Category: | Our Mythical Childhood Survey

Franciszek Kobryńczuk

How Apollo Turned Pierus’ Daughters into Magpies [Jak Apollo zamienił w sroki córki Pierosa]

Apollo, the god of beauty, is also the guardian of the nine Muses, for whom he cares deeply. Pierus, the king of Macedonia and father to nine daughters, states they could take the place of the Muses and be better. Apollo immediately turns Pierus’ daughters into magpies when he hears this boast. In the ending, the lyrical I says that he hears magpies outside his house every day at dawn and believes they are the counterparts of Clio and Erato because they bring him facts and rhymes.(...)

literary

YEAR: 2015

COUNTRY: Poland

TAGS: Apollo Calliope Clio Erato Euterpe Macedonia Melpomene Metamorphosis Muses Pierides Pierus Polyhymnia / Polymnia Terpsichore Thalia Urania

Keith Gordon Campbell

The Mermaid and the Shoe

King Neptune has 50 daughters (mermaids), each with a distinctive ability. He likes to boast about them: about Clio’s ability as a gardener, Thetis’s ability as a fish-trainer, Calypso’s singing voice. But Minnow, his youngest, does not know her skill yet—her garden is limp, the fish don’t do what she asks them, she can’t sing. She is curious, however, and asks lots of questions. One day, a red shoe drops into her path—she is fascinated by it and t(...)

literary

YEAR: 2014

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Calypso Clio Neptune Sirens Thetis

June Epstein , Marjorie Howden

The Nine Muses: Five Plays for Ages 11 to 13

“The Nine Muses” (pp. 80–91) gives the title to the collection but it is the only play in the collection with a classical theme.A playscript about Ancient Greece that brings classical composers to Mount Olympus for child performers and audiences. The work includes plans for stage setting, notes on costume and props and a list of classical music to be performed during the performance. “Suggestions for original work” at the end of the play include dramatisations of on(...)

literary

YEAR: 1951

COUNTRY: Australia

TAGS: Ancient Fashion Apollo Calliope Clio Erato Euterpe Greek Gods Greek Theatre Hermes Melpomene Muses Polyhymnia / Polymnia Terpsichore Thalia Urania