Description of the painting Orpheus and Eurydice. Painting "Orpheus leading Eurydice through the underworld" by Jean Baptiste Camille Corot

The myth of Orpheus and his beloved Eurydice is one of the most famous myths about love. No less interesting is this mysterious singer himself, about whom not much reliable information has survived. The myth of Orpheus, which we will talk about, is only one of the few legends dedicated to this character. There are also many legends and fairy tales about Orpheus.

The myth of Orpheus and Eurydice: summary

According to legend, this great singer lived in Thrace, located in northern Greece. Translated, his name means “healing with light.” He had a wonderful gift of songs. His fame spread throughout the Greek land. Eurydice, a young beauty, fell in love with him for his beautiful songs and became his wife. The myth of Orpheus and Eurydice begins with a description of these happy events.

However, the carefree happiness of the lovers was short-lived. The myth of Orpheus continues with the fact that one day the couple went into the forest. Orpheus sang and played the seven-string cithara. Eurydice began to collect flowers growing in the clearings.

The Kidnapping of Eurydice

Suddenly the girl felt that someone was running after her through the forest. She got scared and rushed to Orpheus, throwing flowers. The girl ran through the grass, not making out the road, and suddenly she fell into a snake wrapped around her leg and stung Eurydice. The girl screamed loudly in fear and pain. She fell on the grass. Hearing the plaintive cry of his wife, Orpheus hurried to her aid. But he only managed to see how large black wings flashed between the trees. Death took the girl to the underworld. It’s interesting how the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice will continue, isn’t it?

Orpheus' grief

The great singer’s grief was very great. After reading the myth about Orpheus and Eurydice, we learn that the young man left people and spent whole days alone, wandering through the forests. In his songs, Orpheus poured out his longing. They had such power that the trees that had fallen from their places surrounded the singer. Animals came out of their holes, stones moved closer and closer, and birds left their nests. Everyone listened to how Orpheus yearned for his beloved girl.

Orpheus goes to the kingdom of the dead

Days passed, but the singer could not console himself. His sadness grew every hour. Realizing that he could no longer live without his wife, he decided to go to the underworld of Hades in order to find her. Orpheus searched for the entrance there for a long time. Finally, he found a stream in Tenara's deep cave. It flowed into the river Styx, located underground. Orpheus went down the stream bed and reached the bank of the Styx. The kingdom of the dead, which began beyond this river, was revealed to him. The waters of the Styx were deep and black. It was scary for a living creature to step into them.

Hades gives Eurydice

Orpheus went through many trials in this terrible place. Love helped him cope with everything. Eventually, Orpheus reached the palace of Hades, ruler of the underworld. He turned to him with a request to return Eurydice, a girl so young and beloved by him. Hades took pity on the singer and agreed to give him his wife. However, one condition had to be met: it was impossible to look at Eurydice until he brought her to the kingdom of the living. Orpheus made a promise that throughout the entire journey he would not turn around and look at his beloved. If the ban was violated, the singer risked losing his wife forever.

Return trip

Orpheus quickly headed towards the exit from the underworld. He passed through the domain of Hades in the form of a spirit, and the shadow of Eurydice followed him. The lovers boarded the boat of Charon, who silently carried the couple to the shore of life. A steep rocky path led to the ground. Orpheus slowly climbed up. It was quiet and dark around. It seemed that no one was following him.

Violation of the ban and its consequences

But it began to get brighter ahead, and the exit to the ground was already close. And the shorter the distance to the exit, the brighter it became. Finally, everything around me became clearly visible. Orpheus' heart was filled with anxiety. He began to doubt whether Eurydice was following him. Forgetting his promise, the singer turned around. For a moment, very close, he saw a beautiful face, a sweet shadow... The myth of Orpheus and Eurydice tells that this shadow immediately flew away and disappeared into the darkness. Orpheus, with a desperate cry, began to go back down the path. He again came to the shore of the Styx and began to call the ferryman. Orpheus prayed in vain: no one responded. The singer sat alone for a long time on the bank of the Styx and waited. However, he never waited for anyone. He had to return to earth and continue to live. He was never able to forget Eurydice, his only love. The memory of her lived in his songs and in his heart. Eurydice is the divine soul of Orpheus. He will unite with her only after death.

