HELICON (river in Pieria)
River in Dion-Olympos municipality, Greece
- Kind of place
- River
- Region
- Pieria
- Where
- 40.12° N, 22.42° E
Mount Helicon is the location of a temple dedicated to the Muses. Athenaeus 14.26 The river is located in the region of Aonia, which is the home of the Pierian sisters. Statius, Thebaid 7.582-610 ¶3 According to local tradition, the river sank underground to avoid washing blood off Orpheus's killers. Pausanias 9.30.8
Described in the sources
Poseidon is described as the ruler of the tawny Helicon. Homer's Epigrams (6) The river flows for seventy-five stades before disappearing underground. Pausanias 9.30.8
Stories and history
The people of Dium claim the river originally flowed entirely on land. Pausanias 9.30.8 Boys in Helicon performed dances that were prepared with significant care. Athenaeus 14.26 The river's waters trembled due to the loud noise of Tyrrhenian bronze during nearby warfare. Statius, Thebaid 7.582-610 ¶3