A mountain in Boeotia (Boeotia); the Haunt of the Muses.1
The Muses are the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (Memory). Zeus came to Mnemosyne on nine consecutive nights and the nine daughters were the result of those nine unions. Mnemosyne gave birth to the Muses near the topmost peaks of Mount Olympos (Olympus). All nine girls are of one mind ... they are free spirited and have their hearts set upon song ... they sing of the laws of the Immortals and the goodly ways of a life.
According to the poet Hesiod, the Muses frequent Mount Helikon in Boiotia and an area around Mount Olympos known as Pieria. They arise by night, shrouded in mist to walk the hills and bathe in springs. By calling upon and receiving the blessings of the Muses, a poet or dancer or musician can transcend the normal bounds of talent and rise to unimagined levels of creative insight.
1. The Muses—Erato (Lovely) Love Poems; Euterpe (Delightful) Poetry and Flute Playing; Kalliope (the Beautiful-Voiced) Epic Poetry; Kleio (Celebrate) History; Melpomene (Songstress) Tragedy; Ourania (Heavenly One) Astrology; Polymnia (Many Hymns) Sacred Music; Terpsichore (Dance-Enjoying) Dance; Thaleia (Blooming One) Comedy
Latitude North, Longitude East
38.3528, 22.8249
Mount Helikon can be seen shrouded in clouds on the road leading from Athens the Apollon's shrine at Delphi.
| References: Hesiod, Theogony lines 1–9 Hesiod, Contest of Homer and Hesiod § 313 and § 322 Hesiod, Works and Days lines 639 and 658 Hymn to Poseidon XXII |