MOUNT HELICON (mountain in Boeotia)
Mountain in Livadia municipality, Greece
- Also called
- Helicon
- Kind of place
- Mountain
- Region
- Boeotia
- Patron
- Muses
- Landmarks
- Spring Permessus The Theogony ll. 1-25; Deep-blue spring The Theogony ll. 1-25; Horse’s Spring The Theogony ll. 1-25; Spring Olmeius The Theogony ll. 1-25; Altar of Zeus The Theogony ll. 1-25
- People of myth here
- Erato, Melpomene, Muse (Euterpe), Polyhymnia, Terpsichore, Muse, Muse, Urania
- Where
- 38.35° N, 22.83° E
The mountain is described as being rich in springs. Pausanias 9.29.1 It contains a temple dedicated to the Muses. Athenaeus 14.26 The Muses dance on the highest part of Helicon. The Theogony ll. 1-25
Described in the sources
The Muses reside on Mount Helicon, which the Thracians of Boeotia dedicated to them. Euripides, Heracles 781-797 +3 The hamlet of Ascra, where Hesiod's father settled, lies at the foot of the mountain. Hesiod's Works and Days ll. 618-640 +2 A new fountain opened by Pegasus's hoof exists on this mountain. Callimachus, Hymn 5 ¶3 +1 Poseidon is described as the lord and ruler of the tawny mountain Helicon. Homer's Epigrams (6) +1 The mountain is located near Thebes and is frequented by the virgin Muses. Ovid Met. 5.243-340 (2) +1 The city of Thespiae is situated at the base of Mount Helicon, to its south. Pausanias 9.26.6 +1 The Horse's Fountain, known as Hippocrene, is located about twenty stades up from the grove. Pausanias 9.31.3 +1 Hesiod lived near Helicon in the village of Ascra, where he was shepherding his lambs under the holy mountain. Strabo 13.3.6 +1 The river Termessus flows around the mountain. Pausanias 9.29.5 The mountain is described as lofty in the text. Aratus, Phaenomena ¶9
Gods and worship
The Thespians hold a festival and games named Museia at the grove. Pausanias 9.31.3 The cave of the Nymphs Leibethriades was consecrated on the mountain. Strabo 10.3.17 It is conjectured that Thracians consecrated the mountain to the Muses. Strabo 9.2.25 Games honoring Love are celebrated there with prizes for music and athletics. Pausanias 9.31.3 Tripods were dedicated on the mountain, including one said to be Hesiod's prize. Pausanias 9.31.3 Ephialtes and Otus were the first to sacrifice to the Muses on the mountain and declared it sacred to them. Pausanias 9.29.1
Stories and history
The Hippocrene spring was created when Pegasus struck the rock with its hoof. Aratus, Phaenomena ¶9 +2 Athena blinded Teiresias on the mountain after he saw her. Callimachus, Hymn 5 ¶3 Boys performed carefully arranged dances on this mountain. Athenaeus 14.26 Teiresias accidentally saw Athena bathing on the mountain. Callimachus, Hymn 5 ¶3 The mountain catches fire during the global conflagration. Ovid Met. 2.1-303 (10) The mountain supports a large quantity of cultivated trees. Pausanias 9.28.1 Athena and a nymph bathed beside a fountain on the mountain. Callimachus, Hymn 5 ¶3 Teiresias drank from the fountain on the mountain while thirsty. Callimachus, Hymn 5 ¶3 Food from Helicon is said to reduce the lethality of snake venom. Pausanias 9.28.1 The Muses taught Hesiod glorious song while he was under Helicon. The Theogony ll. 1-25