This ends the myth of Orpheus. We will supplement its brief content with an analysis of the main images presented in it.

Image of Orpheus

Orpheus is a mysterious image that is found in a number of Greek myths. This is a symbol of a musician who conquers the world with the power of sounds. He is able to move plants, animals and even stones, and also evoke in the gods of the underworld (the underworld) compassion that is not typical for them. The image of Orpheus also symbolizes overcoming alienation.

This singer can be seen as the personification of the power of art, which contributes to the transformation of chaos into the cosmos. Thanks to art, a world of harmony and causality, images and forms is created, that is, the “human world”.

Orpheus, unable to hold on to his love, also became a symbol of human weakness. Because of her, he was unable to cross the fatal threshold and failed in his attempt to return Eurydice. This is a reminder that there is a tragic side to life.

The image of Orpheus is also considered a mythical personification of one secret teaching, according to which the planets move around the Sun, located at the center of the Universe. The source of universal harmony and connection is the force of its attraction. And the rays emanating from it are the reason why particles move in the Universe.

Image of Eurydice

The myth of Orpheus is a legend in which the image of Eurydice is a symbol of oblivion and tacit knowledge. This is the idea of detachment and silent omniscience. In addition, it is correlated with the image of music, in search of which Orpheus is.

The Kingdom of Hades and the Image of Lyra

The kingdom of Hades, depicted in the myth, is the kingdom of the dead, beginning far in the west, where the sun plunges into the depths of the sea. This is how the idea of winter, darkness, death, night appears. The element of Hades is the earth, which again takes its children to itself. However, the sprouts of new life lurk in her womb.

The image of Lyra represents the magical element. With his help, Orpheus touches the hearts of both people and gods.

Reflection of myth in literature, painting and music

This myth was first mentioned in the writings of Publius Ovid Naso, the major “Metamorphoses” - a book that is his main work. In it, Ovid expounds about 250 myths about the transformations of heroes and gods of ancient Greece.

The myth of Orpheus outlined by this author has attracted poets, composers and artists in all eras and times. Almost all of his subjects are represented in the paintings of Tiepolo, Rubens, Corot and others. Many operas have been created based on this plot: “Orpheus” (1607, author - C. Monteverdi), “Orpheus in Hell” (operetta of 1858, written by J. Offenbach), “Orpheus” (1762, author - K.V. Glitch).

As for literature, in Europe in the 20-40s of the 20th century this topic was developed by J. Anouilh, R. M. Rilke, P. J. Zhuve, I. Gol, A. Gide and others. At the beginning of the 20th century in Russian poetry, the motifs of myth were reflected in the work of M. Tsvetaeva (“Phaedra”) and in the work of O. Mandelstam.

In the north of Greece, in Thrace, lived the singer Orpheus. He had a wonderful gift of songs, and his fame spread throughout the land of the Greeks. The beauty fell in love with his songs...

In the north of Greece, in Thrace, lived the singer Orpheus. He had a wonderful gift of songs, and his fame spread throughout the land of the Greeks.

The beautiful Eurydice fell in love with him for his songs. She became his wife. But their happiness was short-lived.

One day Orpheus and Eurydice were in the forest. Orpheus played his seven-stringed cithara and sang. Eurydice was picking flowers in the meadows. Unnoticed, she moved far from her husband, into the wilderness of the forest. Suddenly it seemed to her that someone was running through the forest, breaking branches, chasing her, she got scared and, throwing the flowers, ran back to Orpheus. She ran, without knowing the road, through the thick grass and in a rapid run stepped into a snake’s nest. The snake wrapped itself around her leg and bit her. Eurydice screamed loudly in pain and fear and fell onto the grass.

Orpheus heard his wife's plaintive cry from a distance and hurried to her. But he saw large black wings flash between the trees - it was Death that was carrying Eurydice into the underworld.

Nights and days passed, but Orpheus could not console himself, his sadness grew with every hour.

No, I can’t live without Eurydice! - he said. - The land is not dear to me without her. Let Death take me too, let me at least be in the underworld with my beloved!

But Death did not come. And Orpheus decided to go to the kingdom of the dead himself.

