From the outside, the story of Narcissus and Echo appears uncomplicated—a familiar tale of unrequited love. Tragic, yes, but not exactly hard to follow.
Or so it seems.
Let’s dive in.
Echo was a beautiful but mute Greek Nymph who spent her days roaming the forests. She wasn’t born speechless, but after a tryst with Zeus, Hera cursed Echo. From that day onward, she lost the ability to speak freely, and her voice was restricted to echoes.
When she stumbled upon Narcissus, an equally beautiful woodland spirit, it was love at first sight. At least for Echo.
Echo couldn’t introduce herself, so she watched him and waited for her opportunity. It wasn’t long before Narcissus stopped for a drink of water. But, when he caught sight of his reflection in the glassy pool, something odd happened. He immediately fell in love…with himself. If he wasn’t smitten, he was at least entranced enough to profess love to his own reflection.
“I love you!” he exclaimed.
“I love you!” Echo repeated.
But to her despair, Narcissus never acknowledged her. He never glanced in her direction. He never heard the lovesick tone in her voice. His eyes never left his likeness. As if under a spell, Narcissus stopped eating, drinking, and was completely unwilling (or unable) to lose sight of his reflection. Echo stayed by his side while he wasted away and eventually perished.
In his place, a narcissus flower took root. When it bloomed, a new word found its way into our speech—narcissism.
Echo, heartbroken and riddled with sorrow, followed her beloved into the afterlife shortly after his demise.
Typically, this is where the story ends. Simple, right?
Perhaps, but only if we don’t ask any questions.
Why was Narcissus so enchanted by his reflection? Was he really in love with himself? Or, like Echo, was he cursed?
This is where it gets tricky.
When most people think of Narcissus, they think of Echo. Their love story (or lack thereof) is what made him famous. But, there are plenty of other tales throughout Greek mythology that show us a bit more about his character and naiveté. On further investigation, we might conclude that Narcissus wasn’t narcissistic. Immature, yes. Arrogant, without a doubt. And like most young and inexperienced souls, he paid little attention to anything that extended beyond the material world. This superficiality is likely what led to his demise.
Before Echo stumbled upon Narcissus in the woods, there was a young man named Ameinias. Ameinias found Narcissus alluring and was in awe of his hunting prowess. But, like everyone who longed for his attention, Ameinias was just another unlucky admirer.
Narcissus mocked Ameinias for his desires and, out of spite, gifted him a sword. At first glance, this gesture appears genuine, but the phallic shape of the sword was intended to tease Ameinias. It worked. Heartbroken, humiliated, and dejected, Ameinias stabbed himself with the sword, committing suicide in front of his would-be lover’s home.
With blood on his hands, Narcissus sealed his fate.
Some say that Aphrodite, Goddess of love, cursed Narcissus for making a mockery of her temple. This may be true. At the very least, he fell out of favor with her due to his insulting actions.
But, chances are, it was Nemesis that spurned the curse that ended Narcissus’s life. Legend says that moments before he succumbed to his injuries, Ameinias called upon Nemesis, God of justice and Karmic consequences. He asked that Narcissus pay for his emotional and physical wounds by experiencing the ultimate loss—the death the one he loves the most. Himself.
Even in the afterlife, Narcissus is still arrogant. However, he has matured enough to offer his services to others. He’s invoked by anyone looking to correct an error in judgment, and he takes pleasure in helping people who are looking for a second chance in a failed relationship.
Love Stories of Myth & Lore Booklet
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Countless writers, artists, and poets use love as their muse. This four-letter word seems so simple, so obvious. ⠀⠀But look again, because when you do, you’ll see that no matter what form it takes, love has much to teach us.⠀⠀This… read more
