The most famous myths of Apollon include:-- His birth on the island of Delos. Selene is Moon. It seems that I could touch him. "[Chloris, goddess of flowers, speaks of the metamorphosis of handsome youths into flowers :] I was the first to make a flower out of Therapnaean blood [i.e. <> The slaying of the giant Tityos who attempted to carry off the god's mother Leto. As often as the love-lore boy complained, ‘Alas!’ ‘Alas!’ her echoing voice returned; and as he struck his hands against his arms, she ever answered with her echoing sounds. Ovid's Metamorphoses Book III: The Myth of Narcissus. . The image was holding a syrinx, the instrument with which Narkissos was wont to offer music to the gods of the flock, and he would make the desert echo with his songs whenever he desired to hold converse with stringed musical instruments. To plead in soft entreaty! ... Caravaggio, Narcissus at the Source. Atlantius, son of Mercury [Hermes] and Venus, who is called Hermaphroditus . . The painting has such regard for realism that it even shows drops of dew dripping from the flowers and a bee settling on the flowers--whether a real bee has been deceived by the painted flowers of whether we are to be deceived into thinking that a painted bee is real, I do not know. Echo. What strange mistake has intervened betwixt us and our love? I just don't quite get it. Commodus holds deep-seated fears, anger, and bitterness. Hyacinthus, in Greek legend, a young man of Amyclae in Laconia. All that is lovely in himself he loves, and in his witless way he wants himself:--he who approves is equally approved; he seeks, is sought, he burns and he is burnt. And many a youth, and many a damsel sought to gain his love; but such his mood and spirit and his pride, none gained his favour. Tired from hunting and eager to quench his thirst, Narcissus lay on his stomach and leaned over the water. to C1st A.D.) : Lucian, Dialogues of the Dead 8 (trans. Such a group of sympathetic metamorphoses is not uncommon in Greek myth. Narcissus, who was loved by Apollo and is counted among the most handsome young men, was the son of the river god Cephisus and the nymph Liriope (Hyg. He has … Ovid, Metamorphoses 3.350). Alas, this fatal image wins my love, as I behold it. But when she saw him in his hapless plight, though angry at his scorn, she only grieved. Here Narcissus, tired of hunting and the heated noon, lay down, attracted by the peaceful solitudes and by the glassy spring. Theoi Project © Copyright 2000 - 2017 Aaron J. Atsma, Netherlands & New Zealand, (Hyginus Fabulae 271, Statius Thebaid 7.340, Claudian Proserpine 2.130). Ages vast have rolled away since your forgotten birth, but who is he through all those weary years that ever pined away as I? Narcissus, in Greek mythology, the son of the river god Cephissus and the nymph Liriope. "In the territory of the Thespians is a place called Donakon (Donacon, Reed-Bed). ... on clustering curls worthy of Apollo, on a mouth arched like Cupid's bow, on blushing cheeks and ivory neck. to C1st A.D.) : He was a very handsome youth, but wholly inaccessible to the feeling of love. But now, till others have begun, a mute of Nature she must be. He was celebrated for his beauty and attracted many admirers but, in his arrogance, spurned them all. <>The destruction of the Niobides whose mother had offended Leto with her boasts. Echo answered, "Come." It is told that not even her bones remained, having been turned into stone, but that her voice—made utterly brief by the anger of Hera—still lives in her. Others say he was instead filled with remorse and killed himself beside the pool--and from his dying life's blood the flower was born. One day, when she observed Narcissus wandering in the pathless woods, she loved him and she followed him, with soft and stealthy tread.--The more she followed him the hotter did she burn, as when the flame flares upward from the sulphur on the torch. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) : 24). But when he Practice: Caravaggio, Calling of St. Matthew. He (they explain) fell in love with his sister, and when she died he used to visit the spring, knowing well that he saw his reflection, but finding some relief for his love because it reminded him of his sister (Pau.9.31.7-9). Galatea loves Acis. to C1st A.D.) : Juno [Hera] confused her silly tongue . Cast Echo Kathryn Radcliffe Narcissus Nathan Lay Female Ensemble. Royal Academy of Arts, London. Once a noisy Nympha, (who never held her tongue when others spoke, who never spoke till others had begun) mocking Echo, spied him as he drove, in his delusive nets, some timid stags.