Orpheus & Eurydice
He went down to the underworld for love
The musician who descended to the underworld to retrieve his love and lost her by looking back one moment too soon.
01Why it matters
It is the founding myth of art against death. "The backward glance" is one of the most cited images in Western culture.
02The conflict
Eurydice's death and the god's single condition: do not look back.
03The iconic moment
The backward glance that loses her forever.
04What survived
Operas by Monteverdi and Gluck; the musical "Hadestown."
05What to watch, read & listen
06Frequently asked questions
Why is the story of Orpheus & Eurydice famous?
It is the founding myth of art against death. "The backward glance" is one of the most cited images in Western culture.
How does the story of Orpheus & Eurydice end?
The backward glance that loses her forever. Operas by Monteverdi and Gluck; the musical "Hadestown."
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