Melpomene was one of the nine Muses, the goddesses of music, song and dance.
Residence:Mount Olympus
Symbol:Tragic mask, sword, wreath of ivy and cothurnus boots
Parents:Zeus and Mnemosyne
Siblings: The Muses
In the Classical era, when the Muses were assigned specific artistic and literary spheres, Melpomene was named Muse of tragedy. In this guise she was portrayed holding a tragic mask or sword, and sometimes wearing a wreath of ivy and cothurnus boots. Her name was derived from the Greek verbmelpôormelpomaimeaning “to celebrate with dance and song.”
