Greetings and welcome! I am happy you found your way here. I am Muse Calliope with Symposium at Elysium Gates. What is a Muse? I am a volunteer and I am here to assist Symposium residents with their web sites in whatever way possible . . . images, HTML, web rings, guestbooks, counters, and so on. I began working as a volunteer on the internet several years ago with FortuneCity and am now working with Elysium Gates and all the wonderful people who made Elysium Gates possible. Please direct questions to Muse Calliope and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Elysium Gates Resources

Graphics are available from Elysium Gates residents. There is something for everyone.

Crystal Cloud Graphics

Elysium Gates has guestbooks available for Elysium Gates residents which you may want to utilize. If there are problems, the wonderful staff will resolve it and get back to you quickly. Isn't that great?

Guestbooks are available for Elysium Gates residents at https://elysiumgates.com/cgi-bin/membersarea/gbook/index.asp and Pandora, as usual, did a wonderful job.

Web Rings are available for Elysium Gates residents at https://elysiumgates.com//membersarea/rings and graphics are beautiful. It's also a way to become acquainted with other residents.

There are Polls, Email Forms, and a HTML Tutorial at https://elysiumgates.com/cgi-bin/membersarea/utilities.asp. There are so many wonderful utilities!

VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE!
It is extremely important to backup your web site on your hard drive or a zip disk. If this is the only piece of information you take from me, you will be able to relax with that confidence your web site is secure. I had a web site on a different server and it disappeared down some black hole never to be seen again. The only reason it wasn't a problem is because I had the web site backed up on a zip disk. All I had to do was to wait for them to repair their hard drive so I could upload all my files and images. Very simple!

Web Tutorials

Learning HTML, XHTML and CSS is an exciting phase in web building. It can, however, be very frustrating and I have gathered some excellent tutorials for your use. Some sites are very easy, such as Lissa Explains It all because it was written for kids, and some are much more complex. It depends on where you are in the learning process. It took me a month to grasp some of the changes I made to this site, but it was definitely worth all the hard word. Here are some wonderful tutorials that cover a wide variety of topics on all levels. These sites are listed in alphabetical order. I hope these are helpful to you.

EchoEcho	HTML Code Tutorial	HTML Goodies
HTMLSource	Lissa Explains It All	Learn HTML and CSS
WebHeadStart.org

In Greek mythology, Calliope is the foremost of the nine Muses and the patron of epic poetry. Calliope and King Oeagrus of Thrace were the parents of Orpheus. Calliope also bore Apollo two sons, Hymen and Ialemus. Other versions of the myth say she was the mother of Rhesus, king of Thrace, or the mother of Linus, inventor of melody and rhythm.

Calliope (Calliopeia), the "Fair Voiced" and the eldest Muse, is the muse of epic poetry and is seen holding a writing tablet in hand, sometimes seen with a roll of paper or a book, and crowned in gold. Calliope is known for taking a fancy to Achilles and taught him how to cheer his friends by singing at banquets. She also was called by Zeus to mediate the quarrel between Aphrodite and Persephone over possession of Adonis. She settled the dispute by giving them equal time, providing Adonis some sorely needed free time to himself. By Apollo, she bore Linus, who was slain by Hercules, and Orpheus.

"Calliope, who is the chiefest of them all [the Muses], for she attends on worshipful princes: whomsoever of heaven-nourished princes the daughters of great Zeus honour, and behold him at his birth, they pour sweet dew upon his tongue, and from his lips flow gracious words. All the people look towards him while he settles causes with true judgements: and he, speaking surely, would soon make wise end even of a great quarrel; for therefore are there princes wise in heart, because when the people are being misguided in their assembly, they set right the matter again with ease, persuading them with gentle words. And when he passes through a gathering, they greet him as a god with gentle reverence, and he is conspicuous amongst the assembled: such is the holy gift of the Muses to men." -Theogony 75

"[At the funeral of Akhilleus] To Thetis spake Calliope, she in whose heart was steadfast wisdom throned: 'From lamentation, Thetis, now forbear, and do not, in the frenzy of thy grief for thy lost son, provoke to wrath the Lord of Gods and men. Lo, even sons of Zeus, the Thunder-king, have perished, overborne by evil fate. Immortal though I be, mine own son Orpheus died, whose magic song drew all the forest-trees to follow him, and every craggy rock and river-stream, and blasts of winds shrill-piping stormy-breathed, and birds that dart through air on rushing wings. yet I endured mine heavy sorrow: Gods ought not with anguished grief to vex their souls. Therefore make end of sorrow-stricken wail for thy brave child; for to the sons of earth minstrels shall chant his glory and his might, by mine and by my sisters' inspiration, unto the end of time. Let not thy soul be crushed by dark grief, nor do thou lament like those frail mortal women. Know'st thou not that round all men which dwell upon the earth hovereth irresistible deadly Aisa (Fate), who recks not even of the Gods? Such power she only hath for heritage. Yea, she soon shall destroy gold-wealthy Priamos' town, and Trojans many and Argives doom to death, ahomso she will. No God can stay her hand.' So in her wisdom spake Calliope." -Quintus Smyrnaeus 3.631

"Euterpe (or Calliope, according to some) bore to the river Strymon Rhesos, whom Diomedes murdered at Troy." -Apollodorus 1.18

But in another song did three goddesses [Muses] lull to rest the bodies of their sons ... the third [Calliope] sorrowed over Ialmenos [personification of the dirge], when his strength was stayed by the onset of a raging malady. But the son of Oiagros [and Calliope], Orpheus of the golden sword . . . Pindar Dirges Frag 139

