Mount Parnassus
- proper noun
- /maʊnt pɑrˈnæsəs/
- Literature
:
Monte Parnaso
- I dream of climbing Mount Parnassus someday.
Examples
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According to legend, Mount Parnassus was sacred to Apollo and the source of music and poetry.
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The poets climbed Mount Parnassus in their imagination, seeking inspiration from the Muses.
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She referred to Mount Parnassus as the symbol of artistic achievement in her essay.
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Have you ever visited Mount Parnassus?
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In ancient Greek mythology, poets often sought inspiration at the summit of Mount Parnassus.
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The sacred halls of Mount Parnassus were believed to be a gathering place for the Muses, who inspired artists and musicians.
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Many famous works of art were created by those who ventured to the heights of Mount Parnassus, hoping to channel its creative energy.
Synonyms
3
9.9
A mountain in central Greece where the Muses live and people find inspiration for poetry and art
A mountain in central Greece where the Muses live in Greek myth
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase denotes a mountain by combining 'mount' (a mountain) with the proper name 'Parnassus', so its referent is directly recoverable from the constituents. The mythological/artistic associations are carried by the proper noun but do not prevent the expression from being compositionally clear to a learner who knows both words.
Etymology
Mount Parnassus comes from old Greek stories that say the Muses lived on the mountain, so poets and musicians imagined climbing it to find new ideas. That's why today Mount Parnassus is used as a symbol of 'inspiration' for artists.