Orpheus was a bright youth, young and handsome. As was such, he found himself a bride and lover in a woman of equal stature, Eurydice.
The pair got married, but shortly after, Eurydice was bit by a viper, and died. Orpheus was torn apart with grief, and fell into a deep sadness. He could not see himself without Eurydice, he had to retrieve her from the underworld.
Intending to do just that, he crossed the Styx and made his way to Hades' Palace. Once there, he begged to have his sweet Eurydice returned to the world of the living.
Hades refused, but Persephone took pity on him, and made a deal.
"You may take her with you when you leave, but you must not look back at her as you leave," she told him.
Orpheus thanked her, and Hades promised she would be following him. Orpheus left, and headed to a spot he knew that would allow them both to cross the river.
All the while, he was tempted to look back at his beautiful wife, to see if she was truly behind him. He managed to resist the temptation.
Finally, he stepped out into the sun. Thinking it safe, he turned with a wide grin on his face.
But his love had not left the shadows, and as he turned to look, she whispered "farewell" and faded back into the shadows, leaving Orpheus once more.
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Hades' Second Chance
RomanceYou've probably heard the myth of Hades and Persephone before. But perhaps a change is in order? When Hades catches the eye of the young and dashing Apollo, an athletic youth with a penchant for literature and music, after a recent break-up with the...
