Orpheus
A legendary musician, poet, and prophet
Orpheus and Eurydice
Orpheus fell in love and married Eurydice, Hymen was called to bless the wedding but he predicted that their perfection was not meant to last. A short time after this ominous prophecy, Eurydice was wandering in the forest with the Nymphs, when Aristarchus, a shepherd, saw her and began to chase her when she attempted to flee. As Eurydice sprinted through the forest, she managed to escape him, but was bitten by a snake and died instantly. Orpheus tried to get her back from the underworld. Apollo then advised his son to descend to Hades and see his wife. Any other mortal would have died, but Orpheus, protected by the gods, went to Hades and arrived at the infamous Stygian realm, passing by ghosts and souls of people unknown. He also managed to charm Cerberus , the monster known to have three heads. Orpheus presented himself in front of the god of the Underworld Hades and his wife Persephone.Orpheus played his lyre, melting even Hades' cold heart. Hades told Orpheus that he could take Eurydice with him but under one condition; Eurydice would follow him while walking out to the light from the caves of the Underworld, but he should not look at her before coming out to the light because he would lose her forever. If Orpheus was patient enough he would have Eurydice as a normal woman again by his side.
Orpheus was delighted; he thanked the gods and left to ascend to the world. He was trying to hear Eurydice’s steps, but he could not hear anything and he started believing that the gods had fooled him. Of course Eurydice was behind him, but as a shadow, waiting to come to light to become a full woman again. Only a few feet away from the exit, Orpheus lost his faith and turned to see Eurydice was behind him, but her shadow was whisked back among the dead. Eurydice was gone forever. He tried to go back but no one can go back to the underworld twice while still alive.
Orpheus was delighted; he thanked the gods and left to ascend to the world. He was trying to hear Eurydice’s steps, but he could not hear anything and he started believing that the gods had fooled him. Of course Eurydice was behind him, but as a shadow, waiting to come to light to become a full woman again. Only a few feet away from the exit, Orpheus lost his faith and turned to see Eurydice was behind him, but her shadow was whisked back among the dead. Eurydice was gone forever. He tried to go back but no one can go back to the underworld twice while still alive.
Orpheus
Orpheus playing music
Orpheus
Animals gathering around Orpheus
Orpheus
Orpheus trying to rescue his wife from the underworld
Orpheus origins
Orpheus origins
Orpheus' father was Oeagrus, a Thracian king; or, according to another version of the story, the god Apollo. His mother was the muse Calliope; or, a daughter of Pierus, son of Makednos. His birthplace and place of residence was in Pimpleia,Olympus or in Lamia in Phthiotis. In Argonautica the location of Oeagrus and Calliope's wedding is close to Pimpleia,near Olympus. While living with his mother and her eight beautiful sisters in Parnassus,he met Apollo, who was courting the laughing muse Thalia. Apollo, as the god of music, gave Orpheus a golden Lyre and taught him to play it. Orpheus' mother taught him to make verses for singing. Strabo mentions that he lived in Pimpleia. He is also said to have studied in Egypt. In Bulgarian tradition, Orpheus is said to have been born in the village of Gela close to shiroka Luka in southern Bulgaria. Modern day Bulgaria occupies roughly the same territory as ancient Thrace. Virgil associates Orpheus with the land of the Getae and even describes him wandering as far north as Tanais. Orpheus is said to have established the worship of Hecate in Aegina. In Laconia Orpheus is said to have brought the worship of Demeter Chthonia. Also in Taygetus a wooden image of Orpheus was said to have been kept by pelasgians in the sanctuary of the Eleusinian Demeter.
The Tale of Orpheus and Eurydice
Orpheus and Eurydice
Works cited
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