“He stopped, and now, even at the confines of light (thoughtless alas!) and deprived of understanding, he looked back at his Eurydice: there all his labour vanished, and the conditions of the cruel tyrant were broken and a groan was thrice heard in the Avernian lake. Then she; who is it, O Orpheus, that has destroyed miserable me, and thee also? Whose great madness was this? Lo, again the cruel Fates call me back, and sleep seals up my swimming eyes. And now adieu: I am carried away encompassed with thick darkness, and stretching out my hands to you in vain, alas being no longer yours. She said, and fled suddenly from his sight a different way, like smoke mixing with thin air: nor did she see him catching in vain at the shadows, and desiring to say a great deal more; nor did the ferry-man of hell suffer him again to pass over the withstanding lake.” (-Virgil, Georgicks) And what symbolism is there in this mistake of Orpheus turning back too early? Does it portray the danger and punishment of not respecting the gods and following their rules? Perhaps it symbolizes time, and by looking back (livig in the past) we will find pain and not be able to move on with our lives in the present and future. There are many fascinating examples of the reoccurring motif of “Mortal’s not heeding a divine warning” in Greek myth. When Psyche looks upon her secret lover’s face (Eros) against his orders, it sets her on a long journey where she ultimately must perform impossible labors to appease Aphrodite. In the final task, after trekking to Hades to collect some of Persephone’s beauty in a box, the girl can’t help but peak within the box, which renders her unconscious, and she is only saved by Eros in the end coming to remove the sleep. Pandora, the first mortal woman created by Hephaestus, was warned not to open the jar offered by Zeus as a present, but when her curiosity overpowered her, she opened the lid, releasing ills and evils into the world. When King Pentheus, in his arrogance, denied the divinity of Dionysus, the god bewitched the king’s mother and aunts who tore the man apart, thinking him a lion. King Erysichiton, ignoring the warning, cut down sacred trees in the grove of Demeter, and was cursed with everlasting hunger, resulting in him later devouring his own flesh. Museum-quality posters made on thick and durable matte paper. Add a wonderful accent to your room and office with these posters that are sure to brighten any environment. • Paper thickness: 10.3 mil • Paper weight: 5.57 oz/y² (189 g/m²) • Giclée printing quality • Opacity: 94% • ISO brightness: 104%

Find out why the ancient Greeks were so fond of love-themed tragedies. Read this article to find out more about the myth behind Hades Orpheus and Eurydice.

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Poster advertising Orpheus in the Underground at His Majesty's Theatre, 1911

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Love ancient Greek mythology? Then you need to know this story of lost love in the Underworld, the story of Orpheus and Eurydice.

This painting, by the French artist Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (c. 1796-1875), may seem calm and restful at first glance, but the deceptively tranquil image actually alludes to a much darker tale of tragedy. As the title of the artwork discloses, the woman featured in this painting is Eurydice. According to ancient Greek mythology, she was a […]

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~Longing by itself cannot transform a shadow into a living being again~ Orpheus and Eurydice by Edmund Dulac, 1935.