Echo and Narcissus

Echo and Narcissus

Echo was a nymph who, having offended one of the gods, was condemned to be unable to speak except by repeating the last syllable of whatever was said to her. Some sources say that Hera (Juno) was the one who imposed the curse, exasperated by her incessant chatter; other sources say it was Pan, angered by her cloying love. She had the misfortune of falling in love with Narcissus, the handsome son of the river god Cephissus and the nymph Liriope. However, since she could only echo his words, Narcissus ignored her and she faded away into a shadow. But punishment awaited Narcissus: selfish and contemptuous of all his admirers, he fell in love with his own reflection in a pool and thus died in self-admiration. The gods transformed him into the flower that bears his name.