Orpheus and mousikê in Greek Tragedy
Semenzato, Camille
In: Trends in Classics, 2016, vol. 8, no. 2, p. 295-316
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- Much as he is famous, Orpheus is only mentioned by name fourteen times in the Greek tragedies and tragic fragments that have survived the ravages of time. Furthermore he is never shown as a protagonist, but always evoked by a dramatic character as an example, a parallel, a peculiarity, or a fantasy. This legendary singer is mentioned every time, if not explicitly, at least implicitly, in conjunction with μουσική, the ‘art of the Muses', namely ‘music' in its fullest sense. Each of these allusions recalls and highlights his prodigious and superhuman musical qualities and abilities.