A mythic love story : Tragic tale of Orpheus and Eurydice

Tragic tale of Orpheus and Eurydice



ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE, Sir  Edward John Poynter, 1862

Did you know out of all the mythic love stories, the story of Orpheus and Eurydice attracts attention the most? It is a dreadful tale about passionate love and the lengths to which people will go to capture it even if it means to defying nature.  



 According to legends, Orpheus was the son of one of the Muses, mostly said to be Calliope, by either  Apollo or the Thracian king Oeagrus.  His father Apollo (the Greek god of music) gifted him a golden lyre when he was just a child. As time passed, Orpheus’s talent even suppressed his father. He played so beautifully that  the objects around him would come to life because his music was so charming. 


One day Orpheus was playing his lyre as usual in the woods, a nymph followed the beautiful melody and found him. It was love at first sight for both of them. This young man was loved by many but he only loved this beautiful nymph named Eurydice. She loved him back and happily agreed to become his bride. Orpheus invited Hymen (the god of marriage) to his wedding but for some reason he was not at his best self during the ceremony. He even forgot to bless the happy couple. It was a sign that their happiness wouldn't last for long.


Soon after their marriage Eurydice died of a venomous snake bite. Myth says, Aristaeus (  (a shepherd) had his eyes on Eurydice because of her otherworldly beauty. Driven by jealousy, he wanted to have her for himself and began to chase her through the forest which led her to a serpent nest where the snake bit her.  Eurydice died instantly, and her soul was carried to the Underworld.


Drowned with grief, Orpheus ventured himself to the land of the dead to bring Eurydice back to life.  With his singing ability, he amused the ferryman Charon and the dog Cerberus and convinced them to open the gate. Even though his music and grief didn't move Hades (king of the underworld) but it convinced his wife Persephone. Thus, Orpheus was allowed to take Eurydice with him back to the world of life and light but cunning Hades set one condition.  Orpheus wasn't allowed to look back at her until they were both back in the land of the living. The couple climbed up toward the opening into the land of the living, and Orpheus, seeing the Sun again, turned back his head to share his delight with his wife. With the rule broken, she disappeared and was lost forever. 


A famous version of the tale was released by Virgil in Georgics, Book IV. 

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