The story of Orpheus and Eurydice is one of the most poignant myths of Greek mythology, the story of a musician so gifted that he could charm all living things, who descended to the underworld to retrieve his dead wife Eurydice, only to lose her forever by looking back at her before they were both in the sunlight. The myth has been retold in countless works of literature, art, and music, from Virgil’s Georgics and Ovid’s Metamorphoses to the operas of Monteverdi, Gluck, and Offenbach, to the films of Marcel Camus and the novels of Toni Morrison and Vikram Seth. The story of Orpheus and Eurydice is the myth of the artist who can move even the gods, but who cannot escape the human condition.
The Birth and Early Life of Orpheus
Orpheus was the son of the Muse Calliope and the king of Thrace, or, in some traditions, the son of Apollo himself. He was the most famous musician of the ancient world, and he is said to have invented or perfected the lyre, the seven-stringed instrument that became the symbol of Greek music.
According to the myth, Orpheus learned the lyre from Apollo, who was the god of music. Orpheus’s mother, Calliope, taught him the art of poetry, and his music was so beautiful that it could charm the wild beasts, make the trees and rocks dance, and even stop the flow of rivers.
The Marriage to Eurydice
Orpheus married a nymph named Eurydice, the daughter of the god Apollo in some traditions. The marriage was a happy one, and the couple was deeply in love. But their happiness was short-lived.
According to the most familiar version of the myth, Eurydice was walking through a meadow one day when she was bitten by a venomous snake. She died, and her soul descended to the underworld.
The Descent into the Underworld
Orpheus was devastated by the loss of Eurydice. He decided to descend to the underworld to retrieve her, and he used his music to charm the powers of death. He passed the Sirens by out-singing them, and he charmed Cerberus, the three-headed dog, with his music.
Orpheus eventually reached the throne of Hades and Persephone, where he sang a song so beautiful that even the gods of the underworld wept. He begged them to let him take Eurydice back to the upper world, and he promised that, if they granted his request, he would never look back at her until they were both in the sunlight.
The Fatal Backward Glance
Hades and Persephone were moved by Orpheus’s song, and they agreed to let Eurydice follow him back to the upper world, on the condition that he not look back at her before they were both in the sunlight. If he looked back, Eurydice would have to stay in the underworld forever.
Orpheus and Eurydice began the long ascent. They passed through the dark passages of the underworld, Orpheus in front, Eurydice behind. The journey was long and difficult, and Orpheus could not hear Eurydice’s footsteps or see her. He began to doubt whether she was really behind him.
Finally, they approached the exit, and the light of the sun began to shine through. Eurydice, eager to see the light, moved to step up beside Orpheus. Just as he was about to emerge into the sunlight, Orpheus could not resist looking back, to make sure Eurydice was there. He turned, and Eurydice was immediately snatched back into the underworld, lost to him forever.
The phrase “the fatal backward glance” has become a standard expression for the consequences of doubt, impatience, or lack of trust. Orpheus had been warned not to look back, and he did, and the consequences were tragic.
The Death of Orpheus
After losing Eurydice a second time, Orpheus was devastated. He wandered the earth for the rest of his life, singing songs of grief and love. He refused to look at any other woman, and he was said to have introduced homosexuality to Thrace, inspiring the Thracian men to follow his example.
According to one tradition, Orpheus was killed by the Maenads, the female followers of Dionysus, who were angered by his refusal to worship Dionysus or to look at women. They tore him apart and threw his head into the river Hebrus. The head, still singing, was carried out to sea, where it floated to the island of Lesbos, where it was buried and an oracle was established in his name.
The Orphic Mysteries
The Orphic Mysteries were a major Greek mystery religion, based on the teachings of Orpheus. The mysteries emphasized the immortality of the soul, the cyclical nature of life, and the possibility of a blessed afterlife for those who had been initiated and had lived according to the Orphic precepts.
The Orphic Mysteries had a profound influence on later religious traditions, including early Christianity. The myth of Dionysus’s dismemberment and rebirth, central to Orphic theology, has been compared to the Christian story of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, with its themes of love, loss, and the power of art, has also been compared to Christian themes of redemption and the soul’s journey to the afterlife.
The Cultural Legacy of Orpheus
The story of Orpheus and Eurydice has been one of the most influential myths in Western culture. The myth has been the subject of numerous operas, including Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo (1607), considered the first great opera, Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice (1762), and Offenbach’s Orphée aux enfers (1858). It has also been the subject of paintings by Titian, Rubens, Poussin, and many other artists.
The myth has been retold in countless works of modern literature, including Vikram Seth’s novel An Equal Music (1999), Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon (1977), and Sarah Ruhl’s play Eurydice (2003). The French film Black Orpheus (1959) by Marcel Camus is a modern retelling of the myth set in Rio de Janeiro, and it won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1959.
The phrase “Orphic” has come to mean mysterious, enchanting, and otherworldly, derived from the myth of Orpheus. The word “Orpheus” has been used for countless things in modern life, including the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the Orpheus myth in the Percy Jackson series, and the famous Orpheus of the God of War video game franchise.
For more on the mythological context, see our profile of Hades, our guide to the Greek heroes, and our profile of Persephone. For more on the cultural legacy, see our guide to Greek mythology in modern culture.