Eurydice
nymphEurydice was the nymph whose death drove Orpheus to descend to the underworld — only to lose her at the last moment when he looked back.
The Myth
A dryad or Thracian nymph, Eurydice was bitten by a serpent and died. Orpheus descended to Hades, charming Cerberus and the dead with his lyre. Hades agreed to release her on one condition: Orpheus must not look back until they reached the surface. At the very threshold, overcome with doubt and longing, he turned. She slipped back into darkness. He had only time to see her face before she vanished forever.
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Fun Fact
The "don't look back" motif — whether in myth, in Lot's wife, or in Satchel Paige's advice — traces to Orpheus and Eurydice.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
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Hades
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Orpheus
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Amphitrite
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Arethusa
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