Nympholepsy is a term covering several overlapping concepts including heightened awareness and sharpened verbal abilities resulting from the influence of the Muses or other Nymphs.
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The nympholept is in a state of divine madness; not a madness regarded as pathological in the Archaic and Classical periods.
In postclassical times, however, possession by nymphs became increasingly feared as pathological; the ultima of this being the dramatic 'demonic possession' calling for The Exorcist.
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There were those, even in classical times, who were physically 'snatched away' by nymphs, sometimes never to be seen again. This is like the Irish state of being "awa' wi' the faeries".
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The inspiration of the Muses is desired by most poets. One finds frequent invocations of the Muses in Homer and poets continuing into the present.
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Come Muse and light my creative fires
so I may create beauty, singing bliss
***nekkid***26July2006
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Readthis It's
a ninth grader's essay on The Muses
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