![]() It was Orpheus’ songs that vanquished Sirens, won the heart of his wife, and it was his songs alone that would convince the gods to defy fate. However, Orpheus needed only his songs to succeed. He could not run military drills and he likely was poorly trained in combat. Although a great hero of antiquity, Orpheus was markedly not a fighter like Heracles, Jason, or Odysseus. When the audience is introduced to Orpheus, he is an adventurer. We might as well tell you know before you get way too invested into this guy. Although not everyone could say they went to the Underworld and bargained with Hades, it is Orpheus’ musical accomplishments that made him a hero to the ancient Greeks. Outside of this unique, resume-worthy trait, Orpheus is most of all remembered for his beautiful songs – so beautiful, in fact, they could sway the gods themselves – and his immense grief over the loss of his beloved wife. Among the worshipped are Hermes, Dionysus, and the goddess Persephone. Unsurprisingly, the Orphic mystery cult venerated other individuals and Greek gods that returned unscathed from the land of the dead. The myth launched Orpheus from an acclaimed bard to a cult icon. ![]() Orpheus is famous for a few reasons, but the most famous story of his surrounds his descent into the Underworld. Although he continued to play the lyre, Orpheus only played the most dismal songs and never took another wife. Her loss caused the Thracian bard to spiral into a deep, lifelong depression. On their wedding day Eurydice met an untimely end when she was bit by a venomous snake. However the two were so enamored that they dismissed the warning. Hymenaios, the god of matrimony and a companion of Aphrodite, informed the bride and groom that their union would be short lived. It didn’t take long for the lovebirds to decide to get married. Where Orpheus went, Eurydice followed vice versa. From that point on, the pair was inseparable. It was love at first sight when Eurydice, a dryad nymph, attended one of Orpheus’ popular performances after his return as an Argonaut. Orpheus and EurydiceĪs one of the world’s most tragic love stories, the pairing of Orpheus and Eurydice seemed match made in heaven. Orpheus, the greatest musician to ever live, was believed to have died after his adventures. Regardless of this fact, even demi-gods could not escape death. It could be argued that Orpheus was even a demi-god, having been the offspring of a goddess after mating with a human. ![]() In classical mythology, Orpheus was mortal. Jason’s legendary quest for the Golden Fleece predates the Trojan War and the events of the Epic Cycle, placing the feats of Orpheus around 1300 BCE. It is hard to pinpoint when Orpheus lived, but based on Orpheus’ involvement in the Argonautic expedition, he likely existed during ancient Greece’s Hero Age. ![]() Most popular legends even claim that it was Apollo who gave Orpheus his very first lyre. Orpheus was taught how to play the lyre in his youth as an apprentice to Apollo, who as Apollon Mousēgetēs took a vested interest in the child of Calliope. Due to his musical inclinations, Orpheus is frequently credited with being one of the greatest musicians to have ever lived Indeed, that is what legends would lead us to believe. On top of this, he was an accomplished lyrist. It is said that Orpheus mastered various poetic forms at a young age. Having such legendary parents would definitely explain why Orpheus was gifted in both music and poetry: it was hereditary. In some alternatives to mythology, Apollo and Calliope were said to be the parents of Orpheus. While there are no confirmed siblings of Orpheus, it is said that Linus of Thrace, a master orator and musician, could have been his brother. He was born in Pimpleia, Piera, near the foothills of Mount Olympus. Orpheus was the multi-talented son of Oeagrus, a Thracian king, and the muse Calliope.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |