# Death of Orpheus explained — Metamorphoses

> Chapter companion for Metamorphoses by Ovid.

## What happens

The Thracian women, enraged by Orpheus's coldness, tear him to pieces and throw his head into the Hebrus River. The head and lyre float to Lesbos, where a serpent attempts to drink the blood but is turned to stone by Apollo. Orpheus's ghost descends to the Underworld, reuniting with Eurydice.

## Themes in this chapter

### Violence and Revenge

The Thracian women's frenzied attack on Orpheus, tearing him limb from limb, exemplifies brutal violence driven by offended pride.

### Art and Creativity

Orpheus's music holds power over nature and beasts, yet ultimately fails to save him from human rage; his lyre continues to sound mournfully even after his death.

### Mortality and Immortality

Orpheus's mortal body is destroyed, but his spirit descends to the Underworld where he is reunited with Eurydice, suggesting a form of eternal love beyond death.

## Character check-ins

### Orpheus

The Thracian bard whose enchanting music soothed beasts and woods; he is torn apart by the female Bacchanals and his head and lyre float to Lesbos.

### Apollo

Phoebus protects Orpheus's head from a serpent, turning the snake to stone.

### Eurydice

Orpheus's beloved, whom he finds again among the shadows of the pious train in the Underworld.

## Key lines

> The female Bacchanals, devoutly mad, In shaggy skins, like savage creatures, clad, Warbling in air, perceived his lovely lay, And from a rising ground beheld him play;

The frenzied Bacchic women, dressed in animal skins and singing wildly, heard Orpheus's beautiful music from a hilltop.

_Describes the Bacchanals' first sighting of Orpheus as they are drawn by his song._

> His mangled limbs lay scatter'd all around; His head and harp a better fortune found— In Hebrus' streams they gently roll'd along, And soothed the waters with a mournful song:

Orpheus's body was torn apart, but his head and lyre floated down the Hebrus River, still producing a sad melody.

_Highlights the contrast between the violent dismemberment and the serene journey of the head and lyre._

> His ghost flies downward to the Stygian shore, And knows the places it had seen before: Among the shadows of the pious train He finds Eurydice, and loves again;

Orpheus's spirit descends to the Underworld, recognizes the familiar landscape, and reunites with Eurydice among the blessed dead.

_Describes Orpheus's final reunion with Eurydice in the afterlife._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/death-of-orpheus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters