ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE

The lyrist Orpheus fell in love with the beautiful Eurydice, only for her to die shortly after;
Orpheus made the journey into Hades, the Underworld, to try to bring his beloved back. His wish
was granted – but on the condition that he mustn’t look back at Eurydice as she followed him out
of Hades, until they were both safely back in the land of the living. Orpheus couldn’t resist one
quick glance … and Eurydice was lost to him forever. This is the short version of the tale, but
there’s a bit more to it than this. Eurydice was a nymph – a dryad, specifically (a nymph
associated with the forests) who married Orpheus. One day, while she was out among the
Thracian countryside, she was pursued by a shepherd, Aristaeus, who wanted her. As she fled
from him, she stood on a serpent which reared up and bit her on the leg, killing her with its
venom. Orpheus grieved at the loss of the love of his life. But the one thing he had was his song,
and so he went to the Underworld (or Hades, or, if you like, Hell) to beg for the return of
Eurydice to the land of the living. Orpheus used his lyre and his beautiful singing to charm the
demons of the Underworld. His singing even charmed Hades, the god of the Underworld, and his
wife (for half the year, anyway), Persephone, goddess of the Underworld. Perhaps because
Hades and Persephone knew, as husband and wife, what it was like to love someone, they were
moved not only by Orpheus’ music but by his petition as well; they certainly agreed to his
request, and allowed Eurydice to return with Orpheus to the land of the living. Orpheus’ song,
and his perilous journey into the Underworld, were proof of his love and devotion to Eurydice.

However, Hades and Persephone imposed one condition: Orpheus was to lead the way out of
the Underworld, with Eurydice following behind him – but on no account was Orpheus to turn
back and look at his wife until they were clear of the Underworld and back in the world of the
living. Orpheus agreed, but as he was making his way back from the Underworld, he was
gripped by a terrible doubt. What if Hades and Persephone had tricked him, and he was leaving
his wife behind? What if she wasn’t behind him at all? Eventually – when he was not far from
exiting the Underworld – Orpheus couldn’t resist any longer, and turned back to see his wife,
Eurydice. He shouldn’t have doubted. But in looking back, he had broken the one condition
Hades and Persephone had laid down: not to glance back until they were both out of the
Underworld. And so, he had to watch in horror and despair as Eurydice was taken back down
into the Underworld – all because he looked back at her. So, Eurydice died a second time – this
time thanks to her husband. Orpheus tried to return down into the Underworld to plead with the
gods again, but he found the entrance to Hades barred – this time for good. Not even his song
could gain him entry.