Orpheus (dissyl.), i (Gr. dat. Orphei, Verg. E. 4, 57; Gr. acc. Orphĕă, Verg. E. 6, 30; Ov. P. 3, 3, 41:
I Orphēā, id. M. 10, 3; voc. Orpheu, Verg. G. 4, 494; Ov. M. 11, 44), m., = Ὀρφεύς, the famous mythic singer of Thrace , son of Oeagrus and Calliope , and husband of Eurydice; after her death he led her back from the Lower World , but lost her on turning to look at her , breaking his promise to Pluto. He was one of the Argonauts , Hor. C. 1, 12, 8; Ov. M. 10, 3 sq.; 11, 5 sq.; Hyg. Fab. 164; 251; Verg. E. 4, 55; Cic. N. D. 1, 38, 107 et saep.—Hence,
A Orphēus , a, um, adj., = Ὀρφεῖος, of or belonging to Orpheus , Orphean (poet.): vox, Ov. M. 10, 3: lyra, Prop. 1, 3, 42.—
B Or-phĭcus , a, um, adj., = Ὀρφικός, of or belonging to Orpheus , Orphic (class.): carmen, Cic. N. D. 1, 38, 107: sacra Orphica, id. 3, 23, 58: versus, Macr. S. 1, 18, 17.—
C Orphăĭcus , a, um, adj., = Ὀρφαικός, Orphic. —In plur. subst. : Orphăĭci , ōrum, m., the Orphics , the followers of Orpheus , Macr. Somn. Scip. 1, 12.