Terpsichore was one of the nine Muses, the goddesses of music, song and dance.
Residence: Mount Olympus Symbols: Lyre and plectrum Parents:Zeus and Mnemosyne Siblings:The Muses
Mosaic Detail of Terpsichore. Mosaic of the Muses, Vichten Roman Villa, 2nd-3rd c. AD. Luxembourg City History Museum.
In the classical era, when the Muses were assigned specific literary and artistic spheres, Terpsichore was named Muse of choral song and dancing, and depicted with a lyre and plectrum. Her name means “Delighting in Dance” from the Greek words terpsis“to delight” and khoros “dance”.
Greek statue of Terpsichore from Hadrian’s Villa. Prado Museum, Madrid. (c) Ana Belén Cantero Paz
Roman Mosaic of the Muses. Vichten Roman Villa, 2nd-3rd c. AD. Luxembourg City History Museum.
Hellenistic marble relief of Homer as a god with the Muses seen at the bottom, c. 225-205 BC, from Bovillae. British Museum.
