Orpheus was the son of Calliope, the muse of epic poetry. With his lyre and his singing, he had the power to bewitch all of nature. The skilled musician could cause the animals, trees and even the rocks to hark to his melodies. The motif of Orpheus surrounded by all sorts of peaceful animals was popular even in classical antiquity, particularly in colourful mosaics. In later periods the motif was reminiscent of the innocent idyll of Paradise.