The myth of Narcissus and Echo - Iseult Gillespie
TED-Ed・4 minutes read
Hera curses Echo to only repeat words, causing loneliness. Echo's rejected love for Narcissus leads to her transformation, and Narcissus falling for his own reflection results in his demise and transformation into a flower.
Insights
- Hera cursed Echo to only repeat the last words spoken to her, causing her loneliness and isolation, showcasing the destructive power of jealousy and vengeance in relationships.
- Narcissus's rejection of Echo and subsequent obsession with his own reflection highlights themes of unrequited love, self-absorption, and the tragic consequences of vanity, illustrating the dangers of excessive self-love and superficial beauty.
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Recent questions
Who was Hera in Greek mythology?
Hera was the queen of the gods.
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Summary
00:00
"Betrayal, rejection, and transformation in Greek mythology"
- Hera, queen of the gods, discovered her husband Zeus's infidelity with a nymph named Echo, leading her to curse Echo to only repeat the last words spoken to her, causing Echo to become dispirited and lonely.
- Echo encountered Narcissus, a beautiful youth who rejected her advances, leading to her heartbreak and eventual transformation into a voice that echoed through empty places.
- Ameinias, another rejected admirer of Narcissus, prayed to Nemesis for revenge, resulting in Narcissus falling in love with his own reflection, leading to his demise and transformation into the narcissus flower.
