Orpheus's story is romantic and tragic. Blessed by the God's with a lyre and a beautiful singing voice, Orpheus charmed the nymph Eurydice. They fell in love and married. But the gods were jealous. Eurydice was bitten by a poisonous snake and sent to the Underworld.
Orpheus charged into the Underworld to retrieve his beloved. The sound of his lovelorn songs touched Hades who made him a strange deal.
“Orpheus, take your Eurydice and bring her to the world of the living. But you must walk ahead and leave her to follow you without you looking back even for a second, your beloved will be lost here again and forever”.
Happily the two lovers fled hell, Orpheus in the lead. But the way was dark and rocky. Just as sunlight streamed ahead of them Eurydice stumbled and cried out in pain. Orpheus turned to help her and she was dragged away from him forever into the darkness of the Underworld.
Orpheus charged into the Underworld to retrieve his beloved. The sound of his lovelorn songs touched Hades who made him a strange deal.
“Orpheus, take your Eurydice and bring her to the world of the living. But you must walk ahead and leave her to follow you without you looking back even for a second, your beloved will be lost here again and forever”.
My favorite modern adaptation of this story is Moulin Rouge. Great stories never die-- they just change clothes. (=
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I also love that line, "great stories never die-- they just change clothes."
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