Stele - Orpheus, Eurydice & Hermes

Artist Artist Unknown

Mediumplaster cast

ClassificationsSculptures

DimensionsOverall: Height: 111 cm, Width: 95 cm, Diameter: 10 cm

CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0

LocationView by Appointment

Object numberABDAG004833

Keywords

Mythology

About MeThis relief, dating from sometime in the last half of the 5th century BCE, depicts Orpheus and Eurydice as they say their final farewell; Hermes, guide of the dead, takes the woman by the hand to lead her back to Hades. Orpheus, the musician and magician, married Eurydice, who died of a snake bite. After wooing Hades with his music, Orpheus was granted the right to bring her back to the world, but only if he never looks at her until they emerge into the sunlight. But at the minute, just about to emerge into daylight, Orpheus looks back to be sure she was following him out of Hades.

The plaster is a cast of a Roman marble copy of a Greek original of c. 420 B.C. in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples .