The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-05-17
-Dletz on Science
CLASSIC LEGEND
IS FOUNDED ON
STAR OF VEGA
Romance of 0rpheuS and
Bride CenterS on
Sky Body.
BY DAVID DIETZ
scriDps-HoVard Science Editor

Most brilliant of all the stars in
the night skies of May is the beau
tiful blue white Vega. The ancients
chose this star and the constellation
OF which it is part TO celebrate the
divine powers of music in the
scheme of the universe.
Around it, they Wove some Of
Their most enchanting legends, in
GLIDING the story Of Orpheus the
musician, who braved the dangers
OF hades in vain attempt to re-
deem his beloved.
Orpheus was the skilled musician,
who accompanied Jason in the
search for the golden fleece. He was
musician Of WOndrous ability.
Fcc's Of all ages have written OF
him
Orpheus won the heart Of Fury
dice But at the marriage feast the
torches smoked and brought tears
TO the eyes of the guests, and the
sages predicted that the omens we're
uriavorable.
Shortly after the marriage, a shep-
herd saw Eurydice crossing field,
and struck by her beauty pursued
her. She fed, and in her haste
stepped on a snake which bit her
in the foot The snake was poison
Gus, and Eurydice died.
Descends to Underworld
Her tragic death made Orpheus
disconsolate, and finally he de-
termined to make the perilous
descent into Hades itself in the
hopes that his music might please
dread Pluto, king of the under
world. and induce that monarch to
give him back his beautiful Fury
dice.
So Orpheus descended to the
terrifying depths Of the underworld.
Orpheus made his way through
the melancholy twilight of Hades
IN il he found himself at the loot
Of the throne of Pluto. There he
sang his petitions, accompanying
himself upon his Tyre. His skill
did not forsake him in this supreme
test and even Pluto was enchanted
with the music.
Pluto agreed to release Eurydice,
but only upon one condition: Or
pheus must lead the way back to
earth and he must not turn back to
see if she is following him.
Fails to Keep Vow
OrpheuS agreed and started back.
But when he reached the gates of
Hades and was about to step into
the world of life once more, he
could no longer restrain himself.
He turned around to see if the
beautiful Eurydice had followed.
And even as he gazed at her, she be-
gen to fade from his view,
OrpheuS remained discOnSolate for
the rest of his life. Always he was
fai hful to the memory of Eurydice,
although many beautiful girls,
charmed by his music. hoped that
he would fall in love with them.
Finally, at the height of one of
the festivals in honor of Bacchus,
the god of wine, jealous maiden
cried, See yonder our deSpiser, "
and hurled a iavelin at him.
But when the weapon came with
in the sound of his Tyre, it fell harm
less at his feet Other women be-
gan to hurl stones at him, but these
also fell harmless at his feet.
Then the women screamed with
rage and their screaming drowned
out his music When this hap
pened. the stones began to strike
him and soon they killed him. The
Infatuated women tore his body to
pisces and threw it into the River
HoJus.
But the MUSES. rescued the body
and buried it. And the nightingale,
it was said, sang more sweetly over
the grave of Orpheus than any
where else in all Greece