Cpounty of art: Alerxander County
Location of art: Washington Ave. (US 51) & 16th St., public library, Cairo
Artist: Henry Dibble (assuming from inscription on matted statue)
Gift to the library by: Mrs. Alfred B. Safford
Proper Description: "A standing figure of Clio, the Greek muse of history. She wears a traditional long, flowing robe. Her proper right hand extends out and her proper left hand holds a small book."
~ Smithsonian American Art Museum
"In ancient Greek mythology Clio was one of the nine Muses, all daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. The Muses were thought to be the source of inspiration for the various arts.
"Her older sister, Calliope, was the muse of heroic or epic poetry and probably the one Homer invoked at the beginning of the Iliad: “Sing O Muse . . . .” Her younger sisters were associated with various other arts: Erato with love poetry, Euterpe with music, Melpomene with tragedy, Polymnia with sacred poetry, Terpsichore with dancing and choral song, Thaleia with comedy, and Urania with astronomy.
"Clio by VermeerClio was the muse of history and therefore a kind of “patron saint” of history for modern historians.
"In Greek, Clio’s name is Κλειϖ, which transliterates as kleio. It means “to make famous” or “to celebrate.” It could argued that Clio, more than any other of the Muses, resembled her mother Mnemosyne. Mnemosyne means “remembrance,” which is one of the basic functions of the history. (The word “mnemonic,” a technique or device — such as a string tied around the finger — to remember something derives from the mother’s name.)
"Although historians today do not believe that Clio literally puts the words in their mouths (or, more accurately, in their pens or word processors), she is still a convenient symbol for the discipline."
~ The University of Memphis