Euterpe was born as one of the daughters of
Mnemosyne, Titan goddess of memory, and fathered by
Zeus, god of the gods. Her sisters include
Calliope (muse of epic poetry),
Clio (muse of history),
Melpomene (muse of tragedy),
Terpsichore (muse of dancing),
Erato (muse of erotic poetry),
Thalia (muse of comedy),
Polyhymnia (muse of hymns), and
Urania (muse of astronomy). Sometimes they are referred to as water nymphs having been born from the four sacred springs on Helicon which flowed from the ground after
Pegasus, the winged horse, stamped his hooves on the ground. The mountain spring
Cassotis on Mount Parnassus was sacred to Euterpe and the other Muses. It flowed between two high rocks above the city of
Delphi, and in ancient times its
sacred waters were retained for the use of the
Pythia, the priests, priestesses, as well as the
oracle of
Apollo. Along with her sister Muses, Euterpe was believed to have lived on
Mount Olympus where she and her sisters entertained their father and the other Olympian gods with their great artistry. Later on, tradition also placed them on
Mount Helicon in Boeotia where there was a major cult center to the goddesses, or on
Mount Parnassus where the Castalian spring was a favorite destination for poets and artists. Some people believe that she invented the
aulos or double-flute, though most mythographers credit
Marsyas or
Athena with its invention. Some say she also invented other wind instruments. Euterpe is often depicted holding a flute in artistic renditions of her. Pindar and other sources (the author of the
Bibliotheca and
Servius) describe the Thracian king
Rhesus, who appears in the
Iliad, as son of Euterpe and the river-god
Strymon; Homer calls him son of
Eioneus. ==Functions==