Thalia (or Thaleia) is one of the Nine Muses, the Ancient Greek goddess of comedy and pastoral poetry. As she is here, she is often depicted a joyful young woman. She is shown reclining on the ground, semi-nude, in a landscape with a male figure (possibly Apollo) behind and two young children either side (possibly the children of Thalia and Apollo, the Korybantes), the one to the left holding her attribute of a comic mask. Thalia is shown holding a shepherd's staff in her right hand, with books beside her and a banner across her lap and held in her left hand.