Page:Lovers Legends - The Gay Greek Myths.pdf/77

 Orpheus

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rpheus, the son of the Thracian river god, lived with his parents in a cave deep in the primeval forest. When the boy came of age, his father whispered to him the secret teachings of Dionysus, the god of wine. His mother, Calliope, the Muse of song, filled Orpheus with inspiration, and such songs began to flow from his mouth that even the gods on high stopped and turned to listen. Apollo lord of the lyre was drunk with pleasure to hear Orpheus’ music. He swept down from bright Olympus and took the golden-voiced mortal as his boyfriend. The god taught him to master the lyre, so he might accompany his singing, and time stood still when they were together. All too soon the day came when Apollo had to leave, but, as they parted, he offered Orpheus his lyre as a love gift. Orpheus spent all the livelong day learning the stories of the gods, and before long he could sing every last one. Thirsty for knowledge, he even traveled to the sandy shores of Egypt to study the secrets of the Underworld. Upon his return, all the Greeks bowed down to him as the greatest among them in knowledge and wisdom, as well as music. Dionysus upon a Satyr 63

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