Erato
In Greek mythology, Erato /ˈɛrətoʊ/ (Ancient Greek: Ἐρατώ) is one of the Greek Muses. The name would mean "desired" or "lovely", if derived from the same root as Eros, as Apollonius of Rhodes playfully suggested in the invocation to Erato that begins Book III of his Argonautica.
Erato is the Muse of lyric poetry. In the Orphic hymn to the Muses, it is Erato who charms the sight. Since the Renaissance she is often shown with a wreath of myrtle and roses, holding a lyre, or a small kithara, a musical instrument that Apollo or she herself invented. In Simon Vouet's representations, two turtle-doves are eating seeds at her feet. Other representations may show her holding a golden arrow, reminding one of the "eros", the feeling that she inspires in everybody, and at times she is accompanied by the god Eros, holding a torch.
Development
Erato was named with the other muses in Hesiod's Theogony. She was also invoked at the beginning of a lost poem, Rhadine (Ῥαδινή), that was referred to and briefly quoted by Strabo. The love story of Rhadine made her supposed tomb on the island of Samos a pilgrimage site for star-crossed lovers in the time of Pausanias and Erato was linked again with love in Plato's Phaedrus; nevertheless, even in the third century BC, when Apollonius wrote, the Muses were not yet as inextricably linked to specific types of poetry as they became.
Erato (band)
Erato is a Swedish musical duo consisting of Petra Brohäll and Ebba Lovisa Andersson. Formed in 2008, they became known for their cover of "Call Your Girlfriend" by Robyn, which became a viral hit on YouTube.
In 2012, they contributed vocals to seven songs on the American indie pop band Passion Pit's album Gossamer.
Their debut album, Pictures of Pets, was released in 2014.
References
Erato (gastropod)
Erato is a genus of small sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Triviidae, the trivias.
The genus name is taken from the name of the Greek muse Erato.
Species
Species within the genus Erato include:
Podcasts:
