Narcissus (mythology)

In Greek mythology, Narcissus (Greek Ναρκισσος) spurned the love of both boys and girls. A rejected lover prayed to Nemesis that Narcissus would one day know the pain of unreturned love, and this curse was fulfilled when Narcissus became entranced by the image of a boy he later discovered only to be his own reflection in a pool. A nymph, Echo, loved this beautiful boy, but she could never get his attention. He remained by the water's edge, and she eventually pined away waiting for him...until nothing was left of Echo but her sad, pleading voice, and Narcissus turned into the flower that bears his name (see Narcissi).

Narcissus was the son of Cephissus and Liriope.

The tale of Narcissus is told in numerous places, but its telling in Book III of Ovid's Metamorphoses is probably the most well known.

An alternate version from Boeotia claims that Narcissus lived in Thespiae. Ameinias, a young man, loved Narcissus but was scorned. To tell Ameinias off, Narcissus gave him a sword as a present. Ameinias used the sword to kill himself on Narcissus' doorstep and cursed him to love too, and not be requited. Later, Narcissus fell in love with a beautiful boy in a pond, not knowing it was his own reflection, and died from a broken heart.

Narcissism is named after Narcissus, and both derive from the Greek word "narke" which means "numb" from which we also get the word "narcotic." Thus for the Greeks Narcissus stood for callousness and insensitivity, as he was emotionally numb to the entreaties of those who fell in love with his beauty.

External Link

The story of Narcissus An audio version (in MP3 and other formats) of the original story, compiled from primary sources.