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CALIOPE, CALLYOPE. Calliope, eldest of the Muses, was the daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne. The Muse of epic poetry, she was the mother of Orpheus and the keeper of the Castalian spring on Mount Parnassus, which was sacred to Apollo (Met V.662-663).

Calliope and her eight sisters sing Fame's praises in Fame's house, HF III.1399-1406. Even in the Underworld Orpheus sings the songs he learned from his mother's well, Bo III, Metr 12.23, a reference to the Castalian spring. The poet asks Calliope to lend her voice because he needs her now, Tr III.45-48. Fulgentius says that Calliope means "she of excellent voice," optima vox (Mythologies I.15). The invocation is influenced by Dante, Purg I.7-9. [Cleo: Orpheus: Pierides]

Caliope appears initially, Tr III.45, and in final rhyming position, HF III.1400.

Callyope appears as a gloss in Bo III, Prosa 12.23, to identify Orpheus's mother.


Dante, Divine Comedy, ed. and trans. C.S. Singleton, II.1: 2-3; Fulgentius, Fulgentius the Mythographer, trans. L. Whitbread, 55-57; Ovid, Met, ed. and trans. F.J. Miller, I: 284-285.
From CHAUCER NAME DICTIONARY
Copyright © 1988, 1996 Jacqueline de Weever
Published by Garland Publishing, Inc., New York and London.

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