For a long time he searched for the entrance to the underground kingdom and, finally, in the deep cave of Tenara he found a stream that flowed into the underground river Styx. Along the bed of this stream, Orpheus descended deep underground and reached the bank of the Styx. Beyond this river began the kingdom of the dead.

The waters of the Styx are black and deep, and it is scary for the living to step into them. Orpheus heard sighs and quiet crying behind him - these were the shadows of the dead, like him, who were waiting for crossing into a country from which no one can return.

Take me to the other side too! But Charon refused:

I only transfer the dead to the other side. When you die, I will come for you!

Have pity! - Orpheus prayed. - I don’t want to live anymore! It's hard for me to stay on earth alone! I want to see my Eurydice!

The stern ferryman pushed him away and was about to set sail from the shore, but the strings of the cithara rang plaintively, and Orpheus began to sing. Sad and gentle sounds echoed under the gloomy arches of Hades. The cold waves of the Styx stopped, and Charon himself, leaning on his oar, listened to the song. Orpheus entered the boat, and Charon obediently transported him to the other side. Hearing the hot song of the living about undying love, the shadows of the dead flew from all sides. Orpheus walked boldly through the silent kingdom of the dead, and no one stopped him.

So he reached the palace of the ruler of the underworld, Hades, and entered a vast and gloomy hall. High on the golden throne sat the formidable Hades and next to him his beautiful queen Persephone.

With a sparkling sword in his hand, in a black cloak, with huge black wings, the god of Death stood behind Hades, and his servants, Kera, crowded around him, flying on the battlefield and taking the lives of warriors. The stern judges of the underworld sat to the side of the throne and judged the dead for their earthly deeds.

Memories were hidden in the dark corners of the hall, behind the columns. They had scourges made of live snakes in their hands, and they painfully stung those standing before the court.

Orpheus saw many kinds of monsters in the kingdom of the dead: Lamia, which steals small children from mothers at night, and the terrible Empusa with donkey legs, drinking the blood of people, and ferocious Stygian dogs.

Only the younger brother of the god of Death - the god of Sleep, young Hypnos, beautiful and joyful, rushed around the hall on his light wings, stirring a sleepy drink in his silver horn, which no one on earth can resist - even the great Thunderer Zeus himself falls asleep when Hypnos splashes into it with your potion.

Hades looked menacingly at Orpheus, and everyone around him began to tremble.

But the singer approached the throne of the gloomy ruler and sang even more inspired: he sang about his love for Eurydice.

Persephone listened to the song without breathing, and tears rolled from her beautiful eyes. The terrible Hades bowed his head on his chest and thought. The God of Death lowered his sparkling sword.

The singer fell silent, and the silence lasted for a long time. Then Hades raised his head and asked:

What are you looking for, singer, in the kingdom of the dead? Tell me what you want and I promise to fulfill your request.

Orpheus said to Hades:

Lord! Our life on earth is short, and Death overtakes us all someday and takes us to your kingdom - no mortal can escape it. But I, alive, myself came to the kingdom of the dead to ask you: give me back my Eurydice! She had lived so little on earth, had so little time to rejoice, loved so briefly... Let her go, lord, to earth! Let her live in the world a little longer, let her enjoy the sun, warmth and light and the greenery of the fields, the spring beauty of the forests and my love. After all, she will return to you after all!

So spoke Orpheus and asked Persephone:

Intercede for me, beautiful queen! You know how good life is on earth! Help me get my Eurydice back!

Let it be as you ask! - Hades said to Orpheus. - I will return Eurydice to you. You can take her with you up to the bright earth. But you have to promise...

Anything you want! - Orpheus exclaimed. - I’m ready to do anything to see my Eurydice again!

You must not see her until you come out into the light,” Hades said. - Return to earth and know: Eurydice will follow you. But don't look back and don't try to look at her. If you look back, you will lose her forever!

And Hades ordered Eurydice to follow Orpheus.

Orpheus quickly headed towards the exit from the kingdom of the dead. Like a spirit, he passed through the land of Death, and the shadow of Eurydice followed him. They entered Charon's boat, and he silently transported them back to the shore of life. A steep rocky path led up to the ground.

Orpheus slowly climbed the mountain. It was dark and quiet around him and quiet behind him, as if no one was following him. Only his heart was beating:

“Eurydice! Eurydice!

