Now we have a personality disorder named after him | Echo and Narcissus by John Waterhouse #art

The story of Narcissus is a well-known myth from ancient Greek mythology, illustrating the themes of vanity, self-obsession, and unrequited love. Narcissus was a young man famed for his extraordinary beauty, but his arrogance and disdain for others led to his downfall.

According to the myth, Narcissus was so beautiful that many people, men and women alike, fell in love with him. However, he rejected all who admired him, showing cold indifference to their affection. One of those who fell for him was the nymph Echo, who could only repeat the words of others due to a curse placed upon her by the goddess Hera. When Echo tried to approach Narcissus, he cruelly dismissed her, breaking her heart and leaving her to wither away until only her voice remained.

Narcissus' rejection of others did not go unnoticed by the gods. In one version of the story, Nemesis, the goddess of retribution, decided to punish him for his arrogance. She led him to a pool of water where Narcissus saw his reflection for the first time. Instantly captivated by his own image, he fell deeply in love with it, not realizing it was merely a reflection.

Unable to tear himself away from the reflection, Narcissus spent days gazing at his own beauty, eventually wasting away from his unfulfilled longing. In some versions of the myth, he realizes too late that he has fallen in love with himself, while in others, he remains oblivious until the end. Eventually, Narcissus dies by the pool, either from starvation, heartbreak, or drowning.

After his death, a beautiful flower grew in the place where his body lay—the narcissus flower, symbolizing vanity and self-obsession. The myth of Narcissus serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of excessive self-love and the inability to connect with others.