Terpsichore is one of The Nine Muses and the goddess of dance and chorus in Greek Mythology.
Role and Significance[]
Terpsichore is a member of The Nine Muses, alongside Zeus and Mnemosyne's other eight daughters, they are deities of the arts, literature, science, memory and creative inspiration with Terpsichore's specialities being in dance and choral song, these areas were assigned to Terpsichore during the classical era.
The Muses were believed to be able to bless mortals with artistic gifts, help them in their creative endeavours and bring comfort and healing to the ill and heartbroken. They were worshipped in shrines and temples across Greece, with their biggest cults being located in Mount Helikon in Boeotia and Pieria in Makedonia. The Castalian Spring near Delpi was also considered sacred to the Muses, the water of which was used by Pythia, priests and priestesses for Oracular purposes such as divination.
Genealogy and Family[]
Terpsichore is the seventh of The Nine Muses, daughters of the deities, Zeus and Mnemosyne. She has eight full sisters, Calliope, Clio, Erato, Euterpe, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Thalia and Urania as well as many paternal half-siblings, including the Olympian god, Apollo who is the leader and teacher of The Nine Muses.
In the Apollodorus Rhodius, she was named the mother of The Sirens, by Achelous, the river god. The Suidas s.v Linos and Pindar Dirges claim her to be the mother of Linus of Thrace, the personification of dirge and lamentation, however according to other accounts, they had different parents.
Appearance and Personality[]
In art and sculpture, Terpsichore is depicted as a young and beautiful woman, usually seated with a lyre.
Stories[]
Skills and Abilities[]
Titles and Epithets[]
Relationships[]
Symbols[]
Modern Depictions[]
(left to right): Thalia, Melpomene, Calliope, Clio, and Terpsichore.
Terpsichore was depicted in Disney's 1997 animated movie, Hercules, alongside four other Muses and subsequently appeared in Hercules The Animated Series, where she directly taught Hercules in the episode, "Hercules and The Muse of Dance". Terpischore was portrayed as tall, slender, woman of colour and the second shortest of The Muses, with a hairstyle of Bantu knots in the front and loose curls in the back and an outfit of a white crop top with a mini skirt and shawl. She was shown to have a cheerful personality in Disney Media, who is exceedingly supportive of Hercules. She is also light-hearted and likes making funny faces.
Gallery[]
Terpsichore/gallery
Trivia[]
Terpsichore's official Greek name is Τερψιχορη, it means 'delight in dancing'.
She is still associated with dance today. This is reflected in the adjective terpsichorean which refers to things related to dance.