Why does Orpheus go to the underworld?



Orpheus sung his grief with his lyre and managed to move everything, living or not, in the world; both humans and gods learnt about his sorrow and grief. At some point, Orpheus decided to descend to Hades to see his wife.

Why does Hades let Orpheus go?

His music and grief so moved Hades, king of the underworld, that Orpheus was allowed to take Eurydice with him back to the world of life and light. Hades set one condition, however: upon leaving the land of death, both Orpheus and Eurydice were forbidden to look back.

Why was Eurydice in the underworld?

Marriage to Orpheus, death and afterlife





One day, Aristaeus saw and pursued Eurydice, who stepped on a viper, was bitten, and died instantly. Distraught, Orpheus played and sang so mournfully that all the nymphs and deities wept and told him to travel to the Underworld to retrieve her, which he gladly did.

Where did Orpheus enter the underworld?

Any other mortal would have died, but Orpheus, being protected by the gods, went to Hades and arrived at the Stygian realm, passing by ghosts and souls of people unknown. He also managed to attract Cerberus, the three-headed dog, with a liking for his music.

What happens when Orpheus tries to return to the underworld?

What happens when Orpheus tries to return to the Underworld? He is unable to persuade the ferryman to take him there.

Why did Orpheus turn back?

Ovid’s Metamorphoses, for instance, flatly states that Orpheus looked back simply because he was “[a]fraid she was no longer there, and eager to see her.” Virgil’s Georgics elaborates on this: “sudden madness seized the incautious lover, one to be forgiven, if the spirits knew how to forgive: he stopped, and forgetful, …



Why did Orpheus decide to rescue his wife from the underworld?



He decided to rescue his wife from the underworld because he loved her so much.