Orpheus, master of music, the civilizing art

Orpheus drowned out the singing of the Sirens. However, one of the Argonauts, Butes, was particularly sharp-eared, heard the Sirens’ songs, and plunged to his doom.

Orpheus’ wife (whom he has just married) is bit by a serpent and dies.

Going down to the murky, gloomy underworld, Orpheus dares to ask the god of the dead that he return him his wife.

The gods of the Underworld allow Orpheus to lead his wife back into the world of the living

but upon one condition… that he not look back

which—predictably—he cannot resist doing. Orpheus, like all heroes before him, fails at bringing the dead back to life

Going back to Thrace, his native country, Orpheus finds consolation in playing music alone

The exceptionally gifted Orpheus is presented as a Thracian

The female followers of Dionysos, the Bacchants, assault Orpheus and kill him.

While Orpheus the mortal dies, his head lives on to perpetuate his unearthly music

Sisyphos performing his vain task for all eternity