The myth of Echo and Narcissus is a classic tale of one-sided love in which the handsome Narcissus is punished for his cruel treatment of Echo by suffering her fate.
Tiresias and the Fate of Narcissus
According to Ancient Greek legend, Liriope, a nymph, bore a son she named Narcissus. As many did, she visited the prophet Tiresias to ask about her son’s future. He told her that Narcissus would live to a ripe old age “if he never knows himself.” Liriope did not know what Tiresias meant and was not too worried, but his words would come true nevertheless.
The Haughtiness of Narcissus
Narcissus grew into an extraordinarily handsome young man, and many young women (and men, too) sought him out. But he was not interested in any of them, and preferred to hunt and be alone. He was very proud of his looks and he was cold and cruel in his treatment of those who tried to befriend him.
Echo’s Voiceless Curse
One day, Narcissus was seen by Echo, a beautiful nymph, and she, too, fell in love with him. Echo had a peculiar curse: Hera, wife of Zeus, had taken away her voice because Echo had assisted Zeus in his romantic liaisons with other nymphs. Echo could not speak, but could only repeat the words of others. So in spite of her great longing for Narcissus, she could not tell him of her love unless he used the same words first.
The Wasting of Echo
Echo followed Narcissus until one day he heard her. “Is anyone here?” he asked. “Here,” she replied. “Come,” he said, and she replied the same word. “Why do you run away from me? “ he asked, only to get the same answer in return. “Here, let us meet,” he said, and she replied “Let us meet.”
But when she came out of hiding, Narcissus scorned and taunted her and ran away, for he was cold-hearted. Devastated, Echo hid in the woods and in caves. But her love for Narcissus did not fade, and it made her body waste away. Soon all that remained of her was her voice, forever repeating the words of others.
The Punishment of Narcissus
Nemesis, goddess of retribution, knew of Narcissus and his torment of Echo and decided to punish him. As Narcissus went to drink water from a pool, he spied his own reflection and immediately fell in love with it. He never again left the pool, gazing into the eyes of his beloved and raging with frustration. He would beg his reflection to come out of the water to join him, always in vain. Like Echo, his love caused him to waste away until he too died. Even as he was ferried into Hades across the River Styx, he gazed over the side at his reflection. Like Echo, he left something of himself behind: a yellow flower with white petals.
The Enduring Myth of Echo and Narcissus
This classic Greek myth survives today: the word echo, used to refer to a sound that reflects off of something and is repeated, alludes to this myth. The adjective narcissistic, which means self-centered and haughty, refers to the cold-hearted Narcissus. There is a variety of flowers known as narcissus: they are also called daffodils.
Source:
Hendricks, Rhoda A. Classical Gods and Heroes. New York: Morrow Quill Paperbacks, 1974.
More Ancient Greek Legends:
Christopher Minster - I'm a freelance writer. I mostly write about travel, history and culture. I enjoy writing fiction as well.
Join the Conversation