Orpheus

Orpheus was the son of Calliope. He was in love with Euridice and that made his music happy and joyful. She loved him too, and they decided to get married. On their wedding day, because she was so happy, Euridice danced in a meadow. She accidentally stepped on a snake, and it killed her. Hermes arrived, and took her to the Under-world.

After Euridice’s death, he stopped making music. All his joy was gone. He was so sad, he wandered for the entry to see Hades, and he found it at the end of the world. Then he did what no other man had ever done before- he went to Hades to beg for his bride.

His begging music even move the Lord of the Underworld, and it made him cry. Persephone was also moved and begged Hades in Orpheus’ favor. It must have been good that Persephone was also sad, because Hades agreed. There was only one condition: Orpheus couldn’t look at Euridice until they got to the "realm of the living", if he did look at her, she would return to Hades. Orpheus agreed to the deal, and for the walk up, Euridice walked behind him. She was so silent that Orpheus wondered if Hades had been true to his word. With light right ahead of them, Orpheus turned to check if Euridice was there. As soon as he did so, Hades appeared, and took her away. In the last seconds before she was out of his sight forever, he heard her whisper farewell. Because of his lack of faith, he would never again see her, and he never again found any joy on Earth.

The new songs he composed were so sad, that they made anyone who heard them cry. One day, while Orpheus was walking in some woods, wild nymphs ran through and shouted at Orpheus to join them and dance, but he wouldn’t. The nymphs got mad and threw themselves at him, and threw him into the river.

The river stopped gurgling and listened to Orpheus’ voice, which was still singing. The muses mourned until his body was recovered on the island of Lesbos. When they found him, they gave him a proper funeral, and he joined his "sweet, beloved Euridice".

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