Hello everyone, and welcome back to "Greek Mythology Gods." In this mythological world shrouded in mystery and wonder, we will once again embark on the journey of the gods, pursuing their glory and tragedy.
Yesterday, we told the story of Apollo and the beautiful young Hyacinthus. Their friendship brought them together, but the jealousy of the West Wind led to a tragic end. Hyacinthus wasstruck and killed by a wind-blown discus. Heartbroken, Apollo transformed his blood into hyacinths, a symbol of eternal longing and reborn love. This myth speaks to the power of friendship, jealousy, and remembrance.
Today, let us delve into another tragic love story—"Orpheus and Eurydice." This gifted god of music moved the underworld with his lyre, but a single glance back cost him the love of his life. His story is one of the most moving poems in Greek mythology about "love defying death."
Orpheus, son of Apollo, was gifted with unparalleled musical talent. His lyre could make trees dance and rocks weep. He fell in love with the beautiful Eurydice and married her. However,their happiness was short-lived. One day, Eurydice was bitten by a venomous snake and tragically died.
Grief-stricken, Orpheus could not accept his wife's departure. He played his lyre and sang a lament, his voice moving heaven and earth, even reaching the underworld. Moved by his deep love, Hades agreed to bring his wife back, but on one condition: he must not look back until he returned to the living world. Just as he was about to emerge from the darkness, Orpheus glanced back to check if Eurydice was following him. That one glance ruined everything: his wife's soul was instantly dragged back to the underworld, separated forever from the living and the dead.
From then on, Orpheus remained silent and refused to love again. The sound of his lyre became mournful and ethereal, until one day, a group of girls, driven by love and hatred, stoned him to death. His lyre and head were placed in the river, and the music still echoes on the waves.
Finally, the Muses buried his body, and Zeus sent his soul to the heavens, where it became a constellation. Legend has it that in the night sky, you can still hear the music he played forEurydice—a song of love that transcends life and death.
In the next episode, we will explore the story of Dionysus, the god of wine: the never-ending conflict between revelry and rationality. Faced with the arrogance and blasphemy of KingPentheus, Dionysus used his divine power to punish him, transforming him into a wild beast and being torn apart by believers during the ceremony. The wrath of the gods often stems from human contempt.
Thank you for listening. This is "Greek Mythology Gods." May the stories of the gods resonate in your heart, and may the light of myth illuminate every thought. I am your narrator,and we will see you next time—on another fantastical journey through the realms of gods and humans.
For further reading, you can refer to the following:
Orpheus- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orpheus
Eurydice- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurydice
If you’d like to dive deeper beyond the stories, you can also explore sculptures inspired by these myths here:
https://www.arturbanstatue.com/other-product/greek-and-roman-statues/