The tragic myth of Orpheus and Eurydice - Brendan Pelsue 

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“Turning to look back at her as often as he likes” I love that

Every mythology story: *do the only freakin thing that they were not supposed to do*

Ellen: so I hear you want your wife back Orpheus: omg u didn’t Eurydice: *walks onto stage* Orpheus: *turns around* Eurydice: *disappears*

OR He could just be talking to her as they climb. "Yo you there?" "Yea." "Kay cool."

BOI SHE'S A GHOST OF COURSE YOU WOULDN'T HEAR HER FOOTSTEPS

Way down, Hadestown, way down under the ground.

“Perhaps he makes a choice. He chooses the memory of her. That’s why he turns. He doesn’t make the lover’s choice, but the poet’s.” ― Céline Sciamma, Portrait of a Lady on Fire

There's another version of the story I believe where Eurydice fell and when Orpheus heard, he turned to help her. Which is far sadder, because it shows that he loved her so very much that his first instinct was to help.

Nobody: Snake: I’m about to ruin this mans whole career.

Fun Fact: A different version of the myth says that when he lost Eurydice the second time, Orpheus completely avoided women and focused on playing his music even more. He was so good that the men warriors of the territory would leave their weapons and listen to his music, enchanted. But their wives grew jealous cause they felt like he was depriving them of their husbands and decided to run up and kill him. They actually attacked and cut him in pieces and threw the parts of his body in the river Evros. But somehow his head magically stayed alive and he continued singing for ever. I'm actually taking an exam in archeology and this is one of the stories that is depicted on an attic pottery piece that I'm studying and I got too excited so I decided to share😌

I've read a version in which Eurydice did not 'suddenly' fall by the bite of a snake, but rather while running from a man in the woods that wanted to ask her for directions. She was terrified of Orpheus' jealousy towards other men (probably rooted in insecurity) and ran desperately, stepping on a snake and getting bitten. Orpheus's mistake when turning his head to see her was supposed to be a parallel with her death, showing that his insecurity had (once more) made him lose his wife.

Ok but can we talk about how beautiful of a love story this was-

Moral of the story: The people you love are always right behind you, even if you can’t sense them

I always like the version where Orpheus doesn’t turn around because of doubt, but because he takes one step out into the world and turns around too quickly to greet her in his joy. Just the heart-wrench of what face he must’ve made as she got sent back to the underworld OOO

The video: lets learn about the tragedy of Orpheus and Eurudice Hadestown fans: 👀

hades: dont turn around Orpheus: *turns around anyways* Eurydice: *falls* Hades: _you weren't supposed to do that_

A simple “Marco polo” would have done

Eurydice is such a beautiful name

It’s an old song It's an old tale from way back when It's an old song And that is how it ends That’s how it goes Don't ask why, brother, don't ask how He could have come so close The song was written long ago And that is how it goes It's a sad song It's a sad tale It's a tragedy It's a sad song But we sing it anyway

4:20 for some reason this got me..he looks back as if she’d be gone any minute to check if she’s there and the animation of him running to her and embracing her is just too cute! He’s happy she’s still there.. Love like you’ll never be able to love again, if you love someone express it as much as possible as you never know when the day will come where you’ll be separated by deaths hands.

"It's a sad song, but we sing it anyway. Cause, here's the thing: To know how it ends, and still begin to sing it again. As if it might turn out this time."

Me: *about to cry after that beautiful story* Video: tED-ED IS A NON PROFIT ORGA-

Good riddance To all the thieves To all the fools that stifled me They’ve come and gone And passed me by Good riddance To all

Fear not, best man Zagreus has made them reconciled again.

I love how despite the bittersweet ending, this version ends on a happy note as Orpheaus is finally reunited with Eurydice after his own death.

WHY DID HE HAVE TO TURN AROUND

heres some time stamps for kids doing schoolwork to this. 0:12 Orpheus and Eurydice who they are / what they are 0:22 Eurydice death 0:40 Orpheus decision 0:55 Cerberus ( Three headed dog ) 1:03 Charon 1:15 Hades And Persephone

Hades players where you at?

"please bring my gf back" "okay but don't turn around" "okay" **turns around** **she dies** *:O*

The real question is: Who is nOt here from Hadestown?

