Orpheus was a very gifted minstrel. He was
wed to a nymph named Eurydice, and they loved each other very much.
One day, a snake bit Eurydice. Orpheus caught her in his arms and was
determined to snatch her back from the Underworld.
Orpheus found a path that led to the Underworld and followed Eurydice there.
He charmed the three-headed dog Cerberus with his lyre, who fell asleep.
Hades agreed to let Orpheus take Eurydice back, but on one simple condition.
Orpheus was not to look back at his wife.
As he walked up the path that he had recently trod on, he heard Eurydice’s
footsteps behind him. Pretty soon, he heard nothing at all. He
could see the light coming from the mortal world. “Eurydice?
Eurydice?” There was no answer. Just one glance back, he thought.
Orpheus quickly looked over his shoulder.
“Orpheus, how could you do this,” Eurydice whispered. And she was lost
forever.
Orpheus was very sad about losing his wife twice. He no longer played
joyful songs on his lyre. The crowds were so fed up with his sad songs
that they tore him to pieces in a fit of rage.
