~ * ORPHEUS and EURIDICE * ~ by luciferino
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Description
Orpheus (OHR-fee-us or OHR-fyoos)
Supremely gifted minstrel who attempted to rescue his dead wife from the Underworld. Orpheus had been taught to play the lyre by Apollo, and such was his skill on the instrument, together with the sweetness of his singing voice, that he could charm wild animals and even cause trees to uproot themselves and follow in his steps. Jason and the Argonauts took him along when they quested after the Golden Fleece, and Orpheus saved them from shipwreck by drowning out the treacherously alluring voices of the Sirens with his own musical stylings.
Orpheus fell in love with a nymph named Eurydice and blissful was their life together until one day she was pursued by a son of Apollo, the minor deity Aristaeus. In her headlong eagerness to escape, she stepped on a poisonous snake, was bitten and died. Disconsolate, Orpheus found a cave which lead to Hades and followed Eurydice to the Underworld. Here his musical charms were so persuasive that the King of the Dead permitted the minstrel to take his sweetheart Home with him - on one condition.
This condition was so simple that it takes some explaining to account for Orpheus's failure to heed it. Perhaps he could not bear to keep his eyes off their beloved object for a moment longer. Perhaps he wanted to share his rapture at birdsong and sunshine as they approached the mouth of the cave. Or maybe he wanted Eurydice to hear the latest lick that he had worked out on his lyre. In any case, he did the one thing he had been forbidden. He turned around and looked at Eurydice, and she was lost to him forever.
Orpheus swore he would never love another, and it may have been the steadfastness of this vow which caused certain wild women of Thrace to tear him limb from limb in a fit of jealousy. They threw his head into a river, and it kept on singing all the way to the sea.
I hope you klike this strange version of the story, big kisses at all you smack Orietta
Comments (47)
Artzy
Wonderfully Done!
RodolfoCiminelli
Questo un fantastico lavoro ed anche una fantastica storia della mitologia greca, Orfeo che scendi in inferni per riscattare della morte al sua amata Euridice.....!!! La realizzazione spettacolare tanto nella splendida interazione che hai ottenuto cospure come il favoloso ambiente che ha....!!!
ericfarris
So excelent work as always Ori! HUGS
SophiaDeer
Outstanding work!! I love the hair!
RyverMyst
Be still my heart!!! Thank you for your artwork.
gloriatanta
I love this gothic version of the story. Yes... great work! Hugs!
Predatron
Great image Ori, very well done. Steve:)
DRAKELOT
Impressive image !!! Bravo !!! ... Antonio.
shipmanjonathan
Fantastic!! Love the work!!
acclaude
Wonderfull wings & hair !! this is so transcendental & moody xxxxx ;o) thks
Forevernyt
Very cool!
ilona
Fantastic image to go with such a beatiful legend.. one of my favourites!!! Loved it sweetie!
NocturnalRamble
love it. And this is gorgeous. Beautifully done.
calum5
Marvelous work as ever Ori,I'll peek in now and again to make sure your doing things right lol!Love cal xx
sputter
Fantastic and modernistic depiction of this ancient story! Very cool design on Orpheus' wings, and Euridices' mask is a strange enigma! Excellent and stylish art!
ToniDunlap
Oh boy, I really love this piece. I've always been in love with the story. Your depiction of it is wonderful. Just the best.
GRiMAge
I knew this story, and i was even working at my very... uh.. interpretation of it (before it got left behind like most of the things i start) - but i always thought it was the indecision that caused him to turn and look - that he couldn't believe he had really succeded and wanted to make sure before leaving Hades... and in doing so he failed... but then, as you said, it is very open for interpretation... ;) An interesting twist to the story you have here - sure it looks beautiful and dreamy, but one twisted question springs to my mind.... where'd he put the lyre? erm... ok, i'm not sure that i want to know... O.O LOL!