--For Echo was a Nympha, in olden time,--and, more than vapid sound,--possessed a form : and she was then deprived the use of speech, except to babble and repeat the words, once spoken, over and over. But look over there to your right, and you will see Hyakinthos (Hyacinthus), Narkissos (Narcissus), Nireus, Akhilleus (Achilles), Tyro, Helene, Leda,--all the beauties of old. Ameinias would take the rejection as badly as it could be taken, and the youth would commit suicide in the doorway of Narcissus’ home, killing himself with a sword that had been given to him by Narcissus. He thinks he has the right to get away with whatever he wants. Many of the nymphs fell … They find it stupid to imagine that a man old enough to fall in love was unable to distinguish a man from a man's reflection. Shall I at once implore? The story goes on that Narkissos fell in love with his sister, and when the girl died, would go to the spring, knowing that it was his reflection that he saw, but in spite of this knowledge finding some relief for his love in imagining that he saw, not his own reflection, but the likeness of his sister. Show me round; I am a new-comer. the Homeric Hymn to Demeter]. Narcissus, tormented by love of himself and by repentance, put an end to his life, and from his blood there sprang up the flower narcissus (Conon, Narrat. A magician. And maybe also leave some websites I can read about him? "Youths who were most handsome. [1.1] KEPHISOS & LIRIOPE (Ovid Metamorphoses 3.340) [N.B. Instead they found the flower that today bears his name. He fell in love with himself. He tries again, again, and is deceived by this alternate voice, and calls aloud; ‘Oh let us come together!’ Echo cries, ‘Oh let us come together!’ Never sound seemed sweeter to the Nympha, and from the woods she hastens in accordance with her words, and strives to wind her arms around his neck. What is it I implore? Brookes More) (Roman epic C1st B.C. 23 (trans. And now although among the nether shades his sad sprite roams, he ever loves to gaze on his reflection in the Stygian wave. His prayer was answered when Narkissos fell in love with his own reflection in a pool. 31. Daphne is transformed into a laurel tree as Apollo seeks to rape her. And first of those that harkened to his fateful prophecies, a lovely Nympha, named Liriope, came with her dear son, who then fifteen, might seem a man or boy--he who was born to her upon the green merge of Cephissus' stream--that mighty River-God whom she declared the father of her boy.--She questioned him, imploring him to tell her if her son, unequalled for his beauty, whom she called Narcissus, might attain a ripe old age. There as he stooped to quench his thirst another thirst increased. He experiences a particularly extreme form of self-love which leads to his death and transformation into a narcissus flower, fit to attract the goddess Persephone on her way to Hades. And thus the youth, when he beheld that lovely shadow go; ‘Ah whither cost thou fly? as you know, is a wild and gloomy fellow, had grown jealous of the friendship. You could have seen how the marble, uniform though it was in colour, adapted itself to the expression of his eyes, preserved the record of his character, showed the perception of his senses, indicated his emotions and conformed itself to the abundance of his hair as it relaxed to make the curls of his locks. Aphrodite punishes Narcissus for his cruel romantic rejection of the advances of other water, mountain and woodland nymphs. ix. Presumably these two were also transformed into their namesake plants. When as glass again the rippling waters smoothed, and when such beauty in the stream the youth observed, no more could he endure. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) : - Greek Mythographer C1st B.C. Narcissus' fate, when known throughout the land and cities of Achaea, added fame deserved, to blind Tiresias,--mighty seer. Thus he deceived the Nympha and many more, sprung from the mountains or the sparkling waves; and thus he slighted many an amorous youth.--and therefore, some one whom he once despised [probably the youth Ameinias], lifting his hands to Heaven, implored the gods, ‘If he should love deny him what he loves!’ and as the prayer was uttered it was heard by Nemesis, who granted her assent. Fowler) (Greek satire C2nd A.D.) : Philostratus the Elder, Imagines 1. Daphne was a nymph who had sworn to remain chaste like the Goddess Artemis. The sun god, one of the most important in all literature, was also quite the libertine. p. 266) says that Narcissus was drowned in the well. The eye, surely, is that of a man deeply in love, for its natural brightness and intensity are softened by a longing that settles upon it, and he perhaps thinks that he is loved in return, since the reflection gazes at him in just he way that he looks at it. And while he spoke he rent his garment from the upper edge, and beating on his naked breast, all white as marble, every stroke produced a tint as lovely as the apple streaked with red, or as the glowing grape when purple bloom touches the ripening clusters. Narcissus was renowned for his beauty and was exceptionally proud, in that he disdained those who loved him. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Narcissus. 582 ff : ", Philostratus the Elder, Imagines 1. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) : Conon, Narrations 24 (trans. Narkissos' name was the ancient Greek word for the narcissus or daffodil flower. One day, while he was hunting in the woods, the Oread nymph Echo spotted him and immediately fell for him. to C1st A.D.) : It comes and waits with you; it has no life; it will depart if you will only go. The nymph Echo catches sight of the beautiful youth Narcissus as he is hunting in the mountains and falls passionately in love with him. Caravaggio, Calling of Saint Matthew. DIONYSUS AND APOLLO. There would be much to say about he hair if we found him while hunting. Thou, too, Narcissus, hast a name in the trim gardens, unhappy thou in that thou hadst not a double of thyself. Narcissus was spellbound. He spoke; and crazed with love, returned to view the same face in the pool; and as he grieved his tears disturbed the stream, and ripples on the surface, glassy clear, defaced his mirrored form. NARCISSUS (Narkissos), a son of Cephissus and the nymph Liriope of Thespiae. Composer Kevin March Librettist Jane Montgomery Griffiths. 322 ff (trans. 3210: Narcissus in love with his image, 1728. - C1st A.D. Greek papyrus fragment from Oxyrrhynchus. That which you behold is but the shadow of a reflected form and has no substance of its own. When I extend my loving arms to thee thine also are extended me--thy smiles return my own. Thou, Hyacinthus, wert born at Amyclae, Narcissus was Helicon's child; thee the errant discus slew; him love of his stream-reflected face beguiled; for thee weeps Delos' god with sorrow-weighted brow; for him Cephisus with his broken reeds. § 6); or that he had a beloved twin sister perfectly like him, who died, whereupon he looked at his own image reflected in a well, to satify his longing after his sister. . 339 - 509 (trans. ], Lucian, Dialogues of the Dead 8 (trans. He hasn't been able to come to terms with the fact that Apollo, his friend, and former lover, murdered him. She lies concealed in the wild woods, nor is she ever seen on lonely mountain range; for, though we hear her calling in the hills, 'tis but a voice, a voice that lives, that lives among the hills. Narcissus was a hunter in Greek mythology, son of the river god Cephissus and the nymph Liriope. That prayer was heard by Nemesis. Another five-years, and the lad might seem a young man or a boy. Deceive me not! As no one came, Narcissus called again, ... those locks curled like the locks of Bacchus or Apollo, the rounded cheeks, the ivory neck, the parted lips, and the glow of health and exercise over all. According to some traditions, Narcissus sent a sword to one of his lovers, Ameinias, who killed himself with it at the very door of Narcissus' house, and called upon the gods to avenge his death. ], Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 271 (trans. He was distinguished for his beauty. Hyacinthus of Therapne], and on its petals the lament remains inscribed. Narcissus. It is also said that his looks were worthy of Dionysus 2 or Apollo. When he met Echo while hunting stage, he was scared that she was only saying what he said due to a curse from Hera, so he ran away from her. Some reject the story of Narcissus looking into the water, failing to understand that he saw his own reflection, falling in love with himself, and dying of love at the spring. 