Orpheus '...Goes to 'Hell'' - Greek - Extra Mythology

Orpheus was a world-class poet and bard. He was on the top of the world and engaged to a beautiful nymph named Eurydice. However, that's when tragedy struck! Eurydice dies and the only way to bring her back would be for Orpheus to delve into Hades to find her.

*Thanks for participating in this week's discussion!*

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[extrahistory]

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[mesektet]

And then Orpheus fell into a deep depression that provoked some nymphs into killing him for being so emo; At which point he was united in death with Eurydice by Hades. Because the moral is, even if death seems merciless, it eventually reunites everyone, just ya know, not on *your* terms.

[Panda_Roll]

I like Neil Gaiman's take on it. The when he left the halls of Hades everyone there started to laugh, Orpheus was haunted by the echos of this laugher and took it personally. What if they were laughing at him, that there was nobody behind him and it was all a joke on his expense. Most stories have him turn back only steps before reaching the light so sure he was tricked only to find... he wasn't. And that was the cruelest thing of all, Hades had honored his part, Orpheus was the one that didn't.

[supersaiyandrgnslayr]

I'll say, in honest, that Hades is one of the most fair and kindest Gods. Literally Persephone was his only sin and even then there are multiple sources that state Persephone was all for it by the end. But in terms of helping Heroes, Hades was actually one of the biggest bros despite his reputation. In fact, he had to add the condition, because he was essentially helping Orpheus break the laws. In reality, if he was like Zeus or Poseidon, it would've been MUCH, MUCH worse.

[jeremy]

I've heard of this tale ever since I was a kid, and every time I go back to it I always wince at the ending. The hero comes so close to getting his beloved back, only to fail at the last moment and doom both her and himself. It's heartwrenching 😟

[TupocalypseShakur]

I like Orpheus's tale because it reminds me I'm not the only one who would look back despite being told not to

[GuruofGone]

I saw Hadestown right before COVID lockdown, at the end when he turns around it was almost silent. Except for the woman behind me who whispered just loud enough for me to hear a faint "dont!". Honestly I almost laughed

[scottanos]

"When you're going through hell, keep going" - Winston Churchill

[cristaltophat]

“Hades wasn’t the kindest of gods.”

Okay I’m just gonna stop you right there redirect your attention to Zeus and Poseidon as examples and then we’re gonna revisit your previous statement and why It’s wrong.

[joinmarch]

5:17 I'm gonna have to speak in Hades' defense here because:

1. It was technically more of an arranged marriage. Not much better, but it wasn't really a kidnapping per se.

2. And getting away from that admittedly pedantic point, it was all Zeus' idea anyway. Zeus was a douchebag in the days of Ancient Greece.

3. And most importantly, Hades realized he made a mistake and, pomegranate seeds notwithstanding, he DID do right by Persephone and let her go back to see her mom again on realizing what Demeter was doing.

4. His dad DID eat him, Demeter, Hestia, Hera, and Poseidon when they were babies. If it weren't for Zeus and Metis, they'd still be in there and possibly even dead today.

In fact, Hades and Persephone's relationship, while not always the most romantic in the traditional sense, is probably the most functional in all of the Greek pantheon!

[YukoValis]

Well the theory goes that as a shade she isn't able to leave the underworld. So there is a chance she just got held at the entrance waiting for orpheus to turn around. Also I find it funny that you don't complete the story, because there is more after that event. Orpheus got so upset that he sang depressing songs causing people to take their own lives, and crops wouldn't grow. When the people had enough of him they killed him, cut him up into pieces, and threw his remains in a river.

[Zivillyn]

To be fair to Hades about the dad imprisonment, his dad did kinda eat him and his siblings that one time

[whatgamesweplay]

I remember the story not ending there. Orpheus in his grief took a rock and started hitting the strings of his instrument, creating such sounds that killed vegetation and made women barren and so a group of women came upon him and killed him to stop their barrenness

[TheRevanchrist]

Stalwart Hades and Dread Persephone are my favorite characters from Greek mythos. Like his parody of a character in the Disney film, unlike his younger brothers lounging about and and looking for the next mortal to get with, he is fully committed to his duties and would not allow anyone pull a fast one on him without a fight.

[LoneTiger]

Hades: _"Aren't we forgetting one teensy-weensy but ever-so-crucial little tiny detail? I OWN YOU!"_

[Mistersleep]

since you mentioned orpheus all I can really say is.

"(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
Yeah

(Yes, the battleground's right here)
(It's a man's world)
(Come on)
(Gotta get ready for this right here)
(Hey, yo)

Fear's awake, anger beats loud, face reality
Never beat charity
The enemy you're fighting covers all society (damn right)
Mommy's not here, gotta fight (all night)

Right here, Shadow, 10 o'clock, direction
Seize the moment, destroy the nation
Your rhyme is slow-motion, give me motivation
Freaked out now, and dead on arrival (what?)

Round up around, spit out, all over
Rhyme like a rolling stone
Comin' a crowd
Watch out, they move, they diss you loud
Guess what this sound, it bombs whole ground
(So round up)

Don't ease your pace, 'cause enemy's brutal
Moment of truth, there ain't no truce
You're the only one, one world, one love
But the battle goes on, Shadows of mass destruction

Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada

Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada

Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada

Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada

(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
Yeah

(Yes, the battleground's right here)
(It's a man's world)
(Come on)
(Gotta get ready for this right here)
(Hey, yo)

Fear's awake, anger beats loud, face reality
Never beat charity
The enemy you're fighting covers all society (damn right)
Mommy's not here, gotta fight (all night)

Right here, Shadow, 10 o'clock, direction
Seize the moment, destroy the nation
Your rhyme is slow-motion, give me motivation
Freaked out now, and dead on arrival (what?)

Round up around, spit out, all over
Rhyme like a rolling stone
Comin' a crowd
Watch out, they move, they diss you loud
Guess what this sound, it bombs whole ground
(So round up)

Don't ease your pace, 'cause enemy's brutal
Moment of truth, there ain't no truce
You're the only one, one world, one love
But the battle goes on, Shadows of mass destruction

Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada

Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada

Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada

Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada

(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
Yeah

(Yes, the battleground's right here)
(It's a man's world)
(Come on)
(Gotta get ready for this right here)
(Hey, yo)

Fear's awake, anger beats loud, face reality
Never beat charity
The enemy you're fighting covers all society (damn right)
Mommy's not here, gotta fight (all night)

Right here, Shadow, 10 o'clock, direction
Seize the moment, destroy the nation
Your rhyme is slow-motion, give me motivation"

[TheArmyofWin]

Wait a minute… interesting parallels between Orpheus and Izanagi and Izanami. I thought “save your dead wife from the underworld, but turn around on the way out and everything goes wrong” sounded familiar.

[a.p.studios]

Orpheus: oh no, my lover’s dead
Orpheus: *grabs his harp* It’s ‘Orphin Time

[carriioneater]

I feel like it's important to mention that Orpheus was not only a demi-god, but he was the son of Apollo and Calliope, one of the muses, that's why he was so good with poetry and music, straight up in his blood

[DDespicable]

Hmm. Thats the first time ive heard Orpheus failed literally at the finish line instead of succumbing to doubt and looking back b4 he got out.