MNEMOSYNE

in Greek mythology, the goddess of memory. A Titaness, she was the daughter of Uranus (Heaven) and Gaea (Earth), and, according to Hesiod, the mother (by Zeus) of the nine Muses. Traditionally, after the Olympians defeated the Titans, they asked Zeus to create divinities who were capable of celebrating their victory. Zeus then went to Pieria and stayed with Mnemosyne nine consecutive nights, after which she gave birth to the Muses.