Greek Myth

The ancient Greeks were a matriarchal society and the myths worked like fables – teaching a lesson to the masses, inspiring, and motivating members of society to do right and abide by the gods, or there will be consequences. Examples of Greek myths continue to influence contemporary society, teaching lessons to youngsters and warning adults.
Greek Heroic Myths: The Story of Narcissus
If the name Narcissus sounds familiar to you, it is because the word narcissism is a derivative of it. In society today, the word narcissism relates to a person who is vain, egotistical and just plain selfish. They are in love with themselves. The Story of Narcissus is one of the more popular examples of Greek myths.
Who was Narcissus?
Narcissus was an exceedingly handsome young boy whose hair was of spun gold, and eyes the color of the sea. As the son of a blue nymph and a river god, he was destined to be handsome. By the time he was fifteen, his good looks were admired by all who had met him, including himself and the many other nymphs of the forest. He knew it and, needless to say, he was a bit conceited. While every girl and many nymphs would throw themselves at him, he found many ways to thwart off the affections of those who fell in love with him, including a nymph named Echo.
One day, while engaged on one of his hunting expeditions, the handsome Narcissus heard footsteps stealthily approaching behind him. When he turned to look, he saw no one – and then he asked who was there. To his chagrin, the reply was the same as what he asked. Echo continued to reply with the question that he asked until she could take it no longer.
She soon appeared, revealing herself before the boy’s eyes. Then, acting on impulse, she embraced Narcissus, feeling his heartbeat against her very own. Narcissus was not impressed, and pulled away from Echo abruptly, belittling her affections by dismissing her abruptly. Echo was crushed, and watched as Narcissus walked away, leaving her standing in the