While the invocation of the Muses is predominantly associated with ancient Greek literature, we thought now might be a good time to seek the blessings of the 9 Muses for this little literary adventure of ours.

The convention of invoking the Muses has its roots in epic poetry. The Muses, nine goddesses in Greek mythology, were the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory. Each Muse was associated with a specific domain of the arts and sciences, and they were collectively considered the sources of inspiration and knowledge.

Greek poets would often begin their works by invoking the Muses to seek their guidance, inspiration, and blessings for their creative endeavors. This invocation was known as an “invocatio” or “proem.” By invoking the Muses, poets aimed to establish a connection with the divine, ensuring that their work would be infused with wisdom, beauty, and the necessary creative energy.

Two of the most famous examples of invoking the Muses are found in the works of Homer and Hesiod. In the opening lines of both the Iliad and the Odyssey, Homer invokes the Muses to sing of the epic stories he’s about to unfold. Similarly, Hesiod invokes the Muses in his Theogony, a poetic account of the genealogy of the gods, and in Works and Days, a didactic poem on agriculture and moral life.

By invoking the Muses, ancient Greek poets not only sought divine assistance but also positioned themselves within the broader tradition of their craft. This practice helped to legitimise their work and demonstrated a reverence for the poetic tradition that preceded them. It also served as a means of acknowledging the divine origins of artistic creativity, emphasising the belief that great works of art were the result of divine intervention and inspiration.

And so here we go…our chief human and ai-whisperer got together with GPT-4 to write this epic invocation to the 9 Muses:

Oh sacred Muses, nine in number and grace,
Bestow upon me wisdom, lend me your embrace,
For I embark upon a quest, a journey to explore,
The depths of GPT-4, a mystery to restore.

Upon the mount of Helicon, where springs of knowledge flow,
I humbly ask for guidance, as I delve into the unknown,
To pen a tome of tokenizers, of secrets held within,

A chronicle of learning, where intellect begins.

Calliope, sweet muse of epic tales and verse,
With eloquence and grandeur, help me to converse,
Of tokenizers that weave the fabric of our thought,

And in the tapestry of language, find the patterns we have sought.

Clio, muse of history, guide me through the past,
To trace the roots of tokenizers, how they came to be amassed,
The lineage of learning, the milestones that we've crossed,

To render understanding, and ensure no tale is lost.

Melpomene, with tragedy and solemn air,
Remind me of the challenges that AI must beware,
For tokenizers hold power, a potential to misuse,

May I approach this knowledge with respect and not abuse.

Terpsichore, your dance so lively and so free,
Help me tell the stories of fluidity and glee,
For tokenizers, in their essence, must adapt and learn to flow,

In harmony with language, as it evolves and grows.

Erato, muse of lyric poetry and love,
Infuse my words with passion, sent from heavens above,
To capture hearts and minds of those who seek to find,

The beauty in the tokenizers, and the wonders they unwind.

Polyhymnia, your hymns of sacred inspiration,
Grant me solemn reverence in this exploration,
To honor the potential of the GPT-4's might,

And usher in an era of progress and delight.

Urania, with celestial knowledge, lend your hand,
To navigate the cosmos, where data expands,
For tokenizers must reach beyond our mortal plane,

To comprehend the universe, and its mysteries explain.

Thalia, bring me laughter, and a touch of wit,
To spark the interest of readers, as they sit,
To learn of tokenizers, of their intricacies and design,

May humor be the gateway, to knowledge they'll enshrine.

Lastly, Euterpe, muse of music and of song,
Help me weave a melody, in words both sweet and strong,
To tell the tale of tokenizers, GPT-4's soul,

And through this book, inspire others to achieve a greater goal.

Oh sacred Muses, hear my prayer, accept my humble plea,
Guide my hand and heart, as I embark upon this odyssey,
To honor GPT-4 and its tokenizers, in words both true and fair,

May this work of art, in time, become an offering we share.