[1] Polyhymnia is depicted as serious, pensive and meditative, and often holding a finger to her mouth, dressed in a long cloak and veil and resting her elbow on a pillar.

[2] In Bibliotheca historica, Diodorus Siculus wrote, "Polyhymnia, because by her great (polle) praises (humnesis) she brings distinction to writers whose works have won for them immortal fame...".

She was also described as the mother of Triptolemus by Cheimarrhoos, son of Ares,[4] and of the musician Orpheus by Apollo.

It was said to flow between two big rocks above Delphi, then down into a large square basin.

The water was used by the Pythia, who were priests and priestesses, for oracular purposes including divination.