THE HERO ORPHEUS

Author's Note:

‘The Hero Orpheus’ details the pursuit of Orpheus trying to regain his love, Eurydice, from the depths of the Underworld after she has been killed by the bite of a poisonous snake. Orpheus begs Hades and Persephone for Eurydice’s life, wishing her to walk with him upon the earth once more. The story never expounds upon why Hades and Persephone choose to let Orpheus regain his love and take her back to the Earth. In the retelling of this story, I wished to focus upon the relationship between Hades and Persephone as they struggle with such a powerful decision. The two Gods share times of great intimacy but also great conflict. The founding of their marriage, beginning with her kidnapping, has inevitably doomed their love throughout eternity. The love of Orpheus and Eurydice will mirror that of Persephone and Hades and will reveal the struggles and flaws of each relationship.

During their time apart Persephone has sent an envelope to Aristeas in his dungeon well. Inside a letter asks him to cut out the pages of the story “The Hero Orpheus”, from Hades’ scroll. In the envelope Persephone gives Aristeas a knife with her blood dried about the blade so that he may cut the pages from the book, which are bound with dark magic. She says that she will distract Hades as he undertakes this deed.

The story begins while Aristeas speaks with Persephone after she has been true to her word. While Aristeas and Hades arduously worked, Persephone, wearing a very revealing gown, sensually lured Hades away from the scroll. Aristeas, instantly acting upon pure emotion, cut out the pages with Persephone’s blade. The story picks up after Aristeas, walking back to his dungeon with his guards, suddenly finds himself alone, in a dark and unusual place. There Persephone whispers to him from a dark corner near the castle.  With tears in her eyes Persephone asks him if he has ever loved.

Aristeas speaks solemnly.  "When I was twenty years of age I fell in love with a beautiful woman who was betrothed to another. Her husband treated her horribly and made her work day and night as his servant. One day, as we lay together in a field by a stream she was supposed to be fetching water from, her husband came and found us side by side. He was a mighty man and he challenged me to battle to the death. I was afraid for my life but would do anything to free my love. We battled long into the setting sun and though my skill with a sword overmatched his, we both had struck each other dead before nightfall. There is some magic bound to me that spares my life. That was my first time to die. Together with the woman whom I loved, I fled and travelled for many amazing years across the Mediterranean Sea. She later died in my arms; she was poisoned."

Persephone changed the subject seeing that it was difficult for me to speak of. “What has the God Apollo told you about your destiny? Has he told you why you have survived death so many times?”

“Yes, though I do not fully understand it. He has told me I have some part to play in the roles between gods and men.”

I believe this to be true, though it is not my place to speak of such things.  “Thank you for sharing with me this story of your love. I did not want to pry, but I need to believe that you will help me. I too love someone. He is on my mind day and night. He is here in the Underworld. I wish to find him and to free him.”

“Can he be freed from the bonds of death?” I asked.

“He is not dead, he is held captive by my husband. I wish to return him to the earth where he can be free.  It's best not to know too much right now, for Hades can invade your mind. He will already be suspicious with the pages having been torn out.  His mind which is connected to the scroll, is fractured now.  You do you have the pages?”

“Yes.” I pulled out the story of ‘The Hero Orpheus’ from inside my garment.

“Is there a map on one of the pages?”

I looked momentarily.   There were only four pages. “Yes, it is here!” I exclaimed excitedly. We both rejoiced for a moment. “Wait, what is this map of?” I asked. The map had no names, but had great and detailed depictions.

"The map depicts the Path of Taeranus.  Orpheus traveled to the Underworld by way of Taeranus, so I thought the map would be located in his story. The Path of Taeranus is the main way in and out of the Underworld but it cannot be opened, save Hades edict.  The Map shows all the caves underneath the earth that connect to Taeranus.  These caves are vast and dark pathways, Hades own shortcuts, to reach the earth’s surface rapidly.  He used these paths to kidnap me from my home when I was young," Persephone stated gravely.

Persephone grabbed my hand and took me inside Hades’ castle. I sit now in Hades’ personal library. It’s a mystical place, vast and dark and full of thought. It seems that Hades has quite a taste for literature, both of the earth and of the gods. Persephone has assured me he has read every one of what I believe is over five hundred thousand books that are organized perfectly about the shelves.

As I help Persephone prepare a map from the original, since no one other than me can read from Hades' scroll, I think about what it would mean to walk upon the Earth once more. If I ever made it back I would never fail to devote myself to finding the meaning in my life. As Persephone studied her newly drawn map, I looked down at the story of “The Hero Orpheus." The first few lines caught my eyes and I began to read softly.  Persephone, heard the words and they seemed to take hold of her emotion.  She asked me to read aloud. At this request, I complied.

“Persephone had lived in the Underworld with me for over a hundred years and still we fought as if we were two siblings sharing a cramped room. During most of the time she spent in the Underworld, we would not speak to each other, or if we did, the words would turn into echoes that would resonate through the castle from screams days before. She was an obstinate woman, determined never to give into me.”

"Orpheus was the son of Apollo, the sun God. I would see Apollo on occasion when I ventured to Olympus.  The other Gods marveled at Orpheus’ majesty and great accomplishments in writing, music, and medicine. I always respected Apollo, for he did not follow the ways of the other Gods. He was wise, and unwavering in his edict. So when Orpheus arrived in the Underworld without my consent not one day ago, I was sympathetic to his plight. He had lost his beautiful love, Eurydice, from a venomous snake bite. Eurydice wandered in the Fields of Asphodel for the moment. Persephone’s heart instantly went out to him and his torment. He was a regal man and spoke proudly. I asked him to play a piece of music for which he was renowned. It was said he could move anything in nature to his will with his musical craft on the lyre.  As he played a glorious melody, Persephone held on to my arm, I was at peace for the first time in ages. I did not know how he entered the Underworld without my accord, but I knew he was of the lineage of Gods and had great power beyond his crafts.”

“I thought that perhaps it was time to show another side of myself to Persephone; a side that I had never shown to anyone. Wishing only for Persephone to finally accept me and hold me, I consented to Orpheus’ pleas. I brought Eurydice to his side and told them to return to the Earth by way of the Path of Taeranus, on condition that he walk in front of her and not look upon her until they had passed the Realm of the Underworld. Persephone smiled and was pleased with me for the first time that I can remember. On his journey Orpheus, not heeding my word, turned back and we beheld his grief as Eurydice slipped back into the Underworld to dwell forever. Whether it was because he longed to see her face or because he worried that she had strayed from the path, I do not know. I charged Orpheus with this condition, to not look back at his love, to make known to all that can speak or hear legend that even though I can be swayed, my command is unmoving. Still something else came from this. I know now the power of love can be blinding, as it has blinded me. It can cause you to act in ways that you would never think capable. In Orpheus’ case, he lost his love because he did not trust in me.  He only trusted in his love. For the moment, Persephone looks well upon me. She laid a kiss upon my cheek yesterday, though she was mournful for Orpheus and Eurydice. I watch her walk so gracefully in this dark place, and I cannot contain my emotions.”

COVERPAGE

Web Source: Theoi.com
Story Titles: The Hero Orpheus

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