Greek mythology, the story of Orpheus and Eurydice

1. THE STORY OF ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE

2. Myth, a symbolic narrative, usually of
unknown origin and at least partly
traditional, that ostensibly relates actual
events and that is especially associated with
religious belief. It is distinguished from
symbolic behavior and symbolic places or
objects.

3.  Orpheus-son of Apollo and calliope ; talented in music
(Apollo-son of Zeus ; God of music)
(Calliope-eldest muse , beautiful voice)
 Eurydice-wood nymph
 Hades(Pluto)-King of Underworld and ruler of the dead
 Persephone-unwilling queen of the underworld ; daughter of Zeus and Demeter

4. Talented in music - instrument lyre
Beautiful , heavenly and magical
music can calm the angriest of beasts and cast spells on
unsuspecting Greeks
 no god or mortal could resist his music and even the rocks
and trees would move themselves to be near him.

5.  appointed Queen of Thebes
Wife of Orpheus
dryad, a nymph (female nature spirit) associated
with trees
Died from snake bite
Descended to hades

6. Lord of the underworld
Brother pf Zeus
God of wealth
Wife - Persephone

7. Followers of the gods of vines
Woman sacred to Dionysus
Able to perform miracles
Killed Orpheus for disputed reasons

8. Goddess of the underworld
Goddess of the harvest
Daughter of Zeus and Demeter
In underworld 1/3 of the year

9. lyre
Orpheus and Eurydice
Death of Eurydice

10.  Orpheus was the son of Apollo and he was a very gifted musician whose music could charm mortals,
animals and the trees. Eurydice was the wife of Orpheus and one day Eurydice was wandering with
the nymphs and a shepherd named Aristaeus attempted to make advance toward Eurydice and she
ran off. While running she was bitten by a snake and died. Being so grief stricken Orpheus played his
sorrows in his music which was heard by gods and men.
 In such need for his love he went in search Eurydice in the underworld. In the underworld he
sang his sorrow with such perfection that Pluto, Proserpine and all of the ghosts of the underworld
stopped. Orpheus’s song made Proserpine and Pluto grant him his desire. They let Eurydice leave with
him under one condition; he could not look at her until they left the underworld.
 When they nearly left the underworld Orpheus had forgotten his promise and wanted to assure
that Eurydice was following him he looked at her and she was instantly gone. Orpheus didn’t even
have a chance to hug his love. In such love for his wife Orpheus wanted to follow her in death. He
wandered back into the underworld and kept playing his heartbreaking song. Orpheus’s singing had
caused the Thracian maidens to get angry and screamed to drown out his overpowering music. The
maidens ripped him apart and placed his remains at Libethra. Now in death Orpheus and Eurydice
walk the fields together in true happiness.

11.  Orpheus goes to the underworld
 Orpheus was the son of Apollo , the God of music

12.  A viper stung Eurydice and she died
 When Orpheus would play his lyre the rocks, trees and animals would come closer
to him

13.  Orpheus marries Eurydice
 A band of Maenads killed Orpheus tearing him limb from limb

14.  Orpheus’s grief was overwhelming when Eurydice died
 Orpheus needed to look back to be sure that Eurydice was behind him.

15. The power of music
Death
Fleeting nature of happiness
Love and trust

16.  The story of Izanami and Izanagi and Orpheus and Eurydice are similar because
both of the husbands, Izanagi and Orpheus, traveled to the Underworld, in search
of their dead wives.
 these two stories are similar, because both of the husbands ended up failing at
bringing their wives back to the living, so they both remained in the Underworld.
 A difference between the two myths, is that the two wives had different opinions
about leaving the Underworld
Izanami & Izanagi-------

17. Don’t look back to the past or question true love.
When your true love is taken away from you will
try to do anything to get it back. Questioning your
love can ruin everything you have experienced.
What type of love is stronger? Being with the love
of your life or losing the love of your life?