“Orpheus and Eurydice,” painted in 1862 by Edward Poynter
I love the Broadway musical Hadestown and I recommend any of you to listen to it onYoutube or in person! Amazing songs and good storytelling of this tragic Greek myth.
Small background for their love story 👇
Orpheus and Eurydice is one of the most poignant love stories in Greek mythology. Orpheus, the son of the muse Calliope and the god Apollo (in some versions), is renowned for his divine musical talent. His lyre-playing is so powerful that it can move animals, trees, even the stones themselves. He falls in love with and marries Eurydice, a beautiful nymph. But their joy is tragically short—on their wedding day or shortly after, Eurydice is bitten by a venomous snake while fleeing a satyr and dies. Grief-stricken, Orpheus decides to brave the realm of the dead and retrieve her. With his hauntingly beautiful music, Orpheus moves even the hearts of Hades and Persephone, the king and queen of the Underworld. They agree to let Eurydice return to life, but under one strict condition: Orpheus must walk ahead of her and not look back until they have both completely exited the Underworld. Orpheus agrees and leads her through the dark, silent passage back to the living world. But just as he reaches the threshold, he’s overcome with anxiety and longing. He turns around—too soon. Eurydice is still behind him, and because he broke the condition, she vanishes forever, drawn back into the Underworld. Devastated, Orpheus wanders the earth in sorrow, playing mournful songs until, in some versions, he is eventually killed by Maenads (followers of Dionysus), and his spirit is reunited with Eurydice in the afterlife.
Thanks for enjoying and learning about this beautiful art piece with me! ❤️
day of the dead
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