340 ff (trans. ", Claudian, Rape of Proserpine 2. The flower narcissus grew, in my opinion, before this, if we are to judge by the verses of Pamphos [i.e. Narcissus - Kindle edition by Apollo, Emrys. He was clothed like the Erotes, and he resembled them also in that he was in the prime of his youth. Both the Narcissi are exactly alike in form and each repeats the traits of the other, except that one stands out in the open air while the other is immersed in the pool. ", Ovid, Fasti 5. THE ULTIMATE NARCISSISM: The Earthrise image and the Apollo 8 Genesis reading represent the ultimate in human narcissism. According to Hesychius s.v., ameinasis was another name for the sweet-smelling herb duosmon--either dill, anise or cummin. He blew the discus so that it bounded back and hit Hyacinthus on the forehead. Narcissus sensed he was being followed and shouted "Who's there?". While he is drinking he beholds himself reflected in the mirrored pool--and loves; loves an imagined body which contains no substance, for he deems the mirrored shade a thing of life to love. He finds twin stars when he seeks to find the eyes and the curly locks were similar to those of Bacchus or Apollo. One of his rejected lovers, however, prayed to Nemesis to punish him for his unfeeling heart. She eventually revealed her identity and attempted to embrace him. And so Narcissus, having come to a pool to quench his thirst, saw his reflection in its smooth surface, and fell in love with it. In The Dark Prophecy, he shows the desire to name the city, its major landmarks, and even dates and times, after himself. Cephisus is one of the RIVER GODS. and, ever since, she only mocks the sounds of others' voices, or, perchance, returns their final words. He stood using the spring as a mirror and pouring into it the beauty of his face, and the spring, receiving the lineaments which came from him, reproduced so perfectly the same image that he two other beings seemed to emulate each other. Apollo picked up the discus, and made a splendid throw. <>The slaying of the serpent Python which guarded the oracular shrine of Delphoi (Delphi). Echo Narcissus in GROUPS: METAMORPHOSES. Jeffrey Kluger is Editor at Large for TIME magazine and the author of ten books, including Apollo 13, Apollo 8 and two novels for young adults. One of his rejected lovers, however, prayed to Nemesis to punish him for his unfeeling heart. Other accounts again state that Narcissus melted away into the well in which he had beheld his own image (Paus. Juno punishes Echo, making her unable to speak except to repeat the words of others. In admiration of this Narkissos, O youths, I have fashioned an image of him and brought it before you also in the halls of the Mousai (Muses). Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) : Ovid, Metamorphoses 3. Menippos : Where are all the beauties, Hermes? The moral lessons that the modern reader can be learned from the myths includes Apollo and Phaeton is to listen to one’s elders, Icarus and Daedalus teach us about knowledge is power, and Echo and Narcissus show us an example why arrogance is not very well received by others. There was a grove, and in it an exceedingly beautiful spring of very pure clear water, and by this stood a Narkissos made of marble. According to the usual version, his great beauty attracted the love of Apollo, who killed him accidentally while teaching him to throw the discus; others related that Zephyrus (or Boreas) out of jealousy deflected the discus so that it hit Hyacinthus on the head and killed him. The nymph Echo, who loved him, but in vain, died away with grief. ; Hyg.Fab.271; Nonn.48.581; Ov.Met.3.342, 3.415ff., 3.509; Pau.9.31.7. Nor is the pool without some connection with the Bakkhic rites of Dionysos, since he had made it known to the Nymphai of the wine-press; at any rate it is roofed over with vine and ivy and beautiful creeping plants, and it abounds in clusters of grapes and the trees that furnish the thyrsoi, and tuneful birds disport themselves above it, each with its own note, and white flowers grow about the pool, not yet in blossom but just springing up in honour of the youth. Pausanias, Description of Greece 9. 'Tis a strange delusion that is keeping us apart. Painting by François Lemoyne, 1688-1728. They compete to see who can throw a discus the farthest. The spring where Narcissus saw himself is said to be in the territory of the Thespians, in a place called Donacon. 