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Orpheus fullsize

Orpheus as he appears in Persona 3.

"Thou art I... And I am thou... From the sea of thy soul I cometh... I am Orpheus, master of strings..."
—Orpheus

Orpheus (オルフェウス?) is a Persona in the series.

History

In Greek mythology, Orpheus was the son of Thracian king Oeagrus and the muse Calliope (some versions have Orpheus' father as the god Apollo). Apollo, fond of Orpheus, gave him a small golden lyre, which he quickly mastered. Taught to sing verses by his mother, Orpheus was so skilled at making music that he was called "Master of Strings" and "Father of Songs", capable of such music that even rocks and animals would be compelled to dance.

Upon the death of his wife Eurydice, Orpheus was so distraught that his mournful singing brought nymphs and gods to tears. Traveling to the underworld, he used his music to soften the hearts of Hades and Persephone, who allowed him to bring his wife back to the upper world on the condition that he walk in front and not look back until they had both arrived on the surface. In his anxiety, Orpheus forgot his warning and looked back when he alone had reached the surface, and saw his wife vanish, this time forever.

At the time of his death, Orpheus had become an apostate, spurning all gods save for Apollo, whom he thanked for his golden lyre. For this he was ripped apart by Dionysian Maenads (although according to other versions, he is ripped apart for refusing to participate in their drunken (and often cannibalistic) orgies, on account of remaining committed to his lost lover), only his head and lyre remaining. His head floated down the Hebrus, continuing to sing sad songs until it was buried on the island of Lesbos, while his lyre was carried to the sky by the muses and placed among the stars.

True to his legend, Orpheus is the archetypal musician in literacy and lore, and he stands for foolish human folly (for turning back out of doubt) as well as sacrifice (for dying for Eurydice).

Appearances

Profile

Persona 3

" A poet of Greek mythology skilled with the lyre. He tried to retrieve his wife, Eurydice, from Hades, but she vanished when he looked back before reaching the surface."
—Compendium Info

Orpheus is a Lv 1 Fool Persona, and is the initial Persona of the protagonist. He makes his first appearance during the protagonist' attempt at summoning a Persona via the Evoker to fend off the looming Shadows. During Orpheus' initial summoning, Death (whose appearance is identical to Thanatos) bursts forth from Orpheus' head, ripping him apart in the process. Death violently destroys the Arcana Magician before reverting to Orpheus, who then becomes accessible to the protagonist.

Orpheus' grotesque introduction signifies the fate he suffered long ago. According to mythology, he was ripped apart by Maenads for not honoring Dionysus, leaving only his head untouched. This is the reason why his body is entirely mechanical and why his voice is processed through a device embedded in his "stomach".

Portable

If the player chooses the Female Protagonist in this game, a female version of Orpheus becomes the player's Initial Persona as to reflect on the player's gender, though the female protagonist's versions of Thanatos, Messiah and Orpheus Telos retain their masculine appearance.

This version of Orpheus, although bearing the same concept as the male counterpart, now sports longer brown hair, a golden-colored torso instead of a platinum one the male Orpheus adorns, and a giant heart-shaped lyre.

The female Orpheus may be obtained and used by the male protagonist via New Game Plus, should the player have registered the female Orpheus in the Compendium while playing as the female protagonist. The same is true for the reverse, with the female protagonist having access to the male Orpheus.

Orpheus (regardless of the protagonist's gender) will now give the player the Skill Card "Agi" after Orpheus reaches level 3.

The Answer

In the playable epilogue of Persona 3 FES, titled The Answer, Orpheus becomes Aigis's Persona.

During a heated battle against Metis, Aigis summons Athena. At the same time, she awakens to a new Persona and Athena metamorphosed into Orpheus. Orpheus fends off Metis, saving the SEES team from her attack. Igor would later mention that her awakening to the power of the Wild Card has bound her to a contract. The metamorphosis symbolizes a change in Aigis' psyche, and that her Journey is about to begin. Orpheus then serves as Aigis' initial Persona throughout the story. Aigis having inherited the protagonist's psyche and the Persona irritates a jealous Yukari.

Orpheus can also be obtained throughout the Wild Card shuffles after battles in The Answer.

Stats

Persona 3

Level Arcana St Ma En Ag Lu
1 Fool 2 2 2 2 2
Inherit Resists Block Absorbs Reflects Weak
Fire - - - - Electricity, Dark
Skill Card Agi (Lv 3)
List of Skills
Skill Cost Effect Level
Bash 7% HP Deals light Strike damage to one foe. Innate
Agi 3 SP Deals light Fire damage to one foe. 2
Tarunda 6 SP Decreases 1 foe's Attack. 6
Fusion Spell *
Fusion Cost Effect Prerequisite
Cadenza 20% SP Restores 50% HP / Evasion up (party). Orpheus + Apsaras


The Answer

Level Arcana St Ma En Ag Lu
25 Fool 17 20 18 15 12
Inherit Resists Block Absorbs Reflects Weak
Fire - - - - Electricity, Dark
List of Skills
Skill Cost Effect Level
Agi 3 SP Deals light Fire damage to one foe. Innate
Assault Dive 9% HP Deals light Strike damage to one foe. Innate
Dia 4 SP Slightly restores 1 ally's HP. Innate
Agilao 6 SP Deals medium Fire damage to one foe. 26
Tarunda 6 SP Decreases 1 foe's Attack. 27
Swift Strike 15% HP Deals light Strike damage to all foes. (1-3 hits) 28


Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth

Level Arcana St Ma En Ag Lu
1 Fool 7 9 6 7 8
Resists Block Absorbs Reflects Weak
- - - - Elec/Dark
List of Skills
Skill Cost Effect Level
Agi 8 SP A light Fire attack. (1 Enemy) Innate
Gurentou 24 HP A light Cut + Fire attack. (1 Enemy) 9
Agilao 28 SP A medium Fire attack. (1 Enemy) 15
Dekaja 24 SP Remove stat buffs. (All Enemies) 26
Gokuentou 92 HP A medium Cut + Fire attack. (1 Enemy) 35
Agidyne 46 SP A heavy Fire attack. (1 Enemy) 40
Hientou 135 HP A heavy Cut + Fire attack. (1 Enemy) 55


Gallery

 
Orpheus female render by misachanchibi-d347r8n
The Female Protagonist's Orpheus
 
Art46 2
Concept artwork of Orpheus
 
Psn makoto01
Concept anime sketch of Orpheus in Persona 3 Movie
 
Orpherus concept artwork in P3M
Concept anime artwork of Orpherus
 
Orpheus in a Persona 3 anime cutscene
Orpheus in a Persona 3 anime cutscene.
 
Orpheus in battle
Orpheus in battle
 
Female Orpheus in battle
Female version of Orpheus in battle.
 
Orpheus appears in Persona 3 manga adaption
Orpheus appears in the Persona 3 Manga
 
Orpheus in P3 Movie
Orpheus appears in the P3 Movie
 
Orpheus from P3P
Male Orpheus from P3P

Trivia

  • Orpheus appears as a palette swap for Izanagi in Persona 4 Arena.
  • While using cheats to get the full compendium in Persona 4, there are five extra slots in the compendium: 034, 0B4, 0B5, 02B, in the Fool Arcana including Izanagi-no-Okami. The slots 0B4 and 0B5 have a portrait of Orpheus but when summoned they appear as a Slime.

See Also

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