Melpomene (; Ancient Greek: Μελπομένη, romanized: Melpoménē, lit. 'to sing' or 'the one that is melodious') is the Muse of tragedy in Greek mythology. She is described as the daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne (and therefore of power and memory) along with the other Muses, and she is often portrayed with a tragic theatrical mask.
Etymology
Melpomene's name (implying the meaning "Songstress") is derived by etymologists from the Ancient Greek verb μέλπω (melpô) or from its inflexion μέλπομαι (melpomai) meaning "to celebrate with dance and song". The Oxford English Dictionary cites μέλπειν (melpein – to sing).
