ORPHEUS – Greek Myth Of The Musical Hero’s Venture To the Underworld And The Effect Of His Music On People
ORPHEUS – In this topic, we will discuss the Greek hero Orpheus, who live a spent his days singing songs of love after the death of his wife, Eurydice.
According to Britannica, Orpheus was endowed with superhuman musical skills and became the patron of a religious movement based on sacred writings that are told to be his own.
He was the son from a Muse and Oeagrus, a king of Thrace. The legends said that his first lyre was given to him by Apollo, god of music, poetry, arts, oracles, archery, herds and flocks, diseases, healing, light, sun, knowledge and protection of young.
As per the article, His singing and playing of the lyre were beautiful that animals and even trees and rocks moved about him in dance.
Orpheus was about to be married to a wood nymph Eurydice when she suddenly stumble to the ground and died. The cause of Eurydice’s death came from a snake bite.
After her death, the musical hero ventured into the underworld. Using his lyre, he puts the guard dog Cerberus to sleep, and moved Charon, the ferryman, to let him cross the river Styx for free.
He then sang to Hades and Persephone about how he loved Eurydice and that he asked them to let her live even for a few years on Earth. The whole underworld stood still by his singing. Hades grant his wish if he can climb back from the underworld without looking back to see if Eurydice is following him.
As soon as Orpheus was about to step out of the underworld. He gave in to temptation and Eurydice was sent back to the underworld. He was then refused to enter.
After that, the hero swore to never love another woman again and sang songs of lovers in a grove of trees. The loss of his love enables him to see the hearts of gods and humans.
He was soon killed by Maenads, who was rumored to be urged by Dionysus to dismember the hero because he preferred the worship of Apollo.
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Here is TED’s take on Orpheus’ story.