Orpheus and Eurydice

• In Greek Mythology, the story of Orpheus and Eurydice is one of the greatest Love Tragedies, and has influenced Western Art through countless Paintings, Operas, Plays and Songs.
• The myth was first recounted by Ibycus of Rhegium, one of the Nine Lyric Poets, in c.530 BCE, and Virgil retold the myth in his Georgics.

The Myth of Orpheus and Eurydice

• Orpheus marries Eurydice
  • Orpheus was the son of Apollo who taught him how to play the Lyre. The beauty of his music was impossible to resist either by humans or animals.
  • Orpheus fell in love and married a very beautiful woman called Eurydice.
  • One day, whilst out walking with the Nymphs, Eurydice was bitten by a snake and died.
  • Orpheus was overcome with grief, but hoped that by playing his Lyre, he could bring her back to life which he failed to do.
• Orpheus asks Hades to release Eurydice
  • He decided to visit the Underworld, where Eurydice had been taken, and presented himself to Hades, God of the Underworld and his wife Persephone.
  • When Orpheus played his Lyre they were much taken with him, and Hades agreed to release Eurydice on one condition: That Eurydice follow him out of the Underworld, but on no account was Orpheus to look back.
  • Orpheus readily agreed thinking this would be easy.
• Hades releases Eurydice
  • However, not only could Orpheus not see Eurydice, but neither could he hear her steps behind him as she was a spirit.
  • Just as he reached the entrance to the Underworld, he panicked and was unable to resist turning back to check Eurydice was there. At which point, her spirit was taken back to the Underworld forever.
• Orpheus plays his Lyre
  • Unable to return a second time, Orpheus started to play melancholy tunes on his Lyre whilst hoping for death to reunite him with Eurydice.
  • Finally, he died, but the Muses decided that his head should remain with the living, so that his voice could continue to enchant people.