Mythful Meanings

In the English language, many meanings come from myths. This blog considers many of those words.

Myths are stories people tell to explain the great mysteries of life, such as birth and death, why the sun rises and sets, and why the moon changes in a predictable pattern.

I decided to start over from the end of the alphabet and work toward the beginning. I have a stack of index cards with information typed on them, all in alphabetical order. When I started this blog, I started at A, because I didn't realize that all the entries would be pushed down.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Calliope

In ancient Greek and Latin myth, Kallos (meaning beauty and voice) was the name of one of the nine muses. She was the patroness of epic poetry. She and Apollo were the parents of Orpheus, who became the patron of music.

Orpheus was one of the Argonauts. When the Argonauts had to resist the call of the Sirens, he played his lyre and sang, preventing their song from attracting the sailors.

Orpheus is perhaps best known with Euridice, his beloved. Orpheus literally went to Hell to win her back from death. Like Lot's wife, who turned into a pillar of salt when she looked back at the forbidden place from which they came, Euridice was lost to Orpheus, drawn back into the underworld.

English word: The word calliope has one clear meaning in English: a steam-powered musical instrument. It is played from a keyboard, as an organ. It is commonly associated with circuses.

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