The combination of Beauty and Death, entailed by Love, finds its ultimate expression in the last image of Narcissus, who still faces each other, as in the mirror of Persephone, in the water of the Styx.īut the main subtle topic, before that one of Beauty, is Illusion, announced in the episode of Echo. He also mentions the alternating brightness and burning, and shade and coolness. The text constantly plays with “water” and “erotic fire”, as it appears in the eyes of the young, reaching torches and funeral fires. Moreover, the poet evokes the effects of its beauty. The poem also compares Narcissus hair with Apollo´s.
Since Narcissus is the son of a river, C ephissos, and a nymph of great beauty, Liriope. On the one hand, he defines it as divine. Many issues traditionally associated with the mirror are present in this myth by Ovid.įirstly, Beauty. The myth tells that where his blood soaked the earth sprung up the white narcissus flower with its red corollary, forever growing at the water’s edge, its head inclined towards the water. As he was looking one last time into the pool uttered, “Oh marvellous boy, I loved you in vain, farewell”, Echo too chorused, “Farewell.” When Narcissus died, wasting away before his own reflection, consumed by a love that could not be, Echo mourned over his body. Unable at last to stand the agony Narcissus plunged a dagger in his heart and died, calling out a final goodbye to his reflected image. The spell of Artemis had totally mesmerized him, and for hours he sprawled by the spring, until at last he recognized himself. Narcissus came upon a clear spring at Donacon in Thespia, Narcissus stooped down to drink, and saw his own image in the water he thought it was some beautiful water-spirit living in the fountain. Hence, she caused Narcissus to fall in love…but the kind of love that “could never be fulfilled”. The goddess of the hunt, Artemis, (according to other versions it could have been Nemesis, the goddess of revenge, instead) learnt of this story and decided to punish Narcissus. Not knowing how else to prove his adoration, Ameinius proceeded to plunge the sword into his heart, committing suicide to demonstrate his love.Īs he lay dying, he beseeched the gods to punish the heartless Narcissus. So what did Narcissus do? The conceited youth responded to the entreaties by sending his suitor a sword, telling him to prove his adoration. A handsome man named Ameinius was one of the vain youth’s most ardent admirers and relentlessly vied for his attention. He stepped away and told her to leave him alone. Echo was heartbroken and spent the rest of her life in lonely glens until nothing but an echo sound remained of her. She eventually revealed her identity and attempted to embrace him. Narcissus sensed someone was behind him and shouted “Who’s there?”. He was the son of the river-god Cephissos, and Liriope.Įcho immediately fell in love with Narcissus.
Narcissus was a hunter who was known for his beauty. Sometime after being cursed, Echo spied a young man, Narcissus, while he was out hunting deer with his companions. Thus, all Echo could do was mimic the words of the speaker. Hera permitted Echo only to reply in foolish repetition of another’s shouted words. To punish her, Hera took away her most valuable possession: her voice. When at last Hera realized the truth, she cursed Echo. Though vigilant, whenever she was about to catch him, Echo distracted her with lengthy conversations. Hera, became suspicious, towards Zeus for his many affairs. Zeus used to loved consorting with Goddess and nymphs. The Oreads were associated with Artemis, the goddess of hunting. The classic version of this myth is by Ovid, found in Book III of his Metamorphoses (Lines 339/508)Įcho was an Oread or Orestiad, meaning a type of nymph that lived in mountains, valleys, and ravines.
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