ABSTRACT
The myth o f Orpheus, in the form in which it entered European consciousness, is quite young: it was Virgil (Georg. 4 ,4 5 3 -5 2 5 ) and Ovid (Met. 1 0 ,1 -1 1 .8 4 ) who narrated it in its canonical form. Their accounts look organic enough. Orpheus lost his wife, Eurydice, at the time of their wedding; grief-stricken, he went down to Hades, overcame all hostile powers through the power of his song, but failed in the end: turning too soon to see his wife, he lost her for good. In reaction, he fled human com panionship, especially that o f wom en, and his mournful singing attracted wild beasts, trees and rocks. Finally maenads attacked him, tore his body to pieces and threw it into a river; miraculously preserved, his head kept on swim ming and singing on the waves.
