments such as the lyre, harp, kithara, aulos, and frame drum.

Collection: The Musician Goddesses Series


Technique: Embroidered on Ödemiş silk using Chinese embroidery (silk shading), stem stitch, fishbone stitch, and ribbon embroidery.


Inspiration: Inspired by Ancient Greek vases and sarcophagi.

According to the legend, Apollo was furious with Hermes for stealing his sacred herd of cattle. However, his anger subsided when he heard the sound of the lyre Hermes had invented from a tortoise shell. In exchange for the herd, Hermes gifted the lyre to Apollo. Some sources, however, attribute the invention of the lyre directly to Apollo. The chelys lyre, commonly known as Apollo’s lyre, is traditionally made from a tortoise shell or wood shaped like one.


The lyre in my collection was specially crafted in 2018 by F. Obul. No animal was harmed for this instrument; the shell of a tortoise that had died of natural causes was used.

A chair made from a large turtle shell with a wooden frame and black ribbons tied around the sides.
A vintage stringed musical instrument resembling a lyre with a wooden frame, nine strings, and a worn fabric soundboard.
Ancient marble relief sculpture depicting scenes from the Trojan War, including soldiers, gods, and mythological figures, with intricate carvings and detailed facial expressions.

"Muses Sarcophagus", representing the nine Muses and their attributes. Marble, first half of the 2nd century AD, found by the Via Ostiense.

Ancient Greek black-figure pottery depicting a woman sitting with a musical instrument, possibly a lyre, and musical notes.

Muse figure holding a chelys lyre