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Melpomene
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Melpomene Virgil with the epic Muse and the tragic Muse Ancient Roman mosaic showing the poet Virgil seated and writing, flanked by the muses Clio and Melpomene, displayed in a decorative border.
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Parthenon, Acropolis, Athens, Greece.
From Athena to Zeus: Basics of Greek Mythology
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Melpomene
Melpomene Melpomene, mural by Edward Simmons; in the Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building, Washington, D.C.

Melpomene

Greek Muse
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History

Melpomene, in Greek religion, one of the nine Muses, patron of tragedy and lyre playing. In Greek art her attributes were the tragic mask and the club of Heracles. According to some traditions, the half-bird, half-woman Sirens were born from the union of Melpomene with the river god Achelous.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.