In Greek mythology, Thalia or Thaleia (/ˈθliə/[1] or /θəˈlə/;[2] Ancient Greek: Θάλεια, romanizedTháleia, lit.'the joyous, the abundance') was one of the three Charites or Graces, along with her sisters Aglaea and Euphrosyne.[3]

Thalia
Goddess of festivity and rich banquets
Member of The Charites
A statue of Thalia in Achilleion palace, Corfu
AffiliationAphrodite
Major cult centreBoeotia
AbodeMount Olympus
Genealogy
ParentsZeus and Eurynome
SiblingsEuphrosyne and Aglaea and several paternal half-siblings

The Greek word thalia is an adjective applied to banquets, meaning rich, plentiful, luxuriant and abundant.


Family

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Typically, they were the daughters of Zeus and Oceanid Eurynome.[3] Alternative parentage may be Zeus and Eurydome, Eurymedousa, or Euanthe; Dionysus and Kronois; or Helios and the Naiad Aegle.[4][5][6]

In art

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In art, they were usually depicted dancing in a circle. Thalia was the goddess of festivity and rich banquets and was associated with Aphrodite, as part of her retinue.[7][8]

Notes

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  1. ^ "Home : Oxford English Dictionary". www.oed.com. Retrieved 2022-04-29.
  2. ^ "Definition of THALIA". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2022-04-29.
  3. ^ a b Hesiod, Theogony, 907
  4. ^ Cornutus, Compendium of Greek Theology, 15
  5. ^ Nonnus, Dionysiaca, 15.87 & 48.530
  6. ^ Pausanias, Description of Greece, 9.35.5
  7. ^ Homeric Hymn 5 to Aphrodite, 58
  8. ^ Homer, Iliad, 8.360-369

References

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