Narcissus was a hunter in Greek mythology who was known for his beauty and vanity. He rejected the love of the nymph Echo, causing her to fade away until only her voice remained. Narcissus then fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water, unable to tear himself away until he died of starvation and thirst.
The story of Narcissus is a cautionary tale about the dangers of excessive vanity and self-absorption. Its themes have been explored in literature and art throughout the ages, from Ovid's Metamorphoses to the works of contemporary artists such as Damien Hirst.
Works Cited:
Hamilton, Edith. Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes. Grand Central Publishing, 2011.
Morford, Mark P. O., and Robert J. Lenardon. Classical Mythology. Oxford University Press, 2014.