Hesiod even gives their [the Muse] names when he writes: 'Clio, Euterpe, and Thalia, Melpomene, Terpsikhore and Erato, and Polymnia, Ourania, Calliope too, of them all the most comely.' To each of the Muses men assign her special aptitude for one of the branches of the liberal arts, such as poetry, song, pantomimic dancing, the round dance with music, the study of the stars, and the other liberal arts ... For the name of each Muse, they say, men have found a reason appropriate to her ... Calliope, because of her beautiful voice, that is, by reason of her beautiful voice, that is, by reason of the exceeding beauty of her language she wins the approbation of her auditors. -Diodorus Siculus 4.7.1

"Come Muse, Calliope, daughter of Zeus, begin the lovely verses; set desire on the song and make the choral dance graceful. -Greek Lyric II Alcman

"Come hither, clear-voiced Callope." -Greek Lyric III Stesichorus Frag 240

"Excellent Calliope, admired for your poetry and songs." -Greek Lyric III Stesichorus Frag 275

"White-armed Calliope, halt your well-made chariot here: sing in praise of ... " -Greek Lyric IV Bacchylides Frag 5

"Countless paths of ambrosial verses lie open for him who obtains gifts from the Pierian Muse and whose songs are clothed with honour by the violet-eyed maidens, the garland-bearing Kharites. Weave, then, in lovely blessed Athena a new fabric, renowned Kean fantasy: you must travel by the finest road, since you have obtained from Calliope a surpulative prize." -Greek Lyric IV Bacchylides Frag 19

"And from Oiagros and Calliope [was born] Orpheus." -Of the Origin of Homer and Hesiod and of their Contest Frag 1

The son of Oiagros [and Calliope], Orpheus of the golden sword -Pindar Dirges Frag 139

Orpheus of the intricate music, son of Calliope. -Greek Lyric II Terpander Frag 15 (from Timotheus, the Persians)

"The renowned son of Oeagros [Orpheus] .. (child) of the lovely-haired Muse" -Greek Lyric IV Bacchylides Frag 28

Orpheus, Calliope's son, he of the intricate muse, was the first to beget the tortoise-shell lyre in Pieria. -Greek Lyric V Timotheus Frag 791

"Calliope and Oiagros (though nominally it was Apollon) had as sons Linos, whom Herakles slew, and Orpheus, a professional citharist whose singing caused stones and trees to move." -Apollodorus 1.14-15

The first images of the Muses [at their sanctuary on Mount Helikon, Boiotia] are of them all, from the hand of Kephisodotos, while a little farther on are three, also from the hand of Kephisodotos, and three more by Strongylion the remaining three were made by Olympiosthenes by the side of Orpheus stands a statue of Telete, and around him are beasts of stone and bronze listening to his singing Orpheus was a son of the Muse Calliope the beasts followed him fascinated by his songs, and that he went down alive to Hades to ask for his wife from the gods below. -Pausanias 9.30.1

Orpheus, borne, so the story goes, by Calliope herself to her Thrakian lover Oiagros near the heights of Pimplea. They say that with the music of his voice he enchanted stubborn mountain rocks and rushing streams. -Argonautica 1.24f

Orpheus son of Oeagrus and the Muse Calliope, from Thrace. -Hyginus Fabulae 14

Lyre, Orpheus, son of Calliope and Oeagrus. When Orpheus was taking delight in song, seated, as many say, on Mount Olympus . . . Liber is said to have roused the Bacchanals against him. They slew him and dismembered his body. But others say that this happened because he had looked on the rites of Liber. The Muse gathered the scattered limbs and gave them burial, and as the greatest favour they could confer, they put as a memorial his lyre, pictures with stars, among the constellations. Apollo and Jove consented, for Orpheus had praised Apollo highly, and Jupiter granted this favour to his daughter. -Hyginus Astronomica 2.7

He [Oiagros] left Orpheus on Calliope's knees, a little one interested in his mother's milk, still a new thing. -Dionysiaca 13.430

Oiagros doing deeds that needed Calliope his consort, to tell them. -Dionysiaca 22.187

His [Oiagros'] bride Calliope, mother of a noble son [Orpheus]. -Dionysiaca 22.322

Calliope lifted Oiagros upon her shoulders [when the Indian River Hydaspes tried to drowning him and the army of Dionysos]. -Dionysiaca 24.77

Sources:
Hesiod, Theogony - Greek Epic C8th-7th BC
Homerica, Of the Origin of Homer and Hesiod and their Contest - Greek Epic BC
Pindar, Fragments - Greek Lyric C5th BC
Greek Lyric II Alcman, Fragments - Greek Lyric C7th BC
Greek Lyric II Terpander, Fragments - Greek Lyric C7th BC
Greek Lyric III Stesichorus, Fragments - Greek Lyric C7th-6th BC
Greek Lyric IV Bacchylides, Fragments - Greek Lyric C5th BC
Greek Lyric V Timotheus, Fragments - Greek Lyric BC
Apollodorus, The Library - Greek Mythography C2nd BC
Apollonius Rhodius, The Argonautica - Greek Epic C3rd BC
Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy - Greek Epic C4th AD
Pausanias, Guide to Greece - Greek Geography C2nd AD
Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History - Greek History C1st BC
Hyginus, Fabulae - Latin Mythography C2nd AD
Hyginus Astronomica - Latin Mythography C2nd AD
Nonnos, Dionysiaca - Greek Epic C5th BC

Other references not currently quoted here: Plato Phaedrus 259D; Strabo 10.3.19; Philostratus Heroicus 19.2; Catullus 61.2; Conon Narrations 45; Servius on Virgil's Aeneid 5.364; Zenobius 4.39

Information source for "Calliope Then":
THEOI PROJECT - A Guide to Greek Gods, Spirits and Monsters

Shekinah created and maintained by Lady Elizabeth
The three muses were adopted from DHF
Web set designed by Moon and Back Graphics
Shekinah is hosted by Elysium Gates