ORPHEUS - Son of the muse of epic poetry, engaged to marry Eurydice. With his golden voice and lyre, Orpheus charmed all living things, even rocks and stones.
EURYDICE - A dryad, or tree nymph, engaged to marry Orpheus. On the day of their wedding, she was bitten by a poisonous snake, died, and descended to the Underworld.
HADES - God of the dead, ruler of the Underworld, sometimes called "the Wealthy One." He fell in love with, abducted, and then married Persephone. Her mother, the goddess of the harvest, refused to bless the earth while Persephone was below.
PERSEPHONE - Goddess of the seasons, flowers, fruit, and grain. She spent half the year with Hades in the Underworld by arrangement, causing fall and winter above. The other half she returned to her mother, bringing spring and summer with her.
HERMES - Fleet-footed guide, messenger of the gods, and a psychopomp, or conductor of souls to the Underworld. In some tellings, it was Hermes who taught Orpheus to play the lyre.
FATES - Three goddesses who together determined the destinies of mortals, measuring their lifespans and apportioning their suffering.
CHORUS - In ancient Greek theatre, the Chorus sang, spoke, and danced unison. Often representing the citizens' voices, the Chorus commented on the characters' actions and served as an emotional conduit for the audience.
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