Erato | The Greek Muse of Literature, Love, and Lyric Poetry

If you have ever read a love poem that truly moved you or heard a song that has perfectly captured the piercing ache of love, then you may have felt a touch of Erato’s magic. As the Muse of love, marriage and lyric poetry, Erato is the ancient Greek goddess who inspired writers and musicians to express some of the most powerful human emotions – desire, longing, and the beauty of connection. While she may not be as famous as some of her sisters, Erato’s influence is undeniable where passion finds a voice.

Erato Key Facts

Parents	Zeus and Mnemosyne
Consorts	Malus
Siblings	Calliope, Clio, Euterpe, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Thalia, Terpsichore, Urania
Offspring	Cleophema
Other names	None attested, but epithets include Aganippides, Castaliae, etc.
Greek name	Ἐρατώ (Eratō)
Roman Name	Erato
Domains	Lyric poetry, love poetry, music, literature, love, marriage
Symbols	Lyre/kithara, myrtle and rose wreath, golden arrow
Best known myths	Invoked in Argonautica, Aeneid, lost poem Rhadine

Name and Etymology

The name Erato (Ἐρατώ, Eratō) derives from the Greek root ero- (the same root that the name of Eros derives from) and it means “desired” or “beloved”. This shared lexical root, as usually happens with Greek mythology, shows a lot more than a linguistic connection; as Eros presided over love and lust, Erato stirred the romantic feeling through poetry and song. This too was observed by ancient writers; Apollonius of Rhodes, for example, playfully connects her name to desire in his epic Argonautica.

Domain and Symbolism

Each and every Muse presided over a specific domain. Erato’s main domain is lyric poetry, erotic poetry, and even the art of mimicry. She was the Muse of sonnets, of love songs, of anything where feelings take front stage. Her influence also extends to love and marriage, as well as anything that seeks to imitate the passions of life – from words to music to performance.

Closely related to her domain, her symbols are all about love and artistry:

Lyre or Kithara: Musical instruments for poetry and song, often seen in her hands. The Lyre relates her to Apollo, the God of music.
Wreath of Myrtle and Roses: Both plants are deeply tied to love and beauty in Greek tradition.
Golden Arrow: Sometimes she holds one, echoing Eros and the sting of desire.

While the wreath and arrow are primarily objects she is depicted with rather than canon symbols, their association with the goddess has grown as a result of her depiction in art.

Family and Relationships

Like all the Muses, Erato is a daughter of Zeus, the king of Greek Gods, and Mnemosyne, the Titaness of memory. According to myth, Zeus and Mnemosyne spent nine nights together, resulting in the birth of nine daughters—each with her own artistic specialty. Erato’s sisters include Calliope (epic poetry), Clio (history), Euterpe (music), Melpomene (tragedy), Polyhymnia (hymns), Terpsichore (dance), Thalia (comedy), and Urania (astronomy). All the Muses fulfill a role as patrons and protectors of a specific art form.

Erato’s own family tree is quite interesting, yet a bit less well known. According to one tradition, Zeus offered Erato in marriage to Malus, the mythical founder of Malea. Erato and Malus had a daughter named Cleophema. Cleophema went on to marry Phlegyas, and their lineage includes Coronis (also known as Aegle), who became the mother of Asclepius, the famous Greek god of medicine, by Apollo. Following that thread, Erato is not only a patron of poets but is also connected to a family of healers.

Erato also has connections to other gods – sometimes she is depicted alongside Eros, while her domain also overlaps with Apollo, who leads the Muses in song as well as being a god of poetry and music.

Erato in Mythology

The mythological profile of Erato, as we might call it, is a little “quieter” than some of the other Muses. Erato doesn’t star in dramatic tales or epic adventures. Instead, her role is more subtle: she is the source of inspiration for lyric poets and musicians who want to express love, longing, or even the ritual of marriage.

Genealogy and Family Myths

Erato’s birth is recounted in Hesiod’s Theogony, where all nine Muses are named as daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. They were born at Pieria, at the foot of Mount Olympus, and are said to reside on Mount Helicon, which was a central location for religious revelry, the arts and poetic inspiration in ancient Greece.

While the Muses are frequently depicted as unmarried, Erato is one of the few with a documented marriage and descendants, connecting her not only to poetry but also to the healing arts through her great-grandson Asclepius.

Invocation by Poets

Erato makes her mark in literature as the Muse who is invoked when poets want to explore romantic or passionate stories. For example, Apollonius of Rhodes calls on Erato to introduce the love story of Jason and Medea in Book III of the Argonautica – and we all know how this story ended.

Virgil does something similar in the Aeneid, invoking Erato at the beginning of Book VII, just before we set for the second part of the epic poem, its more “Homeric” part.

