Today’s Greek myth of the day is the story of Echo and Narcissus:
In Greek mythology, Echo was a mountain nymph known for her loquacious nature and ability to repeat the words of others. However, she fell under a curse by the goddess Hera, which restricted her speech to only being able to echo what others said to her.
One day, Echo encountered the handsome youth Narcissus while he was out hunting. Narcissus, known for his exceptional beauty, spurned the affections of those who admired him, including Echo. Despite her love for Narcissus, she could only repeat his final words back to him.
Narcissus, upon rejecting Echo’s advances, caught sight of his reflection in a pool of water and became infatuated with the image. Unable to tear himself away from his own reflection, he wasted away beside the pool, consumed by his love for himself.
Echo, heartbroken by Narcissus’s rejection and tragic fate, withdrew to the caves, where only her voice could be heard reverberating among the mountains. Both Echo and Narcissus met tragic ends, their stories serving as cautionary tales of unrequited love, vanity, and the consequences of excessive self-love.