Eurydice
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In Greek mythology, there were several characters named Eurydice (Eurydíkê, Ευρυδίκη).
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[edit] Wife of Orpheus
The most famous was a woman — or a nymph — who was the wife of Orpheus. While fleeing from Aristaeus, she was bitten by a serpent and died. Distraught, Orpheus played such sad songs and sang so mournfully that all the nymphs and gods wept and gave him advice. Orpheus traveled to the underworld and by his music softened the hearts of Hades and Persephone, and even made the Furies weep. It was then granted that Eurydice be allowed to return with him to the world of the living. But the condition was attached that he should walk in front of her and not look back until he had reached the upper world. In his anxiety, he broke his promise, and Eurydice vanished again from his sight. The story in this form belongs to the time of Virgil, who first introduces the name of Aristaeus. Other ancient writers, however, speak of Orpheus' visit to the underworld; according to Plato, the infernal gods only "presented an apparition" of Eurydice to him.
This story and the characters of Orpheus, Eurydice, and Aristaeus were published in Special Issue 1 of the acclaimed The Sandman comic book series by Author Neil Gaiman, under the title The Song of Orpheus. Released by DC Comics in 1993, the penciller was Bryan Talbot, the inker was Mark Buckingham, the colorist was Daniel Vozzo, and the letterer was Todd Klien.
[edit] Connections with other mythologies
The story of Eurydice and Orpheus has strong similarities with the Japanese myth of Izanami and Izanagi and the Mayan myth of Ix Chel and Itzamna. There may be connections going back to Paleolithic times. The other myths seem to be more violent and horrifying than the Greek version. This may be due at least in part to Virgil, Plato, and the other classical writers softening down the story, which in its older versions (now lost) may have also been very violent.
[edit] Drama
Eurydice (also Erudice or Euridice) is an opera written in Florence by Jacopo Peri and Ottavio Rinuccini in 1600. It was created for the marriage of Henry IV and Maria de Medici. This is considered by some to be the second work of modern opera, and the first such musical drama to survive to the present day. (The first, Dafne, was written by the same authors in 1597.)
For many of the other stage and screen reinterpretations of the legend of Orpheus and Eurydice, see the article on Orpheus. Eurydice is also a play which retells the myth of Orpheus from Eurydice's point of view.
[edit] Wife of Creon
Another woman in Greek mythology named Eurydice was the wife of Creon, a king of Thebes. She appears briefly in Sophocles' Antigone, to kill herself after learning that her son Haemon and his betrothed, Antigone, had both committed suicide. She thrusts a knife into her heart and curses Creon for the death of her two sons: Haimon and Megareus.
[edit] Wife of Acrisius
One Eurydice was wife to Acrisius, king of Argos, mother of Danae and therefore grandmother to Perseus. She was said to have been a daughter to Lacedaemon and Sparta, the legendary founders of Sparta. Generally, she is confused with Orpheus's Eurydice.
[edit] Wife of Electryon
Eurydice, daughter of Pelops was marred to Electryon, king of Mycenae and son of Perseus. She bore him Alcmena, mother of Heracles. In other versions of the myth Eurydice's place was taken by Anaxo, Electryon's neice.
[edit] Wife of Nestor
The wife of Nestor was also named Eurydice.
[edit] Wife of Ilus
Eurydice (daughter of Adrastus) was married to Ilus, the father of Laomedon.[1],
[edit] Nereid
One of the Nereids was also named Eurydice
[edit] Modern Eurydice
Eurydice is also a modern poem by Carol Ann Duffy, featured in The World's Wife. The poem gives the myth a modern twist.
The Cruxshadows have a song named "Eurydice (Don't Follow)" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradox_Addendum
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