Finally it began to get lighter ahead, and the exit to the ground was close. And the closer the exit was, the brighter it became ahead, and now everything around was clearly visible.

Anxiety squeezed Orpheus’s heart: is Eurydice here? Is he following him?

Forgetting everything in the world, Orpheus stopped and looked around.

Where are you, Eurydice? Let me look at you! For a moment, very close, he saw a sweet shadow, a dear, beautiful face... But only for a moment.

Eurydice's shadow immediately flew away, disappeared, melted into the darkness.

Eurydice?!

With a desperate cry, Orpheus began to go back down the path and again came to the shore of the black Styx and called for the ferryman. But in vain he prayed and called: no one responded to his prayers. For a long time Orpheus sat on the bank of the Styx alone and waited. He didn't wait for anyone.

He had to return to earth and live. But he could not forget his only love - Eurydice, and the memory of her lived in his heart and in his songs.

Orpheus and Eurydice / Ancient Greek myth for children
Artist: G. Kislyakova

In the north of Greece, in Thrace, lived the singer Orpheus. He had a wonderful gift of songs, and his fame spread throughout the land of the Greeks.

The beautiful Eurydice fell in love with him for his songs. She became his wife. But their happiness was short-lived.

Orpheus heard his wife's plaintive cry from a distance and hurried to her. But he saw large black wings flash between the trees - it was Death that was carrying Eurydice into the underworld.

Great was the grief of Orpheus. He left people and spent whole days alone, wandering through the forests, pouring out his melancholy in songs. And there was such power in these melancholy songs that the trees moved from their places and surrounded the singer. Animals came out of their holes, birds left their nests, stones moved closer. And everyone listened to how he missed his beloved.
Nights and days passed, but Orpheus could not console himself, his sadness grew with every hour.
- No, I can’t live without Eurydice! - he said. - The land is not dear to me without her. Let Death take me too, let me at least be in the underworld with my beloved!

But Death did not come. And Orpheus decided to go to the kingdom of the dead himself.
For a long time he searched for the entrance to the underground kingdom and, finally, in the deep cave of Tenara he found a stream that flowed into the underground river Styx. Along the bed of this stream, Orpheus descended deep underground and reached the bank of the Styx. Beyond this river began the kingdom of the dead.

A boat separated from the opposite shore: the carrier of the dead, Charon, was sailing for new newcomers. Charon silently moored to the shore, and shadows obediently filled the boat. Orpheus began to ask Charon:
- Take me to the other side too! But Charon refused:
- I only transfer the dead to the other side. When you die, I will come for you!
- Have pity! - Orpheus prayed. - I don’t want to live anymore! It's hard for me to stay on earth alone! I want to see my Eurydice!

So he reached the palace of the ruler of the underworld, Hades, and entered a vast and gloomy hall. High on the golden throne sat the formidable Hades and next to him his beautiful queen Persephone.

Memories were hidden in the dark corners of the hall, behind the columns. They had scourges made of live snakes in their hands, and they painfully stung those standing before the court.
Orpheus saw many kinds of monsters in the kingdom of the dead: Lamia, which steals small children from mothers at night, and the terrible Empusa with donkey legs, drinking the blood of people, and ferocious Stygian dogs.
Only the younger brother of the god of Death - the god of Sleep, young Hypnos, beautiful and joyful, rushed around the hall on his light wings, stirring a sleepy drink in his silver horn, which no one on earth can resist - even the great Thunderer Zeus himself falls asleep when Hypnos splashes into it with your potion.

Hades looked menacingly at Orpheus, and everyone around him began to tremble.
But the singer approached the throne of the gloomy ruler and sang even more inspired: he sang about his love for Eurydice.
Persephone listened to the song without breathing, and tears rolled from her beautiful eyes. The terrible Hades bowed his head on his chest and thought. The God of Death lowered his sparkling sword.

The singer fell silent, and the silence lasted for a long time. Then Hades raised his head and asked:
- What are you looking for, singer, in the kingdom of the dead? Tell me what you want and I promise to fulfill your request.

