Terpsichore within Greek Mythology was one of the nine Muses, daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne. She was the goddess associated with dance and lyrical poetry and is perhaps the most famous of Muses. She is often depicted seated and holding a lyre, accompanying the chorus as they sing.
Plaques such as this would have adorned the sides of caskets and were popular from the 4th century. The Muses were a popular theme and comparative works have been found, all formed in repoussé technique. This hammering style was also popular from the 3rd – 5th century
