Melpomene is a muse of tragedy or theater?

Many myths and legends of ancient Greece have survived to this day. The Greek pantheon of the gods itself is interesting enough and entertaining, and the stories from the "life" of the celestials are captured and amazed by the imagination. The ancient Greeks believed that each phenomenon, subject and sphere of human activity is patronized by a separate deity or mythical being. Gods and demigods in the culture of this people are incredible, and sometimes it is difficult to remember the "specialization" of each of them. Melpomene - is the muse or goddess, the patroness of what she is?

Myths of Ancient Greece

According to the beliefs of the ancient Greeks, as a result of the union of the supreme god Zeus and the goddess of the memory of Mnemosyne, nine daughters appeared. These are the goddesses-muse, who patronize science and art. Each of the sisters was the patroness of a particular sphere or genre: Cleo - history, Evterpah - music and poetic words, Thalia - comedy, Melpomene - tragedy (and later theatrical art in general), Terpsichore - dance, Eratu - a lyric literary work, Polyhymnia - pantomime and hymns, Urania - studies of stars and celestial bodies, Calliope - folk tales and epics. According to some sources, originally Melpomene - is the patroness of songs, and later sad melodies. Over time, the muse began to be regarded as the personification of tragedies in theatrical productions, and later it was "given away" and the theater as a whole.

Form and talents Melpomene

The patroness of the tragedy and theater is usually depicted in a wreath of grape leaves and a head bandage. Melpomene is a muse, always clothed in a robe and holding a tragic mask in one hand. In the other hand, a woman holds a sword or a club as a symbol of retribution, which always overtakes people who have gone against the divine will. However, it is important to understand that Melpomene is not a punishing goddess, but rather, empathizing with people and ready to remind them that it is only appropriate to play in the theater. An interesting fact: this muse is the mother of the sirens, which she gave birth to from Aheloy. In modern culture Melpomene is more often the patroness of the theater, but it is appropriate to refer to it as a deity of tragedies.