Orpheus and EurydiceI have always loved this story. Orpheus and Eurydice were two of the most quintessential lovers in all of history. When a snake bite killed Eurydice one day and caused her to descend into the dark underworld of Greek mythology known as Hades, Orpheus was overcome with grief and spent all of his time playing sad songs mourning over his lost love for her. One day a few scantily clad forest nymphs felt their hearts bleed to such an extent when they saw the depression into which Orpheus had sank, that they convinced him to venture down into Hades and attempt the impossible and bring his lost lover home. Orpheus immediately did this, and by his powerful melodies he softened the hearts of Hades and his wife Persephone, who especially felt the cause of this die hard lover. Hades agreed that he would let Eurydice free on one condition. This was that on their return to the world of the living Orpheus must walk in front of Eurydice and not look behind him to check on her. Ironically, and in typical Greek fashion, just before they reached the surface, Orpheus was overcome with anxiety over his wife's well being and he turned around to make sure she was behind him. Just as he did so, she disappeared into the darkness never to return again. Orpheus spent the rest of his life wandering the world singing songs of melancholy and infinite sadness for his lost lover.
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