Terpsichore
nymphTerpsichore was the Muse of dance and choral song — her name means "delight in dancing."
The Myth
She inspired all forms of dance, from sacred ritual dances to the choreography of Greek drama. She was depicted with a lyre, dancing. Some traditions made her the mother of the Sirens, linking beautiful dance to dangerous enchantment. Her name survives in "terpsichorean," a formal word for a dancer.
Children
The Sirens (in some traditions)
Symbols
Fun Fact
"Terpsichorean" — a formal adjective meaning "relating to dance" — comes from this Muse.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
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