The Tale of Rhadine

A now-lost poem called Rhadine was famous in antiquity for its romantic tragedy. It was attributed to Strabo and it is said to have such an impact, that the supposed tomb of Rhadine on the island of Samos became a pilgrimage for all star-crossed lovers. That shows that Erato had already begun to be established as the patroness of erotic, lyric poetry.

Philosophical Mentions

Last but not least, it needs to be mentioned that even philosophers mentioned Erato – well, at least one. Plato, in his famous dialogue Phaedrus, a discussion on erotic love and the art of rhetoric, credits Erato as a goddess who inspires lovers, while her sisters inspire dancers, historians, and musicians.

The ancient Orphic Hymns also refers to Erato as “she who charms the sight” (Orphic Hymn 76) emphasizing her role in stirring both the heart and the senses.

Depiction and Characteristics

Erato is almost always depicted as a youthful woman, usually crowned with a wreath of myrtle and roses. In her hands, you’ll probably spot a lyre or kithara, instruments traditionally associated with poetic song.

After the Renaissance, artists often included other details: two turtle doves pecking at seeds at her feet, or a golden arrow, which ties back to her role as the Muse of desire, since the golden arrow is also the sign of Eros.

The visual cues are generally consistent: Erato embodies youthful beauty, romantic longing, and musical artistry.

Marble statue of Erato from Monte Calvo Italy, public domain.

Worship and Cult

The Muses as a group were venerated at several sites in ancient Greece, especially at Mount Helicon in Boeotia and near the Castalian Spring at Delphi. At Thespiae, a festival called the Museia was held every four years in their honor, featuring poetry and music competitions. The Muses were also honored in Pieria, their mythical birthplace.

There’s no strong evidence that Erato had individual temples or a separate cult; rather, she was worshipped collectively with her sisters. Poets and musicians would often invoke her name at the start of their work – hoping for a touch of her inspiration – especially if their subject was love and passion.

Legacy and Influence

Mentions in Ancient Texts

Erato’s presence is felt throughout Greek and Roman literature. She is named in Hesiod’s Theogony as one of the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. In the Argonautica, Apollonius of Rhodes opens the story of Jason and Medea by directly invoking Erato:

Virgil also follows the same tradition in the Aeneid, where invoking Erato marks the transition to the so-called Iliadic stories of war and passion. Also, Plato, in Phaedrus, links Erato specifically to lovers, showing that her domain was widely recognized in both poetry and philosophy.

Artistic and Literary influence

Erato became a favorite subject for artists in the Renaissance and later periods, especially in works celebrating the arts and the Muses. Painters, sculptors, and even theater architects borrowed her symbols—lyre, roses, doves—to indicate romantic inspiration.

In art, there are various depictions of Erato. You can see Charles Meynier’s depiction of Erato with Eros in “Erato and Cupid”, or Angelica Kauffmann’s “Erato, the Muse of Lyric Poetry with a Putto”. Her name and image never stopped appearing in decorative arts and literature throughout the centuries.

Modern Culture

Erato’s legacy continues to live on today. Her name is used by poetry journals, music festivals, and student arts publications (such as the Erato journal at Georgia Tech). Especially in Greece, the name is popular for TV characters in stories involving passionate or forbidden love.

The concept of the “Muse” is still powerful in today’s creative circles, and Erato, the Muse of lyrics poetry, continues to inspire anyone who writes or composes in the service of love.

Conclusion

Erato may not be the “loudest” Muse, or the most prominent one, but her influence can be found everywhere love is expressed through art. Erato is the personification of that “something” that draws us to turn longing into verse. The muse of lyric poetry reminds us that even the highest art reaches new heights when it comes straight from our heart’s deepest places.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Erato mean?

Erato’s name comes from the Greek word eratōs, meaning “desired,” “lovely,” or “beloved.” It signals her connection to lyric and erotic poetry.

What is Erato the Muse of?

She is the Muse of lyric poetry, especially poetry about love and desire, as well as mimicry in the arts. She was also the patroness of marriage and love.

Who are the sisters of Erato?

The sisters of Erato are the rest of the nine Muses: Calliope, Clio, Euterpe, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Thalia, Terpsichore, and Urania. You can test your knowledge on the Muses with this test.

How is Erato usually depicted?

In art, Erato appears as a young woman crowned with myrtle and roses, holding a lyre or kithara. Sometimes, turtle doves or Eros appear with her, and she may hold a golden arrow.

Did Erato have her own individual worship in ancient Greece?

Erato was generally worshipped as one of the nine Muses. Temples and festivals honored the Muses collectively, especially at Mount Helicon and Delphi.