Claire: It’s a delightful day to share with you the masterpiece of another enchanting story

from Greek Mythology, titled “Orpheus”. We hereby stand here, requesting your attention
to witness the discussion of this tragic and magical myth.
This discussion will be close to the version of Alice Low, an American author, lyricist, and
editor born in New York City, year 1926. We’ve studied and gathered different versions of
Orpheus to be able to share with you the multiple stories of how the myth of Orpheus
ascended. Some of these are collected from Ovid’s version and Virgil’s Georgics which made
the story have different flows and mixed opinions.
Hannah: According to Greek History, Zeus, the God of the Sky had nine goddesses with a
Titaness named Mnemosyne. These goddesses are distinguished as muses. Each muse has
its own kind of specialty in art or science. One of these muses is Calliope, who was
recognized as the inspiration of poets and musicians. According to Apollodorus and a
fragment of Pindar, Calliope married a Thracian king named Oeagrus or Apollo, the God of
Sun and Light. They had a son known as Orpheus who received a great talent for music from
his parents.
Orpheus rests against a rock while playing his lyre.

Ayesha: While growing up, Orpheus learned to play an instrument called lyre from Apollo
but was said to have surpassed the skill of his mentor. His music is known for its magical
effect that could soften even the wildest beast around, manage animals, and sway objects
like rocks or rivers. According to a story, Orpheus have saved argonauts from death when he
blocked the sound of deadly sirens with the rhythm of his lyre. He can bend the knees of
giants and assuage the wrath of wild beasts as they attempt to take him down. His
extraordinary greatness at music can sway every mortal and immortal species who hears
him play. Even nature itself, the trees, rocks, and waves of rivers, would surrender to the
enchantment of his notes.
Gerrymie: When Orpheus was old enough to discover the genuine meaning of love, he fell
madly in love with a gorgeous nymph, Eurydice.
Orpheus is playing with his lyre in the woods, when he noticed a beautiful woman walking slowly while
feeling the moment. They both slowly stopped when Eurydice also noticed his music. They talked in the
distance.
E: That was a splendid sound.
O: *flustered* *looked at his lyre* *and then to her*
O: Who are you?
E: *smiles* I am a nymph. My name is Eurydice. You?
O: Orpheus.
E: *smiles more* In what reason did you stop strumming your lyre... Orpheus?
O: My attention got too focused to something extraordinarily exquisite, my fingers felt numb.
E: *chuckles*
E: Can I have the pleasure to have your music allure me again?
O: Yes.
Gerrymie: He played her his lyre as she danced along to his music. The two were so devoted
to each other that they soon got married by the Hymenaios, the god of marriage himself.
However, Hymenaios told them a prophecy that their happiness had expiration.
H: I, the God of Marriage, Hymenaios, bless these two pure souls to share half of their hearts with each
other.
H: But this love will have its last emission of breath. It is written in their fate... to lead to a dark cave, and
end horrendously.

Jasmine: Eurydice is recognized for her astonishing beauty, but this didn’t end fortunately
when a minor god named Aristaeus attacked Orpheus right after their wedding to abduct
his wife, Eurydice. To her fear of getting onslaught, the nymph ran into a forest wherein a
venomous viper bit her, and caused her death. After all, Hymenaios’ prophecy came true.
Orpheus will grieve on Eurydice’s body.

Ayesha: Her death gave Orpheus grief and devastation. The anguish filled his life gloomy, as
if everything just became meaningless. That’s when it hit him, that he would do anything to
bring her mortality back and have her return in his arms again. Then, he decided to travel
his way to the underworld and demand for the life of his wife back from the kind and queen
of the Realm of the Dead, Hades and Persephone.
Hannah: Although he knew it was going to be the first time to bring someone back to life
from the underworld, and that it would be impossible to happen, he was determined to
have her back. He fought his way over a cave despite its darkness, and used his lyre as a
weapon to save himself from all the danger he had to face. Orpheus managed to control the
flow of a river known as the Styx and defend himself against numerous soulless monsters
through his alluring song, with the accompany of his lyre.
Claire: Orpheus’ song filled the underworld agony as he cried for his undying love and
despair. He knew that Hades and Persephone would order him to exit their realm but before
that, he immediately used his music to beg them. As usual, his instrument softened even
the cold rulers of the underworld. Their hearts melted to the sorrow of his music and
agreed to give him back his beloved. The two reunited as love filled their eyes. But they can
only leave in one condition. They must return to the Earth without Orpheus looking back to
Eurydice following him.
Hades: How dare you invade my domain, you mortal creature! You shall tell me your motivation, or you will
suffer in tartarus, for all eternity!
Orpheus: I'm begging you, to allow me to return to the world of living with my beloved Eurydice.
Hades: And who do you think you are to-
Orpheus: *played with his lyre with closed eyes as he deliver his desperation and sorrow*
Hades and Persephone: *slowly changed their expression from being ruthless rulers, to captivated pawns*
Persephone: Hades, we may send his wife back, can we not? You rule this underworld. I know we have the
power to grant his request, for my guilt will not afford to let their love rot between hell and above.
Hades: I guess I have no power to endure the guilt of bringing hindrance within this undying devotion.
Hades: I, therefore, allow the deceased nymph, Eurydice, to gain her life and reunite with this noble
Orpheus who had gone through the gates hell for his beloved.

Gerrymie: Because of Orpheus’ eagerness, he accepts the condition and leads his wife back
to Earth. On their journey, he couldn’t avoid earning excitement as they traveled further.
And when a glimpse of sunlight flashed on Orpheus’ face, his excitement overflowed. He
forgot about the condition when he spoke to Eurydice, and she failed to respond. Orpheus
looked back before he could even realize that it was going to be a terrible mistake. He could
barely see his wife in the darkness.
Eurydice: Farewell…

Gerrymie: And they both knew, it was already too late to change that minute.
Ayesha: Before being taken by the darkness, Eurydice mouthed her farewell to Orpheus
that he could also barely hear it. All he could do was accept the misfortune of their fate had
to end tragically.
Jasmine: Orpheus’ death was one of the most disturbing deaths in the Greek literature.
According to a story, his heart never throbbed for someone else again. Then, some Thracian
female of Dionysus allured by his music was maddened by his rejection, and tore him to
pieces with their own bare hands in one of the orgiastic Dionysian mysteries.
Claire: The most common narrative believes that his life went on, but he became true to his
word and never stopped loving his deceased wife. He spent most of his remaining life
wandering around the world and singing his broken heart out until he finally met his end
and reunited with Eurydice in the underworld.