Polyhymnia
Goddess of Hymns
Member of the Muses
Roman statue of Polyhymnia, 2nd century AD, depicting her in the act of dancing
AbodeMount Olympus
Personal information
ParentsZeus and Mnemosyne
SiblingsEuterpe, Calliope, Urania, Clio, Erato, Thalia, Terpsichore, Melpomene
ChildrenOrpheus, Triptolemus

Polyhymnia (/pɒliˈhɪmniə/; Greek: Πολυύμνια, lit. 'the one of many hymns'), alternatively Polymnia (Πολύμνια), was, in Greek mythology, the Muse of sacred poetry, sacred hymn, dance and eloquence, as well as agriculture and pantomime.

Polyhymnia on an antique fresco from Pompeii

Etymology

Polyhymnia name comes from the Greek words "poly", meaning "many", and "hymnos", which means "praise".

Appearance

Polymnia is depicted as very serious, pensive and meditative, and often holding a finger to her mouth, dressed in a long cloak and veil and resting her elbow on a pillar. Polyhymnia is also sometimes credited as being the Muse of geometry and meditation.[1]

In Bibliotheca historica, Diodorus Siculus wrote, "Polyhymnia, because by her great (polle) praises (humnesis) she brings distinction to writers whose works have won for them immortal fame...".[2]

Family

As one of the Muses, Polyhymnia was the daughter of Zeus and the Titaness Mnemosyne. She was also described as the mother of Triptolemus by Cheimarrhoos, son of Ares,[3] and of the musician Orpheus by Apollo.[4]

Dedications

On Mount Parnassus, there was a spring that was sacred to Polyhymnia and the other Muses. It was said to flow between two big rocks above Delphi, then down into a large square basin. The water was used by the Pythia, who were priests and priestesses, for oracular purposes including divination.[1]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 "Polyhymnia". talesbeyondbelief. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
  2. ↑ Diodorus Siculus Library of History (Books III - VIII). Translated by Oldfather, C. H. Loeb Classical Library Volumes 303 and 340. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1935.
  3. ↑ Scholia on Hesiod, Works and Days, 1, p. 28
  4. ↑ Scholia on Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 1.23

References

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