Different Variations of the Myth
Edith Hamilton's Mythology
In Hamilton's acoount of the myth, Narcissus drinks from a clear pool and when he sees his reflection, he falls in love with it instantly, even knowing it was himself he was seeing. He finally realized what all the lovely maidens and nymphs felt when they fell in love with him and couldn't have him. He knew that he could not leave what he saw in the water because of his love and he decided death was the only way to set him free. Echo stayed near him while he pined away, and when he called, "Farewell, Farewell!" as he lay dying she repeated those words as a goodbye.
Bulfinch's Mythology
The major difference in Bulfinch's retelling of the story of Echo and Narcissus was that when Narcissus saw his own reflection, he saw it in a magnificent fountain with water like silver,and he never realized it was actually himself. He even compared his beauty to that of Apollo's. He was infatuated with what he thought was a water-spirit, and he stayed staring at himself until he faded away. Echo also stayed by him as he was dying, and when he cried, "Alas, Alas!" she answered him with those exact words. Another difference was that the nymphs had prepared a funeral pile, and would have burned the body, but all they found in its place was a flower. In this story, the narcissus flower has a purple center and is surrounded by white leaves.
Ovid's Metamorphoses
In Ovid's retelling of this myth, Zeus and Hera took no part in the story. The reason why Echo lost her power to speak first was because she was rejected by Narcissus. Because she was so heartbroken, she sunk into despair and shriveled up until all that was left of her was her voice, which was named after herself. Ovid also writes that when Narcissus was born, his mother Liriope, a naiad, to a blind seer, Tiresias and asked him if her son would live a long life. Tiresias confirmed that Narcissus would live long if he never got to know himself. Another variation, is that when Narcissus saw his own reflection in the pool, he eventually realized that the man he was seeing was himself, and committed suicide. Surprisingly, the color of the flower left in place of Narcissus is said to be a white flower with a yellow center, which differs from other variations of the myth.
The Short Greek Version
In the Greek version, Echo was a beautiful, musical nymph who sang sweetly and played many instruments. She lived alone, deep in the woods where she rejected the love of any mortal or god. This angered many, including the god Pan, who's love she turned down. Pan ordered his followers the shepherds to kill Echo and tear her to pieces and they scattered her pieces far and wide. Geae, Mother Earth, recieved pieces, thus Echo, scattered all over the world shows her voice and talent by imitating every voice and sound.
In Hamilton's acoount of the myth, Narcissus drinks from a clear pool and when he sees his reflection, he falls in love with it instantly, even knowing it was himself he was seeing. He finally realized what all the lovely maidens and nymphs felt when they fell in love with him and couldn't have him. He knew that he could not leave what he saw in the water because of his love and he decided death was the only way to set him free. Echo stayed near him while he pined away, and when he called, "Farewell, Farewell!" as he lay dying she repeated those words as a goodbye.
Bulfinch's Mythology
The major difference in Bulfinch's retelling of the story of Echo and Narcissus was that when Narcissus saw his own reflection, he saw it in a magnificent fountain with water like silver,and he never realized it was actually himself. He even compared his beauty to that of Apollo's. He was infatuated with what he thought was a water-spirit, and he stayed staring at himself until he faded away. Echo also stayed by him as he was dying, and when he cried, "Alas, Alas!" she answered him with those exact words. Another difference was that the nymphs had prepared a funeral pile, and would have burned the body, but all they found in its place was a flower. In this story, the narcissus flower has a purple center and is surrounded by white leaves.
Ovid's Metamorphoses
In Ovid's retelling of this myth, Zeus and Hera took no part in the story. The reason why Echo lost her power to speak first was because she was rejected by Narcissus. Because she was so heartbroken, she sunk into despair and shriveled up until all that was left of her was her voice, which was named after herself. Ovid also writes that when Narcissus was born, his mother Liriope, a naiad, to a blind seer, Tiresias and asked him if her son would live a long life. Tiresias confirmed that Narcissus would live long if he never got to know himself. Another variation, is that when Narcissus saw his own reflection in the pool, he eventually realized that the man he was seeing was himself, and committed suicide. Surprisingly, the color of the flower left in place of Narcissus is said to be a white flower with a yellow center, which differs from other variations of the myth.
The Short Greek Version
In the Greek version, Echo was a beautiful, musical nymph who sang sweetly and played many instruments. She lived alone, deep in the woods where she rejected the love of any mortal or god. This angered many, including the god Pan, who's love she turned down. Pan ordered his followers the shepherds to kill Echo and tear her to pieces and they scattered her pieces far and wide. Geae, Mother Earth, recieved pieces, thus Echo, scattered all over the world shows her voice and talent by imitating every voice and sound.
