Who is Urania?
What we know from myth, history, and inspiration
Urania, or Ourania, is one of the Nine Muses, goddesses of the arts and sciences and of inspiration. The Muses were daughters of Zeus and his affair with the Titaness Mnemosyne. While the other Muses chose to specialize in various sorts of poetry, music, and dance, Urania was fascinated with the sky, the stars, and the wisdom to be learned therein. Her name is derived from her grandfather/great-grandfather Uranus, the old slain god of the sky. She supposedly had a brief affair with Apollo, the god in charge of the Muses who had children with all of them, and their son was the famous ancient poet Linus.
In ancient times, she was known as the goddess of Astronomy. Today, while she still rules over that science, she also rules over the art and science of Astrology. Urania seen no difference between them; they are both just pieces of the wider study of the Cosmos, its rhythms, and its miracles. The asteroid Urania, named for her, indicates one’s draw toward occult sciences. While this shrine is primarily devoted to her as the patron of astrology, I look forward to offerings from those who work with her as the patron of astronomy.
In addition, in early times, navigation was done by the stars, so Urania was also a patroness of navigators. She is generally shown as a beautiful woman, usually draped in a cloak embroidered with stars, holding a globe and a compass, indicating her aid with navigation.
During the Renaissance, when European intellectuals were busily discovering the classical Gods, Urania was sometimes associated with universal love and the Holy Spirit. She was occasionally called as a Muse of Christian poetry due to John Milton invoking her as such in Paradise Lost.
Urania can be called upon for help and inspiration with astrological research, writing, and interpretation. She can also be called upon for any work with the science of astronomy, and also for skill in navigating by the stars.
(“Urania” is also an epithet of Aphrodite, as in “Aphrodite Urania”, but this is entirely different from the Muse Urania.)