Erato, Muse of Poetry. Edward John Poynter (1836-1919). Watercolour. Bridgeman Art Library
Erato was one of the nine Mousai (Muses), the goddesses of music, song and dance. Her name means “the lovely” or “beloved” from the Greek word eratos. In Classical times, when the Muses were assigned specific artistic spheres, she was named Muse of erotic poetry and mimic imitation and represented holding a lyre.
(via somniumdantis)