The Muse of Tragedy at The Louvre, Paris

myminifactory

Melpomene, initially the Muse of Singing, evolved into the Muse of Tragedy, a role for which she is now most renowned. Her name originates from the Greek verb melpô or melpomai, meaning "to dance and sing with joy." She is often depicted wearing a tragic mask and the cothurnus, traditional boots worn by actors in tragedy. Melpomene frequently holds a knife or club in one hand and the tragic mask in the other. Melpomene is the daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne. Her sisters are Calliope (muse of epic poetry), Clio (muse of history), Euterpe (muse of lyrical poetry), Terpsichore (muse of dancing), Erato (muse of erotic poetry), Thalia (muse of comedy), Polyhymnia (muse of hymns), and Urania (muse of astronomy). In Roman and Greek poetry, it was customary to invoke the goddess Melpomene so that one might create beautiful lyrical phrases.