Pierides (mythology)

Minerva (Athena), thinking they were human tongues, looked up in question whence the perfect words; but on the boughs, nine ugly jays (with Κίσσα and Pica often erroneously translated as magpies by later commentators) perched, those mockers of all sounds, which now complained their hapless fate.

We will not be defeated by your arts; nor shall your songs prevail.—Then, conquered, give Hyantean Aganippe; yield to us the Medusean Fount;—and should we fail, we grant Emathia's plains, to where uprise Paeonia's peaks of snow.—Let chosen Nymphs award the prize—.

– Thither the earth-begot Typhoeus hastened: but the Gods of Heaven deceptive shapes assumed.—Lo, Jupiter (Zeus as Libyan Ammon's crooked horns attest) was hidden in the leader of a flock; Apollo in a crow; Bacchus in a goat; Diana (Artemis) in a cat; Venus (Aphrodite) in a fish; Saturnian Juno (Hera) in a snow-white cow; Cyllenian Hermes in an Ibis' wings.Urania and Athena continued their conversation about the great match:Such stuff she droned out from her noisy mouth: and then they summoned us; but, haply, time permits thee not, nor leisure thee permits, that thou shouldst hearken to our melodies.” "Nay doubt it not,” quoth Pallas (Athena), “but relate your melodies in order.” And she sat beneath the pleasant shadows of the grove.

The Muse recounted the abduction of Persephone by god of underworld, Hades and the sorrow of the young girl's mother, the goddess Demeter for the loss of her beloved daughter.

Calliope also told the account of the unrequited love of the river god Alpheus to the nymph Arethusa and also the adventure of hero Triptolemus in Scythia where he encountered the envious King Lyncus.

The following lines described the punishment of the victorious Muses to their vanquished opponents, the Pierides, being transformed into birds:[9] "The greatest of our number ended thus her learned songs; and with concordant voice the chosen Nymphs adjudged the Deities, on Helicon who dwell, should be proclaimed the victors.