Narcissus: The Most Well-Known Greek Myth

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The myth of Narcissus is one of the most well-known Greek Myths. It is unique because it strongly suggests the idea of the fundamental solitude of the human being. We can find two versions of this myth: the first is the Greek version as narrated by Conon the Greek mythographer: “"Ameinias was a very determined but fragile youth. When he was cruelly spurned by Narkissos (Narcissus), he took his sword and killed himself by the door, calling on the goddess Nemesis to avenge him. As a result when Narkissos saw the beauty of his form reflected in a stream he fell deeply in love with himself. In despair and believing that he had rightly earned this curse for the humiliation of Ameinias, he slew himself. From his blood sprang the flower."” and Lucian of Samosata in his Dialogues of the Dead: “"[Menippos, arriving in the underworld, asks the god Hermes to show him the great beauties of myth.] Menippos : Where are all the beauties, Hermes? Show me round; I am a new-comer. Hermes : I am busy, Menippos. But look over there to your right, and you will see Hyakinthos (Hyacinthus), Narkissos …show more content…

Narcissus inherited his mother‘s great beauty, so his parents were worried about his future life so they went to prophet Tiresias who predicted that he will only live until he will not know his own image. At the age of sixteen, Narcissus gained the love of all young men and women, who saw him and admired his beauty. Narcissus, who wanted to be alone, pushed Nymph Echo, who was a victim of Juno, and was deprived of personal speech, only repeating the last sound of the voice of others. Another nymph asked Nemesis to punish Narcissus: when the latter went on refreshment at a spring, he saw his reflection in the water and falls in love with this splendid being. From that moment we have two contradictory versions: according to the one, he thought that this aquatic being was a

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