Clio

Clio was one of the nine Muses, the goddesses of music, song and dance.

Residence: Mount Olympus
Symbol: Open scroll, chest of books
Parents: Zeus and Mnemosyne
Siblings: The Muses
Children: Hyacinth

Mosaic Detail of Clio. Mosaic of the Muses, Vichten Roman Villa, 2nd-3rd c. AD. Luxembourg City History Museum.

In the Classical era, when the Muses were assigned specific literary and artistic spheres, Clio was named Muse of history. In this guise she was represented holding an open scroll or seated beside a chest of books. Her name was derived from the Greek verb kleô, “to make famous” or “celebrate.”

Image result for clio muse
Roman Mosaic of the Muses. Vichten Roman Villa, 2nd-3rd c. AD. Luxembourg City History Museum.
Hellenistic marble relief of Homer as a god with the Muses seen at the bottom, c. 225-205 BC, from Bovillae. British Museum.

Back to The Muses