Echo and Narcissus (more mythology)

Zeus, king of the gods who was well known for having many love affairs, enjoyed consorting with nymphs. Hera, his wife, was a jealous creature, and followed him from Mount Olympus in an attempt to catch him red handed.

One nymph, named Echo, loved the sound of her own voice, and would entertain Hera with long, exciting stories while Zeus would ravish the other mountain nymphs. This worked quite well for a while, but Hera did eventually discover the trickery. In her anger, Hera punished Echo by taking away her voice. The only time Echo could speak was to repeat after the words of another being.

Narcissus was a beautiful young man, the son of the river god Cephisus and a nymph, Leirope. By his sixteenth year, Narcissus had haughtily spurned the affections of many young women and men. One day, while the handsome youth was out hunting stags, Echo happened to see him. She fell in love with him at once, and followed him through the forest. at one point, he heard her footsteps and called out, "Who's there?" Echo sadly repeated, "Who's there?" this continued until Echo finally rushed out and attempted to embrace Narcissus, who pushed her away and told her to leave him alone. Echo rushed away, heartbroken.

the god Nemesis heard hear heartbreak, and decided to punish Narcissus for his coldness. while walking, he caught sight of a very youth in the water of the river. kneeling beside the stream, Narcissus bent towards the water and begged the man to come out, for Narcissus had fallen in love with him. He sat there, watching and pleading for a while, until Narcissus realized that it was not another man, but his own reflection. Realizing that he could never have the love he wished for from beautiful boy in the water, he pined at the side of the river until he died, and his body became a beautiful flower. It is said that his soul still kneels along the river Styx, watching his beautiful reflection.

Meanwhile, Echo retreated to a glenn and pined for the love she never knew, until her body wasted away and all that remained was her voice.



another version of the Narcissus side of the story, thought to be at least 150 years older then the one above, is this:

Narcissus was a beautiful young man who spurned all of his suitors. One of these, called Ameinias, was a young man whom Narcissus attempted to turn away kindly with the gift of a sword. Ameinias, in his dejection, killed himself with the sword on Narcissus doorstep, after praying to the god Nemisis for the vain youth be shown the pain of unrequited love. The prayer was answered when Narcissus caught sight of his reflection in a river while hunting. Narcissus fell in love with his own self, and, true to the symmetry of the story, fell upon his sword and killed himself in repentance.


sad story, but i find it intriguing that we still use the word "Narcisistic" to describe one who loves himself.

xoxo,
Brii333