Orpheus said to Hades:
- Lord! Our life on earth is short, and Death overtakes us all someday and takes us to your kingdom - no mortal can escape it. But I, alive, myself came to the kingdom of the dead to ask you: give me back my Eurydice! She had lived so little on earth, had so little time to rejoice, loved so briefly... Let her go, lord, to earth! Let her live in the world a little longer, let her enjoy the sun, warmth and light and the greenery of the fields, the spring beauty of the forests and my love. After all, she will return to you after all!
So spoke Orpheus and asked Persephone:
- Intercede for me, beautiful queen! You know how good life is on earth! Help me get my Eurydice back!

Let it be as you ask! - Hades said to Orpheus. - I will return Eurydice to you. You can take her with you up to the bright earth. But you have to promise...
- Whatever you order! - Orpheus exclaimed. - I’m ready to do anything to see my Eurydice again!
“You shouldn’t see her until you come out into the light,” Hades said. - Return to earth and know: Eurydice will follow you. But don't look back and don't try to look at her. If you look back, you will lose her forever!
And Hades ordered Eurydice to follow Orpheus.

Orpheus slowly climbed the mountain. It was dark and quiet around him and quiet behind him, as if no one was following him. Only his heart was beating:
“Eurydice! Eurydice!
Finally it began to get lighter ahead, and the exit to the ground was close. And the closer the exit was, the brighter it became ahead, and now everything around was clearly visible.
Anxiety squeezed Orpheus’s heart: is Eurydice here? Is he following him?

Forgetting everything in the world, Orpheus stopped and looked around.
- Where are you, Eurydice? Let me look at you! For a moment, very close, he saw a sweet shadow, a dear, beautiful face... But only for a moment.

Eurydice’s shadow immediately flew away, disappeared, melted into the darkness.
- Eurydice?!

He had to return to earth and live. But he could not forget his only love - Eurydice, and the memory of her lived in his heart and in his songs.

Arno Breker - Orpheus and Eurydice 1944

Orpheus · son of the Thracian river god Eagr (option: Apollo, Clem. Rom. Hom. V 15) and the muse Calliope (Apollod. I 3, 2). Orpheus was famous as a singer and musician, endowed with the magical power of art, which not only people, but also gods, and even nature conquered. He participates in the Argonauts' campaign, playing the forming and praying to calm the waves and helping the rowers of the ship "Argo" (Diod. 43.1; 48.6). His music calms the anger of the powerful Idas (Apollod. Rhod. I 492-515). Orpheus is married to Eurydice and, when she suddenly dies from a snake bite, he goes after her to the kingdom of the dead. Hades's dog Cerberus, the Erinyes, Persephone and Hades are subdued by the play of Orpheus. Hades promises Orpheus to return Eurydice to earth if he fulfills his request - he will not look at his wife before entering his house. Happy Orpheus returns with his wife, but violates the ban by turning to his wife, who immediately disappears into the kingdom of death (Ovid. Met. X 1-63).
Orpheus did not honor Dionysus, considering Helios the greatest god and calling him Apollo. The angry Dionysus sent maenads to Orpheus. They tore Orpheus to pieces, scattering parts of his body everywhere, which were then collected and buried by the muses (Ps.-Eratosth. 24). The death of Orpheus, who died from the wild fury of the bacchantes, was mourned by birds, animals, forests, stones, trees, enchanted by his music. His head floats along the Gebr River to the island of Lesbos, where Apollo receives it.
The shadow of Orpheus descends into Hades, where it unites with Eurydice (Ovid. Met. XI 1-66). On Lesbos, the head of Orpheus prophesied and performed miracles (Orph. Vit. frg. 115, 118-119). According to the version set forth by Ovid (Ovid. Met. XI 67-84), the Bacchae tore Orpheus to pieces and were punished by Dionysus for this: they were turned into oak trees.
The myths about Orpheus combine a number of ancient motifs (cf. the magical effect of Orpheus’ music and the myth of Amphion, the descent of Orpheus into Hades and the myth of Hercules in Hades, the death of Orpheus at the hands of the Bacchantes and the torn apart of Zagreus). Orpheus is close to the muses (Eur. Rhes. 943), he is the brother of the singer Linus (Apollod. I 3, 2). Orpheus is the founder of Bacchic orgies (Eur. Hippol. 953) and ancient religious rites (Aristoph. Ran. 1032). He is initiated into the Samothrace Mysteries (Diod. 43, 1). The name of Orpheus is associated with a system of religious and philosophical views (Orphism), which arose on the basis of the Apollo-Dionysus synthesis in the 6th century. BC. in Attica.

