The lyrist Orpheus fell in love with the beautiful Eurydice.

Eurydice was a nymph – a dryad, specifically (a nymph associated with the forests) who married Orpheus. One day, while she was out among the Thracian countryside, she was pursued by a shepherd, Aristaeus, who wanted her. As she fled from him, she stood on a serpent which reared up and bit her on the leg, killing her with its venom.

Orpheus grieved at the loss of the love of his life. But the one thing he had was his song, and so he went to the Underworld (or Hades, or, if you like, Hell) to beg for the return of Eurydice to the land of the living.

Orpheus used his lyre and his beautiful singing to charm the demons of the Underworld. His singing even charmed Hades, the god of the Underworld, and his wife (for half the year, anyway), Persephone, goddess of the Underworld.

Perhaps because Hades and Persephone knew, as husband and wife, what it was like to love someone, they were moved not only by Orpheus’ music but by his petition as well; they certainly agreed to his request, and allowed Eurydice to return with Orpheus to the land of the living.

Orpheus’ song, and his perilous journey into the Underworld, were proof of his love and devotion to Eurydice.

However, Hades and Persephone imposed one condition: Orpheus was to lead the way out of the Underworld, with Eurydice following behind him – but on no account was Orpheus to turn back and look at his wife until they were clear of the Underworld and back in the world of the living.

Orpheus agreed, but as he was making his way back from the Underworld, he was gripped by a terrible doubt. What if Hades and Persephone had tricked him, and he was leaving his wife behind? What if she wasn’t behind him at all? Eventually – when he was not far from exiting the Underworld – Orpheus couldn’t resist any longer, and turned back to see his wife, Eurydice. He shouldn’t have doubted.

But in looking back, he had broken the one condition Hades and Persephone had laid down: not to glance back until they were both out of the Underworld. And so he had to watch in horror and despair as Eurydice was taken back down into the Underworld – all because he looked back at her. So, Eurydice died a second time – this time thanks to her husband.

Orpheus tried to return down into the Underworld to plead with the gods again, but he found the entrance to Hades barred – this time for good. Not even his song could gain him entry.