Nine Muses (Redux)

Just a while ago, someone actually looked at this old post of mine and wondered if I had invented the names that I used to describe the Nine, or taken them from some Chinese mythological source. No, I didn't. The names are just Anglicised versions of the originals.

Just to tie up that one loose end, here is the list.

• Beautiful Voice is Calliope (Καλλιόπη), whose name is most frequently translated as 'Beautiful (of) Speech'.
• Heavenly Lady is Urania (Οὐρανία), whose name is indeed most frequently translated as 'Celestial One'.
• Recounter of Tales is Clio (Κλειώ), whose name is often translated as 'Making Glorious' (or 'Making Famous'); here I have deviated the most, because she is the muse of history, and history is not always glorious.
• Flourishing Stem is Thalia (Θάλεια), whose name really does mean 'Freshly Shooting' (or 'Blossoming').
• Inspiring Loveliness is Erato (Ἐρατώ), whose name really means 'Amorous'; the key here is the Greek word eros, which covers all kinds of sensual love.
• Delightful Dancer is Terpsichore (Τερψιχόρη), whose name really means 'Delighting in Dance'; here I have changed the focus to the muse, for consistency.
• Pleasantly Delighting is Euterpe (Eὐτέρπη), whose name is often translated 'Well-Pleasing'; yet, as you can see by comparison with the previous lady's name, they are somewhat related in origin.
• Many Songs is Polyhymnia (Πολυύμνια), and that is indeed what her name means.
• Sweet Singer is Melpomene (Μελπομένη), whose name is often translated as 'the Chanting One', but (I think) is better translated as 'Melodious (Singer)'; the root mel- connotes sweetness.

As I mentioned before, they are all lovely ladies and myths in their own right; although I have indeed met women who are like them in their traditional guise, the two kinds are very different in quality of essence.