Retold in our own words from Ovid, Metamorphoses 10.1–85, with Apollodorus, Library 1.3.2 (Theoi Project translations) and Britannica · Published 30 October 2026
A wedding and a loss
Literature In Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Eurydice is walking in the grass with the naiads when a serpent bites her ankle, and she dies. Ovid, Metamorphoses 10.1–85 (trans. Brookes More) · Theoi Project ↗
History Britannica says Orpheus’ music was so beautiful that animals, and even trees and rocks, moved about him in dance. Britannica: Orpheus ↗
The song in the underworld
Literature Orpheus goes down through the gate at Taenarus to the river Styx, and sings to Persephone and Pluto, the rulers of the dead, asking to have his wife back. Ovid, Metamorphoses 10.1–85 (trans. Brookes More) · Theoi Project ↗
Literature His song is so moving that the ghosts weep: Tantalus stops reaching for the water, Ixion’s wheel stands still, and Sisyphus sits on his rock. Ovid, Metamorphoses 10.1–85 (trans. Brookes More) · Theoi Project ↗
One condition
Literature Pluto lets him lead Eurydice up from the valleys of Avernus to the light, on one condition: if he turns his eyes to look at her, he will lose her. Ovid, Metamorphoses 10.1–85 (trans. Brookes More) · Theoi Project ↗
Literature They climb a steep, dark path in silence. Near the top, afraid of losing her and longing for another look, he turns his eyes to her. She slips away at once, saying a last ‘Farewell’. Ovid, Metamorphoses 10.1–85 (trans. Brookes More) · Theoi Project ↗
How the versions differ
Literature Apollodorus sets a different condition: Orpheus must not turn round until he has reached his own house. Apollodorus, Library 1.3.2 (trans. J. G. Frazer, 1921) · Theoi Project ↗
History In Britannica’s summary, Orpheus turns back as he sees the Sun again, to share his delight with Eurydice. Britannica: Orpheus ↗
History Britannica’s article on Eurydice tells it slightly differently: Orpheus turns as he crosses the threshold, to make sure she is behind him, while she is still in the land of the dead. Britannica: Eurydice ↗
History A famous version of the story is told by the Roman poet Virgil in Georgics, Book IV. Britannica: Orpheus ↗
History The medieval English romance Sir Orfeo changed the story and gave it a happy ending. Britannica: Orpheus ↗
Ovid’s Orpheus must not look at Eurydice on the way up. Apollodorus’ Orpheus must not turn round until he reaches his own house. Britannica’s two articles describe the moment he turns in two different ways. And a medieval English poem gave the story a happy ending.
Follow the thread
Ovid, Metamorphoses 10.1–85 (trans. Brookes More) · Theoi Project ↗
Apollodorus, Library 1.3.2 (trans. J. G. Frazer, 1921) · Theoi Project ↗
Retellings are in our own words. Every sentence above carries a label (History, Literature or Tradition) and a link to the source it was checked against, with the book and line or section numbers. Where ancient writers tell a myth differently, we name each one.
Source method & more reading ↗