I played the part of Eurydice in a school play! This is by far one of my favourite love stories. Good job TED-Ed for telling this story the way it is :)

I love one of the morals of the story: a lot of things are like his walk out of the Underworld. If you turn around right before the end it is all for naught. Like, for example, marriage. If you start to do what YOU want simply bc YOU want to do that, you risk to lose everything.

Curiosity killed the cat.

WAIT FOR ME I’M COMING TOO

Me: mom, I want to watch hadestown! Mom: we have hadestown at home! Me: sounds good! **after watching ** *us crying *

4:22 that’s so freaking wholesome I love them sm 🥺💝💖💗💕

**busts through door** WAAAAIT FOR ME IM COMIIIIN' **smashes face into table** WAAAIT I'M COMING WITH YOU **throws bookshelf** WAAAAIT FOR ME I'M COMIIIIN' TOO I'M *COMIN'* TOO

I literally heard the “la la la la la la la” from epic iii when the video said “and he began to sing”

That freaking background music though it was sooooooo good you can't even disagree!!!!!!!!!!!

Love how Hades, the video game, presented their story

They missed a very important detail about why Hades did it actually. When Orpheus comes into the palace, Hades cried “No more cheap minstrel tricks. I am a god. My rages are not to be assuaged, nor my decrees nullified. No one comes to Tartarus without being sent for. No one has before, and no one will again, when the tale is told of the torments I intend to put you to.” We all know he loved Persephone very much, and in the original myths, Orpheus actually “sang a song that conjured up a green field and a grove of trees and a slender girl painting flowers and all the light about her head, with the special clearness there was when the world had just begun. He sang of how that girl made a sight so pleasing as she played with the flowers that the birds overhead gossiped of it, and the miles underground- until the word reached even gloomy Tartarus, where a dark king heard and went up to see for himself. Orpheus sang of that king seeing the girl for the first time in a great wash of early sunlight, and what he felt when he saw that stalk-slender child in her tunic and green shoes moving with her paint pit among the flowers; the fever that ran in his blood when first he put his mighty arm about her waist, and drank her screams with his dark lips and tasted her tears; of the grief that had come upon him when he almost lost her again to her mother by Zeus’s decree; and of the joy that filled him when he learned that she had eaten of the pomegranate. Persephone was sitting at Hades’ side. She began to cry. She leaned forward and whispered to him swiftly. The king turned to Orpheus. Hades did not weep, but no one had ever seen his eyes so brilliant.” He doesn’t listen to Orpheus’s request because Orpheus asked him, nor because Orpheus moved him, but because of Persephone. This video is actually pretty far from the original myths, but that’s alright, it’s art.

The moral of the story: Ted-Ed is a non-profit

I read a couple lines of “A thousand ships” and somehow made the connection from this story to the movie “The book of life” . I’m so proud of myself!! I never even heard about it either

Orpheus: *turns around* Me: damn, Orpheus u got trust issues *continues to eat popcorn*....

I say this about every video but the animation in this is amazing

To be loved is divine To be sad is human .

I’m so glad it ended like that. It always breaks my heart when true lovers are separated forever in stories.

2:22 Doubt comes in and strips the paint

I’m very interested in Greek and Roman mythology!! Please make more videos about it

In the version of this story that my mother always told me, Orpheus resists temptation to look back all the way up to the world of the living. However, upon stepping out into the light, he turns around to see Eurydice, only to realise that SHE has NOT finished the climb yet, having been a few steps behind him. So she is thrown back to Hades. A small difference, but I've always preferred it because it strengthens the tragedy of the story, and that even though Orpheus did all as he had been instructed, there was no possibility for bringing the dead back.

1:12 Charon: Dang bro that's a banger. Need a ride?

Everyone talking about Hadestown while I get this recommended again because I was listening to Good Riddance too much.

Orpheus, don’t come on too strong- Orpheus: COME HOME WITH ME :D

Amazing animation. It makes you feel interested in watching the video.

Some also say that Orpheus plays his lyre in the court of Lord Hades, entertaining the Stygian Lord of the Underworld for all eternity.

Hi Ted Ed, I really love watching these kind of amazing vids of yours about myths. I hope you guys can upload more interesting videos , like about Achilles or the other stories that gives us more knowlegde, thanks!

