POLYHYMNIA (muse of sacred poetry and dance)
Divine power · Muse of sacred-poetry, sacred hymn and eloquence as well as muse of agriculture, geometry rhetoric, and pantomime in Greek mythology
- Parents
- Zeus, Mnemosyne
- Siblings
- Calliope, Clio, Urania, Erato, Melpomene, Euterpe, Terpsichore, Thalia
- In the sources
- 3 ancient passages
Polyhymnia, one of the nine Muses, was born to Zeus and Mnemosyne, a lineage confirmed by the poet Hesiod.1,2 A few poets, including Alcman, state she is a daughter of Uranus and Ge.2 She dwelt on Olympus, sharing her home with her siblings, including Calliope, the chiefest of the Muses.3
Her name, derived from the Greek words for great and praises, reflected her role in bringing distinction to writers whose works achieved immortal fame.2 Most myth writers believe the Muses, including Polyhymnia, to be virgins.2
The codex facts behind this entry
Polyhymnia is one of the nine Muses born to Zeus and Mnemosyne, as named by the poet Hesiod. Apollodorus 1.3.1 +2
