Goddesses of art and inspiration, the Muses gave their name to our museums, where they are (or should be) worshipped. I feel a special devotion to them. … The ones I really like, though, are the theatrical Muses—Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomene, and Terpsichore, plus maybe Calliope and Errato. I was a drama major (and possibly a drama queen) in college…. Today, I go to the theater as often as I can.
Although my greatest devotion is to the Great Goddess, who is said to have ten thousand names, I find myself more and more adoring the Muses:
- Clio, “Fame-giver,” ruler of history and shown with an open scroll
- Euterpe, “Joy-giver,” the lyric Muse who plays the flute
- Thalia, famous for her comic mask and wreaths of ivy
- Melpomene, wearer of the tragic mask and vine leaves
- Terpsichore, “Lover of dancing,” who carried a lyre and ruled choral music as well as dance
- Errato, “Awakener of desire,” ruler of erotic poetry
- Polyhymnia, “Many hymns,” shown as the meditating inspirer of hymns
- Urania, “Heavenly,” ruler of astronomy who carries a globe
- Calliope, “Beautiful-voiced,” ruler of epic poetry who carries a tablet and a pen[1] Continue reading “Does Terpsichore Tapdance? By Barbara Ardinger”
Feminism and Religion 