The story of Orpheus and Eurydice

There was but one mortal whose skill in playing the lyre could rival that of the golden god of music, Apollo, and his name was Orpheus. When he played, birds would descend from the sky to perch on the branches above him. Animals from the fields would gather around, tilting their heads to listen.

Orpheus spent much of his youth devoted to music and poetry. As he grew older, he mastered the lyre and drew crowds of listeners—both near and far—with his enchanting voice. At a gathering where humans and animals mingled, his eyes fell upon a wood nymph. Her name was Eurydice; she was a graceful being, at one with nature. Her eyes held a touch of melancholy and a shy expression, yet every glance possessed a beauty that deeply stirred Orpheus’s soul. He found her listening, captivated by his enchanting voice. Neither could tear their gaze away from the other. Their hearts were filled with an inexplicable attraction, and they soon fell deeply in love; they could not bear to spend even a single moment apart. Before long, they decided to marry.

Their wedding was magnificent, yet throughout the ceremony, the candles and lamps in the temple emitted oily, black smoke that caused the guests to cough and choke. The priests had to wipe tears from their eyes and shook their heads at one another, saying, "This is a bad omen. Such things should never happen at a wedding." They were right to be concerned.

The next morning, Eurydice woke early. While Orpheus was still fast asleep, she rose from the bed, dressed, and went for a walk. Dawn was just breaking. Before the sun fully rose, a snake—coiled upon a rock in the first light of day—stirred. As Eurydice walked barefoot through the meadow, she felt movement on the cold earth. In an instant, the snake’s fangs found her foot, injecting its deadly venom into her veins. A scream rang out, shattering the silence of the morning. By the time Orpheus found her, Eurydice was already dead and cold. He gathered her into his arms and carried her home, his face wet with tears.

Orpheus could not bring himself to accept his wife's death. His profound love for her drove him to decide to descend into Hades and bring his beloved back. He walked day and night until he reached a cave. Passing through a tunnel at the back of the cave, he arrived at the River Styx and encountered Charon. The lament Orpheus played on his magical lyre was so sorrowful that the teary-eyed spirits made room for him to board the boat. Moved by the music, Charon, too, allowed him to step into the skiff

Suddenly, a harsh barking sound rang out. Cerberus, the three-headed guardian of Hades's gate, sprang from the shadows. Orpheus lifted his lyre to his shoulder and began to play; the beauty of the music soothed the fearsome beast. Cerberus wagged his tail, closed his six red eyes, and rolled onto his back. Thus, Orpheus passed through the gate.

Around him, a sound arose like the rustling of wind through dry leaves: the dead were gathering. Orpheus’s music moved them to weep for sorrows they could no longer recall and to laugh for joys they had forgotten—for the dead had lost the memory of their lives.

Orpheus continued walking, surrounded by the dead, until a palace emerged from the shadows. He passed through the black gates, climbed the black stone steps, and finally entered the great hall. In the farthest corner of the hall stood two thrones. On one sat Hades, the dark king of the underworld; on the other, his graceful wife, Persephone. Orpheus captivated them both with his music and his love for his wife. The gods took pity on a man who loved his wife so deeply and agreed to grant him Eurydice. Yet, they imposed a condition: Orpheus was to walk ahead of Eurydice and never look back until they had left the realm of the dead.

Orpheus accepted the condition. They began the journey, but with every step, Orpheus’s heart beat with unease. Could he sense Eurydice’s footsteps or her faint breath? His eyes searched for a silhouette lost in the depths of the darkness. Curiosity overcame his patience. He turned around. Hades was furious at this. Because Orpheus did not keep his word, Eurydice was taken back to the underworld.

As Orpheus returned home in sorrow, he played a melody more beautiful than any he had ever played before. Yet, he never saw Eurydice again.

According to some legends, when Orpheus died years later, Charon, the river ferryman, was waiting for him. He carried Orpheus across the oily black waters. Upon reaching the far shore, Persephone saw him. She felt pity in her heart and touched Orpheus’s forehead with her finger. At that moment, his memory returned. Persephone did the same for Eurydice. The two lovers found each other in that shadowy realm and embraced.

Even today, there are those who tell of them walking and talking together, laughing with love. Sometimes Eurydice walks ahead, and Orpheus follows her. At other times, Orpheus walks in front, knowing that he could look back and Eurydice would always be there.