a long long time ago far away from the humans the gods and goddesses lived happily in Mount Olympus
among them there lived one handsome young man named Orpheus Orpheus was the son
of Apollo and calliope the muse Apollo gave his son a lyre and taught him how to play
Orpheus did to such perfection that even Apollo was surprised the music he played was magical
it is said that nothing could resist to his music and melody neither friends nor enemies or beasts
even trees and rocks were entranced with his music
one day Orpheus saw Eurydice a woman of unique beauty
they fell in love they got married Hymen the god of marriage was called to bless them
but as soon as Hymen saw them he knew that their marriage was not going to last long
what Hymen predicted soon came true one day while Eurydice was roaming in the garden
she was bitten in the foot by a venomous snake Eurydice died immediately of the wound
Orpheus was speechless with grief Orpheus sang his grief with his lyre and managed to move everything
living or not on the world both humans and gods were deeply touched by his sorrow and grief
apollo advised Orpheus to go to the underworld and request Hades to meet Eurydice
nobody could enter the underworld except when they were dead but Orpheus was under the protection of gods
armed only with his lyre the gift of Apollo he descended into the gloomy depths of Hades
he managed to charm Cerebrus the three-headed dog with his divine music
came to the River Styx Sharan the ferryman glared coldly at him demanding how a mortal dared entered the realms of Hades
Orpheus started playing such sad touching strains bet Sharan begged him to cease
tears were falling from the eyes of the dark boatman as he hastily guided his boat across the river
Orpheus finally presented himself in front of the god of the underworld Hades and his wife Persephone
Orpheus started playing for them and even the cold heart of Hades started melting
due to the melodies coming from Orpheus's lyre hades told Orpheus that he could take Eurydice with him
but under one condition Eurydice would follow him while walking out to the light from
the caves of the underworld but he should not look at her before coming out to the light because he
would lose her forever Orpheus was delighted he thanked the gods and left to ascend to the world
he was trying to hear Eurydice's steps but he could not hear anything and he started believing
that the gods had fooled him Eurydice was behind him but as a shadow waiting to come to light to
become a full woman again when Orpheus was a few feet away from the exit he lost his faith
and turned to see as soon as he turned her shadow was whisked back to the dead Eurydice
was now gone forever Orpheus tried to return to the underworld but a man cannot enter the Hades
twice not alive anyway the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice is one of the most famous and beloved
Greek myths a myth about love and passion and also about the weakness of the human spirit