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| Orpheus
was the son of Calliope. She was the inspiration of poets and musicians.
He was mortal because his father was not a god. His mother gave him
the talent of music. He played so sweetly that he could charm anything
on earth.
Orpheus
fell in love with a young woman named Eurydice. They were soon married.
Not long after they were wed, Eurydice stepped on a poisonous snake and
died. Orpheus longed for his wife. He decided that he would go down
to the Underworld and retrieve her.
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| Orpheus
came to the gates of the Underworld. He was frightened by the three-headed
dog that stood guard, but he plucked his lyre and played a soothing
tune. After a while, Orpheus gained control of the three-headed beast.
This allowed him to enter through the gates.
Now Orpheus found himself standing at the edge of a gloomy river. When he looked into the river, he saw the souls of the dead. They were calling on a man named Charon for help. Orpheus looked up and, in the distance, saw an old man in a boat, paddling up the river. Orpheus called to the man but he did not answer. Again Orpheus called him but still no response, Orpheus started to play his lyre again. The man began to slowly paddle his way. When he got there he asked Orpheus who he was, and he replied, "I am the son of a goddess and I wish to see the king and queen at once." Charon, the old man, let him in the boat and led him to the quarters of the king and queen. |
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Orpheus begged to have his wife Eurydice come back to earth with him. The king and queen were shocked at his request and weren't sure how to answer. Orpheus played a sad tune to show how he felt. The rulers of the land of the dead empathized with his pain. The king said, "You may have her back on one condition; you cannot look back at her one time during your journey to the surface of the earth." Orpheus thanked them and played a tune to show his gratitude. Orhpeus and Eurydice started back to the earth's surface. Over and over again, he asked if she was still behind him, and each time she replied, " Yes, I am still here, my love." When they were almost out of the cave, he again called to her, but she did not hear him. Forgetting what the king had said, he turned around and saw her coming around the corner. Almost immediately after he glanced her way, she was pulled back to the Underworld. Orpheus never saw Eurydice again until they were reunited at his death. |
| Aesop | Andromeda | Arachne | Atlantis | Cupid | Cyclops | Echo | Hercules | Hermes | Hydra | Jason | Medusa | Midas | Minotaur | Oedipus | Orpheus | Persephone | Prometheus | Pygmalion | Romulus | Trojan Horse | |