Orpheus

1
Orpheus Eurydice
2
Orpheus

• Hypothetical PIE verb orbhao- to be deprived
• From PIE orbh- to put asunder, separate
• Greek orphe- darkness
• Greek orphanos- fatherless, orphan
• Related to Latin goao- to lament, sing wildly,
  cast a spell

3
The Tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice

• Orpheus was the son of Oeagrus, a Thracian
• king, and the muse Calliope. He was trained
• on the lyre by Apollo, and soon his music was
• as beautiful and magical as that of his teacher.
• Orpheus music tamed wild animals, and even
• trees and mountains would creep closer to
• hear him play.

4

• Orpheus married Eurydice, but their happiness
• was short-lived. The bride stepped into
• a nest of snakes and was bitten. She quickly
• died from her wounds.

5

• According to the poet Virgil, Orpheus
• mourned Eurydice so deeply, and played
• songs so sad, that all of the nymphs and gods
• wept.
• They convinced him to descend to the
• Underworld, to fetch back his bride.

6

• He traveled over the river Styx, to the very
• throne room of Hades and Persephone. There
• he made his appeal singing the most beautiful
• song ever heard

7

• I came for my wifes sake, whose growing
• years were taken by a snakes venom. I
• wanted to be able to bear this I have tried to.
• Love has conqueredIf fate denies us this
• privilege for my wife, one thing is certain I
• do not want to go back either triumph in the
• death of two.

8

• Orpheus playing was so beautiful, everything
• stopped. Sisyphus sat down atop his
• boulder, and Tantalus gave up trying to reach
• the water.
• Hades and Persephone
• were so moved, they
• called for Eurydice.

9

• They told Orpheus that he could take
• Eurydice, still limping from her wound, but he
• must not look back at her until they had
• reached the upper world.

10

• As they neared the upper world, Orpheus
• became more and more anxious to behold
• Eurydice. Knowing he could not, he felt that
• he had to look back. When he felt Eurydice
• stumble behind him, his resolve crumbled and
• he turned to steady her.

11

• As he turned, Eurydice
• faded back into the
• depths of Hades,
• reaching out her arms
• for him even as she died
• a second time.
• Dying a second time, she
• complained not of her
• husband, for why should
• she complain of being
• beloved?

12

• Orpheus begged to be allowed to cross the
• river once more, but Charon drove him away.
• For seven days, Orpheus sat by the bank of
• the river crying for his wife.
• He never loved another woman.

13
Why Does It Move Us?

• Orpheus and Eurydice is a story of unfailing
  love.
• Unlike many other stories in Ovid, the
  characters downfall doesnt come about because
  of his shortcomings, but rather because of his
  love and passion.
• This destruction through the best of man adds to
  the tragedy.

14
(No Transcript)