Scenario for an extracurricular activity on literary reading for 4th grade. Myths of Ancient Greece. Orpheus and Eurydice

Matveeva Svetlana Nikolaevna, primary school teacher, Secondary School No. 9, Ulyanovsk.
Description of work: I bring to your attention a script for an extracurricular activity on literary reading for grade 4 on the topic: “Myths of Ancient Greece. Orpheus and Eurydice." This event included in the series “From the summer reading list.” Materials from the series can be used both in class and in extracurricular activities. The information will be useful to primary school teachers, teachers of after-school groups, teachers of children's health camps and sanatoriums. This extracurricular activity is aimed at fourth grade students.
Target: introducing children to the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.
Tasks:
- broaden the horizons of younger schoolchildren;
- develop expressive reading skills;
- teach to analyze and compare myths;
- develop children’s cognitive interest and creative abilities;
- instill a love of reading in general;
- improve the culture of younger schoolchildren.

Progress of the event

Teacher: Guys, let's remember which myths of Ancient Greece we are already familiar with?
(The children's answers follow).
Teacher: In our classes we will continue to explore fascinating and instructive stories. Let's learn about new heroes of the myths of Ancient Greece who accomplished great feats. In the last lesson, we said that the great peoples of the past left us an invaluable heritage. Ancient masters created immortal masterpieces of architecture, sculpture, and painting, which even today, thousands of years later, delight us with their beauty and perfection.

Example text:
In front of you Capital of Greece - Athens.

From mythology it is known that name of the goddess of wisdom - Athena- the city received after a dispute between Athens and the ruler of the seas, Poseidon. Athens was a large and powerful city, one of the cradles of Greek culture. During the period - about 500 BC. e. to 300 BC e. - the city was an important cultural center.

Athena - goddess of wisdom

The ancient Greeks, for example, painted all types of pottery. They painted it using burnt paints. They donated works of ceramics, especially carefully designed, to temples or invested them in burials. Ceramic vessels and their fragments that have undergone strong firing and are resistant to environmental influences have reached us. Thanks to the inscriptions on the vases, the names of many potters and vase painters have been preserved.

Bilingual amphora of the vase painter Andokidas. Hercules and Athena (c. 520 BC)

The ancient Greeks were excellent sculptors. They depicted gods and heroes in bas-reliefs. One of the seven wonders of the world - Temple of Artemis. This is always the young goddess of hunting and fertility.

It was for her that the sentimental ancient Greeks erected a huge temple of pure white marble. It was built in the city of Ephesus in the first half of the 6th century BC. e.
Let's return to Athens. So, Athens had two hills: the Acropolis and Lycabettos. Acropolis- translated from Greek: “upper city” - rising 150 meters above the main city of Greece. Fortifications were built here, where citizens could hide in case of attacks, and the most important temples were also erected. All ancient Greek cities had acropolises, but the most famous - This is the Acropolis of Athens.
At the top of the cliff of the Athens Acropolis stands a monumental marble Parthenon Temple, dedicated to Athena Parthenos (i.e. Virgo) - the patroness of the city. It was built in 447-438 BC. e. by the architect Callicrates according to the design of Ictinus and decorated in 438-431 BC. e. under the leadership of Phidias. Currently in a dilapidated state, restoration work is underway.

Parthenon- a classic ancient Greek temple - a rectangular building framed by a colonnade. It was built from Pentelic marble. According to the standards of ancient Greek architecture, the number of columns on the side facade is 1 unit greater than twice the number of columns on the front side of the building (the Parthenon has 8 and 17). In the center of the temple stood 13-meter statue of Athena Parthenos, made of gold and ivory.

