| EURYDICE 
 One  of  the  Napaeae, she  was  seen  by  and  fell  in  love with Orpheus, but  pursued  by  Aristaeos, a satyr who also loved her, she was bitten by a snake and died. Orpheus, his heart wrung by grief, descended  to  the  Underworld, where  he avoided the attentions of the beasts and unwholesome  things  that  dwelled  there, by  virtue  of his beautiful music.  He  finally came into the presence of Hades and Persephone, and begged  for the return of Eurydice, playing his soulful music, to soften their hearts. Hades was unmoved, but his wife, swayed by the melancholic music, which   awoke  in  her  memories  of  the  world  she  had  left behind, begged  her husband to grant Orpheus his wish. Hades agreed, but on  one condition:while on the journey back to the upper world, Orpheus must  never  once  look  back  to see if Eurydice was following. If he did, she  would  be lost to him forever. Near the entrance to the world of  men, his  frustration got the better of him, and he turned. Eurydice was torn from him, back to Hades.
 |  |