Orpheus, the son of the Muse Calliope, was the greatest musician and poet in all of Greece. With his golden lyre, a gift from Apollo, he could charm wild animals, calm raging rivers, and even make trees and rocks move to his melody.
Orpheus fell deeply in love with Eurydice, a beautiful nymph, and their love was pure and profound. But their happiness was short-lived. On their wedding day, Eurydice was bitten by a venomous snake while fleeing a jealous suitor, and she died, her spirit descending into the Underworld.
Stricken with grief, Orpheus decided to journey to the Underworld to bring her back. With his lyre in hand, he played a melody so mournful and beautiful that the gates of Hades opened before him. Cerberus, the fearsome three-headed guard dog, was soothed by his music and let him pass.
When Orpheus reached the throne of Hades and Persephone, the rulers of the Underworld, he played his lyre and sang of his undying love for Eurydice. His song moved even the cold hearts of the Underworld’s inhabitants. The tormented souls paused their wailing, and Hades, known for his strictness, shed a tear.
Moved by Orpheus' devotion, Hades agreed to let Eurydice return to the world of the living—on one condition: Orpheus must not look back at her until they both reached the surface. If he did, she would be lost to him forever.
Orpheus and Eurydice began their ascent. Orpheus walked ahead, straining to hear her footsteps behind him. The journey was long, and doubt began to creep into his heart. Was Eurydice truly there, or had Hades deceived him?
Just as they were nearing the surface, Orpheus could no longer resist. He turned to see her, and for a brief, heart-wrenching moment, their eyes met. But because he broke the condition, Eurydice was pulled back into the shadows, her final words a sorrowful farewell.
Orpheus tried to return to the Underworld, but the gods would not allow it a second time. Devastated, he wandered the earth, singing his mournful songs until he met his tragic end. After his death, his spirit was reunited with Eurydice in the Underworld, where they could finally be together forever.
This tale captures the beauty and fragility of love, as well as the tragic consequences of doubt and impatience. Orpheus' music and devotion have made him a symbol of love that transcends even death.