Melpomene
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- There is also an asteroid 18 Melpomene, New Orleans' Melpomene Projects and a street in New Orleans named Melpomene, and also in Tucson, Arizona.
- Melpomene is also a spider genus and a fern genus.
Melpomene (pronounced /mɛlˈpɒmɪni/) ("to sing" or "the one that is melodious") was a Muse in Greek mythology. She was the muse of tragedy, despite her joyous singing. She is often represented with a tragic mask and wearing the cothurnus, boots traditionally worn by tragic actors. Often, she also holds a knife or club in one hand and the tragic mask in the other. On her head she is shown wearing a crown of cypress. Melpomene is the daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne. Her sisters include Calliope (muse of poetry), Clio (muse of history), Euterpe (muse of flute playing), Terpsichore (muse of dancing), Erato (muse of erotic poetry), Thalia (muse of comedy), Polyhymnia (muse of hymns), and Urania (muse of astronomy).
[edit] Appearances in popular culture
- In Roman and Greek poetry, it was traditional to invoke the goddess Melpomene so that one might create beautiful lyrical phrases (see Horace's Odes).
- Melpomene is mentioned in the first line of George Peele's poem "Œnone's Complaint" and also in Section LVI of John Keats' poem "Isabella; or The Pot of Basil."
- Danish rock band Kashmir included a song titled Melpomene on their 2003 album Zitilites.
- The muse Melpomene appeared in Walt Disney Pictures film Hercules (1997 film); Broadway actress Cheryl Freeman provided her voice.
- In the video game Dead or Alive 2, the character Helena Douglas' fight theme is entitled "Blazed up Melpomene".
The Nine Muses / Greek Mythology |
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| Calliope · Clio · Erato · Euterpe · Melpomene · Polyhymnia · Terpsichore · Thalia · Urania |
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