Legend of ECO and NARCISSUS

Legend of Echo and Narcissus: short summary

The Greek mythology It is full of myths of all kinds, but one of those that stands out the most are those that refer to mortals who suffer from the decisions made by the gods and that affect them directly. To talk about one of the best known stories about this in this lesson from a TEACHER we are going to offer you a brief summary of the legend of Echo and Narcissus.

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Index

Who were Echo and Narcissus?
Greek version of the myth of Echo and Narcissus
Roman version of the legend of Echo and Narcissus

Who were Echo and Narcissus?

Before talking about the myth itself, we must comment even briefly who Echo and Narcissus were, thanks to which we can understand their role within the greek myths and the reasons their relationship was so complicated.

Daffodilit was a young Greek with a beautiful and striking appearance, being able to make even the gods notice her beauty. All the people, both men and women, who fell in love with him were rejected, since for Narcissus no one was good enough to be with him.

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One of the rejected people was Echo, being she a nymph that protected the mountains and that what she adored most in her life was her voice, but that when she thought the goddess Hera that her voice could woo her husband made Echo's voice only be able to say the last word that someone say. All this led to Echo was always rejected by Narcissus, since she was unable to show her love to the beautiful Greek, but one day when Narcissus was alone Echo came out of the trees and tried hug him, but Narcissus's rejection was so cruel that she Echo hid the rest of her life from her in a cave, consuming herself until she was alone her voice remained.

It is said that to punish Narcissus for the pain he had inflicted on Echo, the Greek goddess Nemesis, being the one who represented justice and balance, he made Narcissus will fall in love with his own image, causing that when he saw her reflection in a fountain he threw himself towards her, dying and making a flower grow from the water that received the name of Narcissus. Being therefore the beauty of Narcissus, the characteristic element of him, which brought his death.

Legend of Echo and Narcissus: short summary - Who were Echo and Narcissus?

Greek version of the myth of Echo and Narcissus.

As in many other myths of classical culture, what happens with the legend of Echo and Narcissus is that depending on whether we are talking about the Greek or the Roman version, there may be different elements depending on numerous factors. To better understand the story, in this lesson we are going to talk about both versions, both the so-called Greco-Roman and the Roman, starting with the Greek version.

The Greek version is thought to have been created for young Greeks, being a clear story about what they should not be cruel by rejecting those who fell in love with them. Although we are not sure of its date, since on several occasions texts have appeared that show an even greater antiquity than previously thought.

In Greek history, Echo's character is replaced by Aminias, being a young Greek who falls madly in love with Narcissus because of his great beauty. As a form of mockery and to laugh at him, Narcissus gives Aminias a sword, which the Greek uses to commit suicide but before doing so he prays to Nemesis for her to show Narcissus the pain he feels to be rejected.

Nemesis hears Aminias prayers and makes Narcissus falls in love with his reflection and, seeing that she cannot be with him, she decides to commit suicide by stabbing her sword, turning his body into a flower called the narcissus.

Roman version of the legend of Echo and Narcissus.

To conclude this summary of the legend of Echo and Narcissus, we must talk about the Roman version of the story, being the most famous and the one that we most relate to history.

Roman history is told by Ovid and narrates that the nymph of the mountains Eco falls in love with Narcissus, son of a nymph and the personification of the river Cefiso. The mother asked psychics about the future of her son Narcissus, and one of them told her that Narcissus's life would end when he met with his own reflection, so Narciso's mother asked him not to approach any stream of water in which his reflection could be watch.

While Narcissus hunted alone he heard a noise, made by an Echo who was hiding from her lover due to the inability to speak with him. NArciso brusquely rejected Echo and the nymph hid in the mountains to cry until only her voice remained and she finally died fading.

Some time later, the goddess Nemesis sought justice for the damage that Narcissus had caused to the nymph, and he tricked the young Greek into seeing his reflection in a water fountain, when he saw that face so beautiful and not being able to achieve it, according to other sources, being afraid of touching her face and damaging her, Narcissus died of grief and a flower that received the name of Daffodil.

As we see, the narration of Narcissus's death is very similar in all versions, being especially characteristic that after his death it becomes the flower that bears his name.