If you guys are into music and this particular Greek mythology, I'm here to recommend a musical to you. It's called Hadestown and it's simply beautiful.

"... a place from wich no living creature had ever returned" *Laughs in greek*

This guy’s music and voice was so beautiful that my dad came back from the store to listen😂😂😂

It's uncanny how similar Orpheus and Eurydice's tale is similar to Izanagi and Izanami's.

you guys are amazing ...this is art

I love the part where he says “it was as if Orpheus’ own loss and love allowed him to see into the hearts of Gods and people everywhere,” I felt that.

Supergiant's Hades song Good Riddance sung by Ashley Barrett, and their handling of the two characters in the game is one of the best homages to this tragic story.

I read a version of the myth that said he did get out of the underworld, and looked back at Eurydice in joy that they made it but she hadnt crossed yet so she had to go back anyway And I thhought the story couldnt be more soul crushing:,)

At the end Charon was like “Those two love birds again, get a room you too”

"...sometimes, he takes the lead, turning to look back at her, as often as he likes." What, I'm not crying! YOU'RE crying!

Just a perfect story narration with background music and the speakers voice blending perfectly with the images 💯.

“he chooses the memory of her, that’s why he turns. he doesn’t make the lover’s choice, but the poet’s” (portrait of a lady on fire)

a greek myth with an actually happy ending? impossible!!

“Oh a liar AND a player too! I’ve met too many men like you”

One of my favorite myths. Lovely presentation! Thank you!

I always thought the moral was to have faith in those you love.

Poor Persephone. All she did was eat a pomegranate seed.

The beginning was sad when his wife died but then I'm filled with great happiness at the end when he says "sometimes, he takes the lead, turning to look back at her as often as he likes." Looking back at her as he was leaving the underworld was the reason why she couldn't leave, but now he look back at her beautiful face as much as he likes. :)

it sucks for him but now I can blast "wait for me" in the car

People: What a beautiful legend Me: Wait, this is the same animation of the video of toxoplasmosis

I recently watched a movie called Portrait of a Lady on Fire and at one point they read this story and then they try to get the meaning behind it. One of them said that Orpheus should have trusted more and shouldn’t have looked back even in temptation. The other said that maybe Orpheus meant to look back not because of love but because of poetry. And the other said that maybe it was Eurydice who told Orpheus to turn around...it was something like that, I don’t exactly remember how they said it lol but it left me thinking a lot and then the end of the movie came and I cried waterfalls this time:’(

One of the most iconic couple i've ever read.

Everyone: from hadestown Me, expecting, PJO, Hades, and Persona fans: BrUh

i come back to watch this every now and again because it’s such a big comfort to me. orpheus didn’t bring eurydice home, but he exerted all the effort, endured all the torment, just as he would have if he did save her. his success is not marked by the attainment of his goal, but the work he put in to get there.

" 'Til death do us apart ", but in here, death brought them together. That's quite beautiful.

Still a better love story than twilight

I love how this video showed up when I exactly needed it

Now I want to hear about the other stories.. The myths of ganymede and venus sound interesting and I find myself so interested in the way you guys tell the story. MAKE MORE !

He should've held Eurydice's hand when they walked out of the underworld. That way he would've known that she was behind him.

Persephone and Hades next?

Going through a breakup. This made me cry. I still love her.

I've never ever seen a tale so well telled like that one.

IM COMING WAIT FOR ME I HEAR THE WALLS REPEATING THE FALLING OF OUR FEET, IT SOUNDS LIKE DRUMMING AND WE ARE NOT ALONE I HEAR THE ROCKS AND STONE ECHOING OUR SONG IM COMING

I'm crying right now. I read about him and his tragedy in the book of a writer and wept at that time. Now I'm watching this and I wept again. 😢

The music in this video is just marvelous. I wish I can hear it without the voice over

That song that starts around 1:30 is beautiful

'wild women' that really made me laugh

Top 10 anime deaths

I come back to this video at least monthly, my favourite myth and this video is just so beautiful

The ending brought tears to my eyes It’s beautiful

Orpheus is a typical dude Couldn't follow simple directions

Hadestown the musical. You're welcome.

This story is just beautiful I cried like a baby