Orpheus is said to be the son of the god Apollo, a son of Zeus, and the muse Calliope, a daughter of Zeus. He is from Thrace. When he is young, his father gives him a stringed instrument called a lyre, and Orpheus turns out to be such a gifted musician that no mortal can resist the sound of his music.

His gift seems to be divine. In fact, his voice and playing are so beautiful that not even an immortal can resist his music, and even trees are said to move themselves in order to come closer to him while he plays.

It was no doubt that he was...