Description
Orpheus calming the animals with his lyre. Original drawing.
Mixed media on Fabriano paper.
23 X 17 inches.
Original artwork comes with a custom frame upon purchase.
In Greek mythology, Orpheus was a legendary musician, poet, and prophet who possessed an extraordinary talent for playing the lyre. According to myth, Orpheus was able to charm all living things with his music, including animals, trees, and even rocks. His music was said to have a calming and healing effect on those who heard it, and it was believed that he could even influence the movements of the heavens with his melodies.
The story of Orpheus and the lyre is perhaps best known from the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. When Orpheus’s beloved wife, Eurydice, died, he was overcome with grief. In his sorrow, he took up his lyre and played such sweet and melancholy music that all who heard it wept. The gods, moved by his sorrow and his music, granted him permission to descend into the Underworld to retrieve Eurydice. On his journey to the Underworld, Orpheus played his lyre to calm the beasts and spirits he encountered, and his music was so powerful that even the Furies, the fearsome goddesses of vengeance, wept at the sound of it.
Orpheus’s music was said to have a transformative effect on those who heard it. It had the power to soothe and heal, to bring peace and comfort to troubled souls. In the hands of Orpheus, the lyre became a symbol of the power of music to transcend language and culture, to communicate directly to the heart and soul. Indeed, the ancient Greeks believed that music had the ability to harmonize the emotions, to calm the mind, and to elevate the spirit.
The calming effect of music is a universal phenomenon that has been recognized and celebrated in cultures around the world for centuries. In ancient China, for example, music was believed to have the power to heal the body and the soul. In India, the raga system of classical music is based on the idea that each musical mode has a specific emotional and spiritual effect on the listener. In the Islamic tradition, music is considered a means of coming closer to God, of experiencing divine presence.
Recent scientific research has confirmed what ancient cultures have long known: that music has a powerful and measurable effect on the brain and body. Studies have shown that listening to music can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, improve mood and cognitive function, and even lower blood pressure and heart rate. Music therapy is now a recognized form of treatment for a wide range of conditions, from autism and Alzheimer’s disease to chronic pain and traumatic brain injury.
The calming effect of music can be particularly profound in times of crisis and upheaval, when words fail us and emotions run high. Music has the ability to bypass the rational mind and speak directly to the emotions, offering solace and comfort in the face of adversity. In hospitals and hospices, music therapy is used to help patients cope with pain and anxiety, to connect with lost memories and emotions, and to find a sense of peace and acceptance in the face of illness and mortality.
In the realm of popular music, artists like Bob Marley, John Lennon, and Nina Simone have used their music to promote peace, love, and social justice. Their songs have inspired generations of listeners to stand up against oppression, to find common ground in the face of division, and to believe in the power of music to bring about positive change in the world. In times of political turmoil and social unrest, music has the ability to unite us, to remind us of our shared humanity, and to offer hope and inspiration in the face of despair.
The myth of Orpheus and the lyre reminds us of the transformative power of music, of its ability to calm the mind, uplift the spirit, and heal the soul. In a world that is often chaotic and uncertain, music offers us a refuge, a source of comfort and joy in troubled times. Whether we are playing an instrument, singing in a choir, or simply listening to our favorite songs, music has the power to bring us together, to remind us of what is truly important in life, and to help us find peace and solace in a troubled world.
