~The Death of Orpheus~ Metamorphosis: Book 11 Pages

Where Ovid Continues… Narrator takes over after tale of Venus and Adonis Orpheus is followed by the beasts, trees, and stones he has moved with his music. Circonian women (Maenads) see Orpheus and his unusual parade. Maenads, believing “he is their despiser” attack him with their wands. They don’t hurt him because he is protected by his music.

Why is he Attacked? The common belief is that the Thracian women were jealous of Orpheus’ undying love for Eurydice.

No More Protection Orpheus’ singing and the lyre are overcome by other louder sounds: trumpets, drums, flutes, and howling of the Maenads. His defenses are weakened, the stones they throw at him draw blood. The birds and snakes charmed by his music flee away.

Brutal Slaying The Thracian women beat Orpheus and rip his limbs apart. Orpheus' Death, red-figure Attic stamnos by Hermonax, ca. 470 BC

More Death Scenes… Death of Orpheus –Albrecht Durer 1494; engraving; Kunsthalle, Hamburg Orpheus Slain By The Thracian Women - Emile Levy

Mourning – Returning to the Underworld The stones, trees, and rivers all weep for Orpheus. The Hebrus River takes his head and lyre to Lesbos. A serpent tries to bite the head but Apollo turns it to stone. Orpheus’ spirit descends to the underworld, where it reunites with Eurydice.

Nymphs Finding the Head of Orpheus – J.W. Waterhouse

Finding of the Head of Orpheus

Orpheus is Avenged Bacchus demands punishment. He binds the Thracian women in the woods where they transform into trees.

Modern Retellings Orphée, 1950 french film by Jean Cocteau - Orphée, a poet whose infatuation with Death has caused his wife to die, gets shot in a brawl, but is later brought back to life by Death.

Modern Retellings Black Orpheus, 1959 film set during Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Orpheus dies when attacked by his ex- fiancé. She throws a rock and makes him fall off a cliff.

Who also died when torn apart by angry Bacchus followers? Pentheus