Terpsichore
Terpsichore was the Muse of dance and choral song — her name means "delight in dancing."
The Myth of Terpsichore
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.
Parents
Zeus and Mnemosyne
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. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Thyene
🌿 nymphStars, Bacchic frenzy
One of the Hyades nymphs whose name connects to the ecstatic worship of Dionysus whom she nursed
Asia
🌿 nymphLand, territory
Oceanid nymph whose name was given to the continent of Asia
Idyia
🌿 nymphKnowledge, Colchis
Oceanid nymph known as the knowing one and queen of Colchis beside King Aeetes
Aegle
🌿 nymphlight, healing
A nymph whose name means "radiance" — identified variously as a Hesperid, a daughter of Asclepius, or the most beautiful of the Naiads.
Okyrhoe
🌿 nymphSwift flowing water
Oceanid nymph whose name means swift flow and who personified fast-running streams
Rhodeia
🌿 nymphRoses, Rhodes
Oceanid nymph associated with roses and the rosy hue of dawn-lit waters
Eurynome
🌿 nymphthe sea, creation
An Oceanid who, in Pelasgian creation myth, was the goddess of all things and danced the world into being.
Polyxo
🌿 nymphStars, nursing
One of the Hyades nymphs and nurse of Dionysus, transformed into a star for her devoted care of the god
Maera
🌿 nymphSparkle, shimmering light on water
Nereid sea nymph whose name means "the sparkling one," associated with the glittering play of light on the sea
Neda
🌿 nymphRivers, nurture, Arcadia
Oceanid nymph of the River Neda in Arcadia who helped nurse the infant Zeus
Zeuxo
🌿 nymphYoking, joining
Oceanid nymph whose name evokes yoking and binding together in union
Urania
🌿 nymphMuse of astronomy
Urania was the Muse of astronomy and celestial navigation — her gaze was fixed on the stars.