Мой первый журнал SUNRISE November № 1 2018 | Page 27

CULTURE
The Tragic Love Story of Orpheus and Eurydice
However, things would soon change
and grief would disturb happiness. There was a
man, Aristaeus, a shepherd, who planned to
conquer the beautiful nymph. A chase took
place. Eurydice stepped on a nest of snakes
and was bitten by a deadly viper.
After the death of his beloved wife,
Orpheus was no more the same carefree
person. That was when he had a great but yet
crazy idea: he decided to go to Underworld
and try to get his wife back. Apollo, his father,
wo u l d ta l k to H a d e s, t h e g o d o f t h e
Underworld, to accept him and hear his plea.
Armed with his weapons, the lyre and voice,
Orpheus approached Hades and demanded
entry into the underworld. None challenged
him. Standing in front of the rulers of the dead,
Federico Cervelli “Orpheus and Eurydice”
Orpheus said why he was there. He played his
lyre and sang out to King Hades and Queen
One of my most favorite Greek myths
is devoted to Orpheus and Eurydice. I heard it
from one of the locals and got impressed!
Later I found out that their love story had
inspired many painters, such as Peter Paul
Rubens and Nicolas Poussin. Moreover, many
operas, songs and plays have been composed
to honour these two great lovers who
tragically lost the chance to enjoy their love.
O r p h e u s i s k n ow n a s t h e m o s t
talented music player of the ancient times as
well as the owner of the charming voice. His
father was god Apollo and the Muse Calliope
was his mother. He lived in Thrace and taught
agriculture, writing and medicine. He had the
power to broaden the mind to new unusual
theories and even took part in the Argonautic
expedition, which was the voyage of Jason
and his fellow Argonauts to get to Colchis and
steal the Golden Fleece. In fact, Orpheus
played a vital role during the expedition
because playing his music he put to sleep the
"sleepless dragon" that was guarding the
Golden Fleece and thus Jason managed to
get the Fleece.
One day his eyes fell on a wood nymph
called Eurydice. She was beautiful and shy.
Something inexplicable tugged the hearts of
the two young people and soon they fell dearly
in love, unable to spend a single moment
apart. After a while, they decided to get
Persephone that Eurydice was returned to
him. Hades promised that Eurydice would
follow him to the Upper World, the world of the
living. However, he warned Orpheus that for no
reason he must look back while his wife was
still in the dark, for that would undo everything
he hoped for. He should wait for Eurydice to
get into the light before he looked at her. With
great faith in his heart and joy in his song,
Orpheus began his journey out of the
underworld, joyful that he would be reunited
with his love once again. As Orpheus was
reaching the exit of the Underworld, he could
hear the footfalls of his wife approaching him.
He wanted to turn around and hug her
immediately but managed to control his
feelings. As he was approaching the exit, his
heart was beating faster and faster. The
moment he stepped on the world of the living,
he turned his head to hug his wife.
Unfortunately, he got only a glimpse of
Eurydice before she was once again drawn
back into the underworld. When Orpheus
turned his head, Eurydice was still in the dark,
she hadn't seen the sun and, as Hades had
warned Orpheus, his sweet wife was drowned
back to the dark world of the dead…
Since that time he could find no
consolation in anything. His songs were not
joyful anymore. His only comfort was to lay on
a huge rock and feel the caress of the breeze.
married. Their wedding day dawned bright and
clear. The surroundings were filled with
laughter and gaiety.
November 2018 №1
SUNRISE
26