In Greek mythology, Terpsichore (; grc-gre, Τερψιχόρη, "delight in dancing") is one of the nine

Muses In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the Muses ( grc, Μοῦσαι, Moûsai, el, Μούσες, Múses) are the inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the p ...

and goddess of

dance Dance is a performing art form consisting of sequences of movement, either improvised or purposefully selected. This movement has aesthetic and often symbolic value. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...

and chorus. She lends her name to the word "

terpsichorean In Greek mythology, Terpsichore (; grc-gre, Τερψιχόρη, "delight in dancing") is one of the nine Muses and goddess of dance and chorus. She lends her name to the word " terpsichorean" which means "of or relating to dance". Appearance ...

", which means "of or relating to dance".

Appearance

Terpsichore is usually depicted sitting down, holding a

lyre The lyre () is a stringed musical instrument that is classified by Hornbostel–Sachs as a member of the lute-family of instruments. In organology, a lyre is considered a yoke lute, since it is a lute in which the strings are attached to a yoke ...

, accompanying the dancers' choirs with her music. Her name comes from the Greek words τέρπω ("delight") and χoρός ("dance").

Family

According to

Hesiod Hesiod (; grc-gre, Ἡσίοδος ''Hēsíodos'') was an ancient Greek poet generally thought to have been active between 750 and 650 BC, around the same time as Homer. He is generally regarded by western authors as 'the first written poet i ...

's '' Theogony'', Zeus lay with the

Titan Titan most often refers to: * Titan (moon), the largest moon of Saturn * Titans, a race of deities in Greek mythology Titan or Titans may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Fictional entities Fictional locations * Titan in fiction, fictiona ...

Mnemosyne each night for nine nights in Piera, producing the nine Muses. According to Apollonius of Rhodes, Terpsichore was the mother of the Sirens by the river god Achelous. The '' Etymologicum Magnum'' mentions her as the mother of the Thracian king Biston by

Ares Ares (; grc, Ἄρης, ''Árēs'' ) is the Greek god of war and courage. He is one of the Twelve Olympians, and the son of Zeus and Hera. The Greeks were ambivalent towards him. He embodies the physical valor necessary for success in war b ...

. According to the Byzantine scholar Eustathius, Terpsichore was the mother of the Thracian king Rhesus by the river god Strymon.

In popular culture

Historical

*The British 32-gun

frigate A frigate () is a type of warship. In different eras, the roles and capabilities of ships classified as frigates have varied somewhat. The name frigate in the 17th to early 18th centuries was given to any full-rigged ship built for speed and ...

commanded by Captain Bowen participated in the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1797).

Literature

*When '' The Histories'' of Herodotus were divided by later editors into nine books, each book was named after a Muse. Terpsichore was the name of the fifth book.

Music and dance

* ''Terpsichore'' (1612) is the title of a large collection of dance tunes collected by Michael Praetorius, some originating with

Pierre-Francisque Caroubel Pierre-Francisque Caroubel (1556 – summer 1611 or 1615 François Couperin François Couperin (; 10 November 1668 – 11 September 1733) was a French Baroque composer, organist and harpsichordist. He was known as ''Couperin le Grand'' ("Couperin the Great") to distinguish him from other members of the musically talented ...

's "Second Ordre" from the ''Pièces de clavecin.'' *The third version (HWV 8c) of

Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concertos. Handel received his training i ...

's opera '' Il pastor fido'' (1712) includes a new prologue written in 1734 titled '' Terpsicore.'' * The eighteenth century French dancer and courtesan Marie-Madeleine Guimard named the private theater in her private palace (1766) the Temple of Terpsichore. *

George Balanchine George Balanchine (; Various sources: * * * * born Georgiy Melitonovich Balanchivadze; ka, გიორგი მელიტონის ძე ბალანჩივაძე; January 22, 1904 (O. S. January 9) – April 30, 1983) was ...

's 1928 ballet '' Apollo (ballet)'' includes Terpsichore as one of 3 muses who dance to win the hand of Apollo.

Media

*In the 1947 film '' Down To Earth'', Rita Hayworth plays Terpsichore, who is annoyed and visits Earth to change a musical that depicts her in a bad light.

Science

* ''Terpsichore'', a genus of ferns in the family Polypodiaceae, subfamily Grammitidoideae named after the Muse * The terpsitone, an electronic musical instrument invented by Leon Theremin, was named after Terpsichore.Mason, C. P. (1936)
Theremin "Terpsitone" A New Electronic Novelty
in ''Radio Craft'', Dec. 1936, p.365.

Notes

References

* Apollonius of Rhodes, ''Apollonius Rhodius: the Argonautica'', translated by Robert Cooper Seaton, W. Heinemann, 1912
Internet Archive
* '' Etymologicum Magnum'', edited by Friderici Sylburgii, Leipzig, J. A. G. Weigel, 1816
Internet Archive
* Gantz, Timothy, ''Early Greek Myth: A Guide to Literary and Artistic Sources'', Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, Two volumes: (Vol. 1), (Vol. 2). *

, '' Theogony'', in ''The Homeric Hymns and Homerica with an English Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White'', Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd., 1914
Online version at the Perseus Digital LibraryInternet Archive

External links

*
Warburg Institute Iconographic Database
{{Authority control Greek Muses Music and singing goddesses Women of Ares Women of Apollo Children of Zeus Thraco-Macedonian mythology Dance in Greek mythology Metamorphoses characters Dance goddesses Wisdom goddesses Music in Greek mythology