Information about Erato, the Muse of Lyric and Love Poetry Erato was one of the young, beautiful maidens referred to as the Nine Muses. The nine Muses were the daughters of Zeus, the king of the gods, and Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory. The names of the nine Muses were Clio, Thalia, Erato, Euterpe, Polyhymnia, Calliope, Terpsichore, Urania and Melpomene. Erato and her sisters were believed to reside above the golden clouds that covered sacred the Greek mountain peaks above the summits of Mounts Olympus, Helicon, Parnassus, and Pindus. They entertained and joined the Olympian gods in their feasts drinking water, milk, and honey, but never wine. The sisters were originally the patron goddesses of poets and musicians but over time their roles extended to include comedy, tragedy, history, poetry, music, dancing, singing, rhetoric, sacred hymns, and harmony. Erato was the Muse of Lyric and Love Poetry. 
Picture of the Nine Muses Erato, the Muse of Lyric and Love Poetry The ancient Greeks were great writers of lyric and love poetry. Greek lyric is occasional poetry which was composed for public, or private performance, by a soloist or chorus to mark particular occasions. Greek lyric poems were composed to celebrate athletic and military victories, commemorate the dead and offer religious devotion in the forms of hymns. The most famous lyric poets of Ancient Greece are referredto as the 'Nine Melic Poets' consisting of Alcaeus, Alcman, Anacreon, Bacchylides, Ibycus, Pindar, Sappho, Simonides, and Stesichorus. Traditionally, a lyric or love poet would invoke the aid of Erato, the muse of lyric poetry to guide and assist him in his work. The invocation took the form of a prayer for divine inspiration from the goddess. Facts and pictures of Erato, the Muse of Lyric and Love Poetry The following fact file contains pictures of this Greek goddess and Muse and details her symbols and attributes. Facts, Pictures and Symbols of Erato Facts about Erato - Erato was the Muse who represented and was the patron of Lyric and Love Poetry
- Also the muse of marriage songs
- She was the daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne
- She was described as beautiful, passionate and erotic
- Her symbol was a Cithara , a type of lyre
- She was also depicted with turtle doves and golden arrows representing love
- Occasionally she was accompanied by the god Eros, who was pictured holding a torch.

Picture of Erato Facts, Pictures and Symbols of Erato |