Orpheus (mythology)

Orpheus was a lyre player in Greek mythology. When his wife Eurydice died, he went to the underworld to get her back, but failed when he looked back to see her.

Emperor Nero once claimed that his lyre was once owned by Orpheus. (PROSE: The Romans)

During one public execution in 2nd century Rome, a musician tried to save himself by charming the animals with his playing, like Orpheus in the underworld, but it didn't work. (PROSE: The Stone Rose)

Orpheus was the subject of a song which appeared in William Shakespeare's play Henry VIII. The Fourth Doctor once recited part of it. (PROSE: Managra)

Hermes talked about Orpheus and Eurydice to Lieutenant Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, who misremembered him as a lute player. Hermes denied that Orpheus was so talented that even the animals and the trees would listen to his music, and speculated that it was his love for Eurydice which protected him from Hades. (PROSE: Deadly Reunion)

John Smith and Joan Redfern mentioned Orpheus and Eurydice during a conversation, Joan noting that Orpheus tricked Cerberus, while Smith noted that he lost Eurydice when he looked back to see her. (PROSE: Human Nature)

Charlotte Pollard once noted that "you should never look back" is advice which has been ignored since Orpheus. (PROSE: Apocrypha Bipedium)