1. Orpheus & Eurydice Virgil.Geo.4.315-527; Ovid.Met.10.1-85

2. Orpheus’ early life Son of Apollo & Calliope Born in Thrace
Magical music
Sailed with Argonauts

3. The marriage of Orpheus & Eurydice
Sputtering torches – a bad omen
Snake-bitten
Everyone moved to tears
Orpheus’ quest…

4. The Underworld
Wins over Charon
Tames Cerberus

5. Audience with Hades & Persephone
Appeals to their ‘Ancient love’
Ixion, Danaids, Sisyphus pause
The Furies weep

6. The Release The one condition (“taboo”) The ascent… Orpheus’ doubt…
Fading away…

7. The Death of Orpheus No more ladies The Maenads take offense
Charming rocks!
Screaming & Cymbals
Nature’s tears
Hebrus River

8. The Head and Lyre
His head continued to sing and his lyre played until they reached the island Lesbos
His head then became an oracle and his lyre became a constellation in the sky

10. Discussion questions
Orpheus story is often seen as a metaphor – for what?
What magical powers did Orpheus display in his life?
What moral could we draw from Orpheus’ doubt?