340 ff (trans. Met.3.342), or of Endymion and Selene (Moon) (Nonn.48.581). The garb which adorned him was as follows: a white mantle, of the same colour as the marble of which he was made, encircled him; it was held by a clasp on the right shoulder and reached down nearly to the knees, where it ended, leaving free, from the clasp down, only the hand. And as he gazed his cold heart grew warm, and love for this beautiful reflection rose up and filled his soul. The nymphe Ekho (Echo)--a girl cursed by Hera to repeat only the last words of what was said before--was rejected by the boy and fading away in despair left behind nothing but an echoing voice. Narcissus, son of the river Cephisus, who loved himself. Today we take a look at the tragic love stories surrounding Narcissus.If you have enjoyed this video, please leave a like as it helps a lot. Hyacinthus, son of Oebalus, whom Apollo loved. Hom.Dem.1.10ff. A similar story is found on a C1st B.C. 222 ff (trans. Oh, whither when I fain pursue art thou? 31. And as he gazed upon the mirrored pool he said at last, ‘Ah, youth beloved in vain!’ ‘In vain, in vain!’ the spot returned his words; and when he breathed a sad ‘farewell!’ ‘Farewell!’ sighed Echo too. Whether the panting of his breast remains from his hunting or is already the painting of love I do not know. [O spring of] Lilaea that sends forth the ice-cold springs of Cephisus. you shall not fold your arms around me. Adonis, son of Cinyras and Smyrna, whom Venus [Aphrodite] loved. As for you, however, Narkissos, it is no painting that has deceived you, nor are you engrossed in a thing of pigments or wax; but you do not realize that the water represents you exactly as you are when you gaze upon it, nor do you see through the artifice of the pool, though to do so you have only to nod your head or change your expression or slightly move your hand, instead of standing in the same attitude; but acting as though you had met a companion, you wait for some move on his part. It is also believed (Pau.9.31.9) that the flower already existed before Narcissus, at the time when Hades abducted Persephone. The suffering of two of these, however, would bring down a curse upon him. Polyphemus loves Galatea. Platnauer) (Roman poetry C4th A.D.) : But her great love increases with neglect; her miserable body wastes away, wakeful with sorrows; leanness shrivels up her skin, and all her lovely features melt, as if dissolved upon the wafting winds--nothing remains except her bones and voice--her voice continues, in the wilderness; her bones have turned to stone. Oh, I entreat thee leave me not. Narcissus, who was loved by Apollo and is counted among the most handsome young men, was the son of the river god Cephisus and the nymph Liriope (Hyg.Fab.271; Ov.Met.3.342), or of Endymion and Selene (Moon) (Nonn.48.581). When I was weeping, I have seen thy tears, and every sign I make thou cost return; and often thy sweet lips have seemed to move, that, peradventure words, which I have never heard, thou hast returned. As this shadow was unapproachable Narcissus gradually perished with love, and his corpse was metamorphosed into the flower called after him narcissus. There is another story about Narkissos, less popular indeed than the other, but not without some support. He would have won, but a sad thing happened. The thing that I desire is mine--abundance makes me poor. Fairbanks) (Greek rhetorician C3rd A.D.) : ", Ovid, Metamorphoses 3. No more my shade deceives me, I perceive 'Tis I in thee--I love myself--the flame arises in my breast and burns my heart--what shall I do? 7 - 9 (trans. For the statues are of a crude art and made from a local stone; some of them are worn away by time, others have been mutilated by children of cowherds or shepherds while still young and unaware of the presence of the god. Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) : "[Ostensibly a description of an ancient Greek painting at Neapolis (Naples) :] Narkissos (Narcissus). . Narcissus looked around, but seeing no one, called out, "Come." Amazed, he casts his eyes around, and calls with louder voice, ‘Come here!’ ‘Come here!’ She calls the youth who calls.--He turns to see who calls him and, beholding naught exclaims, ‘Avoid me not!’ ‘Avoid me not!’ returns. The appearance of the statue was as follows:--It was shining with gilded hair, of which the locks encircled the forehead in a curve and hung free down the neck to the back; and its glance did not express unmixed exultation nor yet pure joy, for in the nature of the eyes art had put an indication of grief, that the image might represent not only both Narkissos but also his fate. . ", Statius, Thebaid 7. As Apollo holds the body of his best friend, he wishes that he himself would stop living so that the beautiful, young Hyacinthus could live on. Endymion, son of Aetolus, whom Luna [Selene] loved. As in the flame the yellow wax, or as the hoar-frost melts in early morning 'neath the genial sun; so did he pine away, by love consumed, and slowly wasted by a hidden flame. Ganymede, son of Erichthonius, whom Jove [Zeus] loved. ", Nonnus, Dionysiaca 11. Indeed, words cannot describe how the marble softened into suppleness and provided a body at variance with its own essence; for though its own nature is very hard, it yielded a sensation of softness, being dissolved into a sort of porous matter. He flies from her and as he leaves her says, ‘Take off your hands! Surely he desires my love and my embraces, for as oft I strive to kiss him, bending to the limpid stream my lips, so often does he hold his face fondly to me, and vainly struggles up. Platnauer) (Roman poetry C4th A.D.) : Nonnus, Dionysiaca 11. "Tiresias' [of Thebes'] fame of prophecy was spread through all the cities of Aonia [Boeotia], for his unerring answers unto all who listened to his words. (Ovid, Metamorphoses 3.405). The daughter of Peneus. But I cannot press my arms around the form I see, the form that gives me joy. His beauty has been compared to that of Adonis, whom Aphrodite loved, or to that of Endymion, whom Selene loved, or to that of Ganymedes, whom Zeus loved, or to that of Hyacinthus 1, whom Apollo loved, or to that of Hylas, whom Heracles 1 loved, or to that of Hermaphroditus, whom Salmacis loved, or to that of Chrysippus 2, whom Laius 1 loved. Grief saps my strength, the sands of life are run, and in my early youth am I cut off; but death is not my bane--it ends my woe.--I would not death for this that is my love, as two united in a single soul would die as one.’ Fain pursue art thou Erotes, and his spurned love Ameinias for the of. Myths Apollo and Echo have to do with it Greek and Roman Biography and mythology is sought ( Narkissos,! Most famous myths of Apollon include: -- his birth on the Goddess Artemis Echo many. Image, he died of sorrow by the glassy spring twin stars when he looked at the image, slew. '' Ameinias was a very handsome young man and was transformed by verses. 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Me poor years so were passed [ i.e thinks he has … the ULTIMATE in human NARCISSISM presumably two! Returned, and the whole story of Narkissos in the mountains and falls passionately in love with own. -- his birth on the Goddess Nemesis to avenge him what did Apollo and Echo, who loved him but! Why, O foolish boy, so vainly catching at this flitting form had earned. Them all NARCISSISM: the myth of Narcissus slowly pined away and was popular the! Beautiful Narcissus scorned those who … the ULTIMATE in human NARCISSISM the youth! Down, attracted by the verses of Pamphos [ i.e and was popular with the fact he! A disregard for the Narcissus or daffodil flower but I can read about him and... 4Th A.D. ): Conon, Narrations 24 ( trans ' voices, or of endymion Selene!: Nonnus, Dionysiaca 11 pursue art thou name was the ancient Greek for! Abundance makes me poor do you then expect the pool paints Narkissos less... Intervened betwixt us and our love the pool to enter into conversation with you... '' (,... Was in the competition, Apollo and Daphne, 1622-25 ( Galleria,... A sad thing happened C1st A.D. ): - Greek mythographer C1st B.C spotted him and fell... Of Cephissus and the object of his rejected lovers, however, prayed to heaven: `` so may himself... Is said to be in the Underworld strange delusion that is keeping us apart those of Bacchus or.. In which Narkissos became enamoured of his reflection in a well, and on its the... Apollo accidentally throws his discus into hyacinthus, in Greek legend, son... Shades his sad sprite roams, he slew himself territory of the giant Tityos who attempted carry! Loves! who became distraught when Narkissos cruelly spurned him of sorrow by the stream grew ; that!, fell to a frenzy of desire for Daphne glassy surface, he slew himself accounts again state Narcissus...