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Orpheus was a famous poet




and musician. People came His music made wild beasts





from all over Greece to hear tame and trees bend to





him play his lyre and sing. listen.

Orpheus was a famous poet




and musician. People came His music made wild beasts





from all over Greece to hear tame and trees bend to





him play his lyre and sing. listen.

Orpheus loved the beautiful Eurydice loved dancing and





nymph, Eurydice. The day often went to romp in the




they married was the happiest fields. But one day, dancing





in his life. among the meadow flowers,



she stepped on a deadly snake.

Orpheus loved the beautiful Eurydice loved dancing and





nymph, Eurydice. The day often went to romp in the




they married was the happiest fields. But one day, dancing





in his life. among the meadow flowers,



she stepped on a deadly snake.

The snake sank its poisonous Eurydice, overcome by the





fangs into her ankle. fatal poison, died instantly.

The snake sank its poisonous Eurydice, overcome by the





fangs into her ankle. fatal poison, died instantly.

Orpheus, when he heard the For days he would neither eat





news, was inconsolable. nor drink, and his friends





feared for his life.

Orpheus, when he heard the For days he would neither eat





news, was inconsolable. nor drink, and his friends





feared for his life.

Then, without a word, he He traveled to Hades, the land





took his lyre and left the of the dead, to beg for the





house. return of his beloved Eurydice.

Then, without a word, he He traveled to Hades, the land





took his lyre and left the of the dead, to beg for the





house. return of his beloved Eurydice.

At last he came to the River waited to carry the dead




Styx where Charon, the ferryman, across to the underworld.

At last he came to the River waited to carry the dead




Styx where Charon, the ferryman, across to the underworld.

At first Charon refused to But when Orpheus played to




take the living Orpheus. him upon his lyre, Charon





relented.

At first Charon refused to But when Orpheus played to




take the living Orpheus. him upon his lyre, Charon





relented.

First he had to travel through
On the other side of the


the asphodel fields – fields that

river, Orpheus’s journey


were dark gray and haunted
became a nightmare.



by ghosts.

First he had to travel through
On the other side of the


the asphodel fields – fields that

river, Orpheus’s journey


were dark gray and haunted
became a nightmare.



by ghosts.

Then on he went and where the guard dog,




through Tartarus, where Cerberus, growled and





the evil were tortured snapped at his heels.

Then on he went and where the guard dog,




through Tartarus, where Cerberus, growled and





the evil were tortured snapped at his heels.

He knelt before King Pluto and




Finally, Orpheus reached the his queen, Persephone, who




world of the dead. were amazed that a living





person should risk his own life




to reach their kingdom.

He knelt before King Pluto and




Finally, Orpheus reached the his queen, Persephone, who




world of the dead. were amazed that a living





person should risk his own life




to reach their kingdom.

Orpheus then took up his lyre Pluto and Persephone were





and sang his love for Eurydice moved to tears.




and of his great sorrow.

Orpheus then took up his lyre Pluto and Persephone were





and sang his love for Eurydice moved to tears.




and of his great sorrow.

They agreed to release

So Orpheus departed, without

Eurydice, but on one condition:


knowing whether Eurydice
Orpheus was not to look back


followed or not.

until he reached the world of





the living.

They agreed to release

So Orpheus departed, without

Eurydice, but on one condition:


knowing whether Eurydice
Orpheus was not to look back


followed or not.

until he reached the world of





the living.

As he came to the River Styx, If Pluto and Persephone had





he hesitated: tricked him, this was his last



chance to go back.

As he came to the River Styx, If Pluto and Persephone had





he hesitated: tricked him, this was his last



chance to go back.

With one foot in the boat, But then her living form





Orpheus turned – and saw faded and Eurydice became a





his beloved Eurydice, smiling ghost of the underworld.





upon him.

With one foot in the boat, But then her living form





Orpheus turned – and saw faded and Eurydice became a





his beloved Eurydice, smiling ghost of the underworld.





upon him.

And as Charon slowly ferried Orpheus realized that this





him into the sunlit world, time he had lost his love




forever.

And as Charon slowly ferried Orpheus realized that this





him into the sunlit world, time he had lost his love




forever.