Alas, the original statue has not survived to this day. In museums around the world you can only see copies of Phidias’ masterpiece, recreated according to descriptions. The Parthenon functioned not only as a temple, it was also used as a treasury, church, mosque and fortress.
Interesting fact: In 1821, the Greeks fought for independence from the Ottoman Empire. In one of the battles, the Greeks besieged the Acropolis. When the Turks began to run out of ammunition, they began to open the columns of the Parthenon, remove lead fastening elements from there and cut them into bullets. Having learned about this, the Greeks themselves sent a shipment of lead to the enemy, just to prevent the destruction of the monument.
Currently Acropolis - symbol of Athens, the main attraction of the city. On the territory of the Acropolis there are the remains of majestic temples: Erechtheion, Hekatompidon, Nike Apteros. The most famous temple of the Acropolis is the Parthenon. And the huge bronze statue of Athena in a golden helmet that once stood there still excites people’s imagination.
New Acropolis Museum. It is located just 300 meters from the Acropolis, but not on the hill. An ultra-modern building of 5 floors with glass floors and an area of 226 thousand square meters was built on the site of archaeological excavations and began operation in 2009. Through the glass floor on the ground floor you can see the remains of ancient streets. The museum exhibits many ancient sculptures and various exhibits, the total number of which is about 4 thousand units.
Temple of Olympian Zeus- the temple of the main god of Olympus, or Olympion. It is the largest temple in all of Greece, the construction of which took approximately 7th centuries (from 6th to 2nd centuries BC). Located near the Acropolis. The Temple of Zeus is a great monument of Greek history, but it is a pity that it is completely destroyed. Only 14 remaining (out of 104) huge columns, the height of which reaches 17 meters, remind of the former splendor.

Theater of Dionysus. It is an ancient theater building located on the slope of the Acropolis. One of the most ancient theaters in the world, it was built in the 5th century BC. The theater was originally made of wood, performances were held only 2 times a year. It accommodated exactly half the inhabitants of Athens - 17 thousand spectators. After reconstruction: the stage and seats in 67 rows became marble. The names and positions of the owners are still visible on them; these were the chairs of especially important guests. The performances were held outdoors in natural light, and thanks to excellent acoustics, the words of the actors were clearly heard from the very last rows.
Odeon of Herodes Atticus. The Odeon is a venue for music and singing competitions. It was built in 165 AD on the southern slope of the Acropolis. It has the classic shape of an ancient theater with 5 thousand seats. The Odeon has survived to this day almost in its original form (only the multi-colored marble cladding and some statues are missing). The Odeon is visited by millions of spectators during the annual Athens Festival (June to September).
Thus, Athens is the true cradle of humanity. Having seen the Acropolis, the Temple of Zeus, the Theater of Dionysus and other masterpieces of ancient masters, you and I seemed to touch the history of the origin of civilization. The words that most accurately describe the majestic buildings of Ancient Greece are: "Architecture is frozen music."

(Greek music sounds).
Teacher: And now I suggest you work in groups and complete tasks - put together puzzles and name ancient Greek masterpieces, which you will succeed. But first, let's remember the rules of working in a group.
(Children's answers and group work follow).
Teacher: Well done boys! And now I propose to meet Orpheus and Eurydice. One of the most famous myths is myth about the love of Orpheus and Eurydice.
(The following is a reading of the myth of Ancient Greece “Orpheus and Eurydice.”)

Teacher: Guys, did you like the myth? Tell us, who are the main characters? Describe them. Why did Eurydice fall in love with Orpheus? Why do you think the happiness of Orpheus and Eurydice was so short-lived? Tell us how Orpheus got into the underworld? Why do you think Orpheus returned to earth alone? In your opinion, what quality of character prevented Orpheus from being happy with his beloved Eurydice? Let's remember the main events of the myth. What feelings do you experience after reading this myth? What seemed especially surprising?
(The following are the children’s answers to the teacher’s questions).
Teacher: Ask your questions.
Note: When reading myths to children, be prepared for a lot of questions.
(The teacher answers the children’s questions).
Teacher: Orpheus- a mysterious figure in world history. There is very little reliable information about him, but there are a lot of myths, fairy tales, and legends. Orpheus lived eleven generations before the Trojan War. He appears at a very difficult time in the history of Greece, when people plunged into a semi-wild state of the most base and crude manifestations. About 5 thousand years ago, the figure of a man appears, dazzling with his physical and spiritual beauty. Orpheus- “healing with light” (“aur” - light, “rfe” - to heal). He is called the “illustrious father of songs,” speaking of him as the creator of the lyre, which is also called the harp after his name. Orpheus is a singer and musician. Words from the Orphic Hymn: “I will sing for those who understand - shut the doors, you uninitiated!” He invented music and poetry. Ancient people believed in the omnipotent, divine power of music. It was believed that Orpheus became famous for the magical gift that he received from his mother, the muse Calliope. He increased the number of strings on the lyre to nine. His playing and singing conquered the elements; when he traveled with the Argonauts, helping his friends during trials, the waves and wind were humbled, enchanted by his wondrous music. Orpheus is endowed with magical powers, which not only people, but also gods, and even nature itself submitted to. The songs of Orpheus tamed wild animals, made trees bend their branches, and made stones move. Eurydice- This is a nymph, the wife of Orpheus.

