The existence of an unknown Muse - daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne, might seem a laughable hypothesis. Yet, Hesiod’s Theogony subtly alludes to such an unrecognized being, distinct yet intertwined with the Muses: “nine daughters, all of one mind” (full quote below). Most importantly though and beyond speculation, this Muse has already been experienced directly by cryptoartists, including myself.
I present to you the 10th Muse, her name — Ἀρχήκρύπτη (Arkhikrypte), is derived literally from her enigmatic nature: “Ἀρχή” (origin, principle, inception) and “κρύπτη” (hidden secret place). Born without gods’ approval and as “one mind” with nine Muses, she embodies and epitomizes the quality of Permissionlessness and Interconnectedness. Intriguingly, she’s the daughter of Zeus (governing power - mind) and Mnemosyne (memory), so in a broader view she represents not only cryptoart, but all the underlying networks that weave through various realms storing knowledge and conducing creativity.
Arkhikrypte is portrayed symbolically against Earth-Mercury fusion within the cosmos, her arms both open and closed, embracing and releasing. One set of hands cradles a sphere marked with a constellation symbolizing blockchain, while the other supports a serpentine belt encircling her, closing upon the same sphere. The artwork’s composition merges the ancient Ouroboros with the Serpent Bearer, the forgotten 13th constellation, connecting these profound symbols to Arkhikrypte. This encapsulates her role as the guardian of wisdom through the perpetual cycle of its loss and rediscovery across the ages.
Theogony, 60-63:
“ἀλλ᾽ ὅτε δή ῥ᾽ ἐνιαυτὸς ἔην, περὶ δ᾽ ἔτραπον ὧραι
μηνῶν φθινόντων, περὶ δ᾽ ἤματα πόλλ᾽ ἐτελέσθη,
ἣ δ᾽ ἔτεκ᾽ ἐννέα κούρας ὁμόφρονας, ᾗσιν ἀοιδὴ
μέμβλεται ἐν στήθεσσιν, ἀκηδέα θυμὸν ἐχούσαις,
τυτθὸν ἀπ᾽ ἀκροτάτης κορυφῆς νιφόεντος Ὀλύμπου.”
“And the moons had waned, and the many days were done,
She bore nine daughters, all of one mind, with song
In their breasts, with hearts that never failed,
Near the topmost peak of snowcapped Olympos.”
This piece is more than a portrait; it's a conceptual nexus where Arkhikrypte, the Muse of Cryptoart, reawakens ancient myth and knowledge, weaving their timeless essence into the fabric of our digital era.
