Roman statue of Melpomene, 2nd century AD. The muse is shown in a long-sleeved garment with a high belt, clothing that was associated with tragic actors. Her wreath of vines and grapes alludes toDionysus, the god of the theatre
Melpomene's name (implying the meaning "Songstress"[1]) is derived by etymologists from the Ancient Greek verbμέλπω (melpô) or from its inflexion μέλπομαι (melpomai) meaning "to celebrate with dance and song".[2] TheOxford English Dictionary cites μέλπειν (melpein – to sing).[3]
Depictions of Melpomene may include atragic mask,buskins, lyres, scrolls, and a crown of leaves.[7] She may also be shown with a dagger and a cup. SatiristAnthony Pasquin described Melpomene as "murder-loving".[5]
The iconographerCesare Ripa described Melpomene in hisIconologia. An English edition describes her as "a gentlewoman all in mourning; she holds a bloody dagger in her right hand; behind her, upon the ground, a garment of cloth of gold, and diverse precious jewels; shod withcothurni". Another describes her as being "of a grave aspect, in a heroic dress, with her head finely attired; she holds a cup in one hand, and a dagger in the other, with a crown and scepter at her feet; she is shod in buskins, which were used by the ancient tragedians. The grave aspect and heroic dress denote that tragedy is a representation of famous deeds and of history".[5]
In Greek and Latin poetry sinceHorace (d. 8 BC), it was commonly auspicious to invoke Melpomene.[8] Horace invokes Melpomene in Ode 3.30, when he describes his poetry as a monument as great as any king's tomb. The poet asks Melpomene to crown him with alaurel wreath and make him apoet laureate.[9]
The oldest surviving portrait ofVirgil, a mosaic dated to the first century, features Virgil between Melpomene andClio, the muse of history. Theologian Louis A. Ruprecht interpreted this as a commentary on the similarities of recording history and writing fictional works of tragedy.[10]
The 2018 excavation of aRoman bathhouse inDecapolis uncovered six mostly preserved statues of the Muses. The statue of Melpomene was 62 centimeters tall and made ofPentelic marble. Its head was lost, but it was identifiable by the drama mask lying on its thigh.[11]
The minor planet18 Melpomene was named after the muse by the BritishAstronomer Royal in 1852,George Biddell Airy. He chose a name representing tragedy because his daughter, Elizabeth, had died on the day it was discovered, which was also the thirteenth anniversary of an earlier son's death.[12]
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