Orpheus, God of Music
Orpheus, God of Music
Orpheus was the son of Calliope and either Apollo or Oeagrus. His music was said to be so beautiful he could tame beast and animals alike, and even make the the rocks and trees sway.
Orpheus was also responsible for helping the Argonauts safely avoid the temptations of the sirens by lulling them with his lyre. When his wife, Eurydice, a nymph who was bitten by a snake, died Orpheus went to the underworld and played his lyre for Hades. He was so taken with the music that he let Eurydice go, on the condition that Orpheus walk in front of her and not look back as they ascended to earth. However when they had nearly reached the surface, Orpheus turned his head to see if Eurydice was really behiund him and his wife was taken back to the underworld a second time.
Orpheus went mad with grief and was attacked by the Ciconian Maenads or Bacchanals, who were followers of Dionysus who had tried to make him merry again but were refused. When his music tamed the rocks and branches they threw at him, the Maenads tore him apart with their bare hands. His head still entact floated down the river and landed on the island of Lesbos, singing all the way. Orheus was responsible for the 'Orphic Movement' in religion as well.
Orpheus Today
Orpheus was played on Xena by Matthew Chamberlain and Kieren Hutchison on Young Hercules. Matthew graduated from the New Zealand Drama School in 1992 and has worked in Australia and New Zealand in film and theatre.
The Orpheus Episodes
Xena: Warrior Princess
Season Two: Girls Just Want to Have Fun, played by Matthew Chamberlain
Young Hercules
Season One: Lure of the Lyre - episode #1.19, played by Kieren Hutchison
Season One: Fame - episode #1.20, played by Kieren Hutchison
Season One: Lyre Liar - episode #1.21, played by Kieren Hutchison
Keiren's Filmography
Matthew's Filmography
Frighteners, The (1996) .... Passerby ... aka Robert Zemeckis Presents: The Frighteners (1996) (USA)
"Shortland Street" (1992) TV Series .... John Harlen
"Duggan" (1999) playing "Graeme Taylor" in episode: "Time and Tide" (episode # 1.5)
"Xena: Warrior Princess" playing "Crassus" in episode: "When in Rome" (episode #3.16)
"Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" (1995) playing "Darphus" in episode: "Unchained Heart, The" (episode # 1.13) 5/8/1995
"Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" (1995) playing "Darphus" in episode: "Gauntlet, The" (episode # 1.12) 5/1/1995
"Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" (1995) playing "Darphus" in episode: "Armageddon Now Part II" (episode # 4.14)
"Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" (1997) playing Kamaros in episode"The Lost City"
Keiren Links
Orpheus - a Young Hercules site with an image of Keiren and a description of the character
Jonathan McKenna - a Shortland Street fanpage with photos of Keiren and links
Talus - another Xena site with lots of Keiren info, links, images, etc.
The Legend of William Tell - an unofficial site with lots f info, images and bios from the movie, links to another Young Hercules site with lots of goodies too.
Matthew Chamberlain Links
Matthew Chamberlain - a very nice bio and information on the shows he has been involved with.
John Harlen - a Shortland Street fanpage - with photos of Matthew.
Orpheus Links
Orpheus page with plates - has ancient images and mythology
Orpheus and Greek Religion - a book studying Orpheus impact on Greece.
The Underworld - compares the mythology of Orpheus and Eurydice to a similar Japanese myth
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Statue of Orpheus with the lyre courtesy the Greek Hellenic Ministry
Image of The Death of Orpheus by Emile Levy courtesy Artcyclopedia.com