Polyhymnia (Greek Polymnia, of the many hymns) is one of the nine Muses, daughters of Zeus and the Titaness Mnemosyne. In the later, systematised understanding of the Muses she is the Muse of sacred hymn, of solemn religious song and eloquent oratory, and in some traditions also of dance and of mime, and she is shown in a thoughtful, veiled pose, often leaning on a pillar. Her name itself, made from the words for many and hymn, points to her domain of abundant praise-song.
As with her sisters, the assignment of a single art to Polyhymnia is a development of the Hellenistic and Roman periods rather than of the archaic religion: Hesiod names the nine but treats them together as the source of poetry, memory and inspired speech. Where the domains were later parcelled out, Polyhymnia was given the grave and reverent registers, the hymn to the gods, the oratory that moves an assembly, distinguishing her from the Muses of lighter song and playful verse.