The myth of Eurydice and Orpheus- a wonderful example of true sincere love. Orpheus went to great lengths to bring back his beloved. He did what no one could do: he managed to pity the stern ruler of the underground kingdom of Hades. A little was not enough for Orpheus to return his beloved to the kingdom of the living. Moral: you cannot return what is lost forever, no matter how much you want it.
Teacher: And now, guys, I will ask you to complete the task - color Eurydice. We will each work individually.
(Individual work with children is carried out).

Teacher: Today it is difficult to imagine world history and culture without Greek temples, without classical examples of sculpture, without painting. Modern science, art, and culture in general have ancient Greek roots. And now I invite you to listen to a fragment of one piece of music.
(The following is a listening to a musical fragment from Gluck’s opera “Orpheus and Eurydice”)
Teacher: Did you like the piece of music? What are the differences from the myth we read?
(The children's reasoning follows).
Teacher: Many composers, musicians and poets turned to the plot of the Greek myth.
(View the presentation with the teacher's comments).
Example text:
At the end of the 15th century, the legend about the fate of Orpheus and his beloved wife, the beautiful Eurydice, turned out to be interesting for the theater stage. In the Italian city of Mantua poet Angelo Poliziano wrote the first dramatic play.
It was about Orpheus that was written and one of the world's first operas - "Eurydice", performed in 1600 in Florence at the wedding of Marie de Medici and Henry IV. Its authors were poet Ottavio Rinuccini and singer-composer Jacopo Peri(1561-1633) nicknamed Longhair.
Seven years later in 1607 Claudio Monteverdi(1567-1643) wrote the opera "Orpheus".

In 1762, composer K. F. Gluck created another piece of music - opera "Orpheus and Eurydice". Christoph Willibald Gluck(1714-1787) - Austrian composer. His opera was the first reform opera and is considered a masterpiece of the composer and the art of opera. The arias, orchestral numbers, and scenes are in many ways reminiscent of classical operas of the 19th century.

Composers also turned to the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice in later times. In general, this plot was created over 50 operas.
Here are some of them:“Orpheus” by Johann Christian Bach (the youngest son of the great Johann Sebastian Bach), “The Transmuted Lyre of Orpheus” by Kreiser and his operatic duology “Orpheus”, “Orpheus and Eurydice” by Fuchs, an unfinished opera by Joseph Haydn, “The Tale of Orpheus” by the Italian Alfredo Casella , “Orpheus and Eurydice” by the Austrian Ernst Kscheneck, “The Misfortunes of Orpheus” by the Frenchman Darius Milhaud and many others.
The myth of Orpheus and Eurydice has captivated Hungarian composer and pianist Franz Liszt(1811-1886). He wrote the program symphonic poem "Orpheus". For the romantic composer, Orpheus is a symbol of all art, Eurydice is a symbol of an ideal drowned in grief and suffering, and Orpheus’s cry is grief for an ideal, the death of which on earth even the great power of art cannot prevent.
The notable appearance of Orpheus at the crossroads of the 20th century occurred in 1948, When in NYC was delivered ballet "Orpheus" by Russian composer and conductor Igor Stravinsky(1882-1971), who had lived abroad since 1914 and recently returned to Moscow.
The modern myth of Orpheus is described in the first Russian rock opera - "Orpheus and Eurydice"(zong opera in two parts), written by in 1975 by composer Alexander Zhurbin and playwright Yuri Dimitrin.
Beautiful singer Anna German performed the song “Dancing Eurydice”, and her disc was released under the same name.