Narcissus

The Myth of Narcissus
The mythical story of Narcissus
by Lilian Stoughton Hyde

The Myth of Narcissus
Narcissus had a twin sister whom he loved better than any one else in the world. This sister died when she was young and very beautiful. Narcissus missed her so very much that he wished he might die too.

One day, as he sat on the ground by a spring, looking absently into the water and thinking of his lost sister, he saw a face like hers, looking up at him. It seemed as if his sister had become a water-nymph and were actually there in the spring, but she would not speak to him.

Picture of Narcissus

Of course the face Narcissus saw was really the reflection of his own face in the water, but he did not know that. In those days there were no clear mirrors like ours; and the idea of one's appearance that could be got from a polished brass shield, for instance, was a very dim one. So Narcissus leaned over the water and looked at the beautiful face so like his sister's, and wondered what it was and whether he should ever see his sister again.

After this, he came back to the spring day after day and looked at the face he saw there, and mourned for his sister until, at last, the gods felt sorry for him and changed him into a flower.

This flower was the first narcissus. All the flowers of this family, when they grow by the side of a pond or a stream, still bend their beautiful heads and look at the reflection of their own faces in the water.

The Legend and Myth of Narcissus

The Myth of Narcissus
The story of Narcissus is featured in the book entitled Favorite Greek Myths by Lilian Stoughton Hyde, published in 1904 by D. C. Heath and Company.

Narcissus - A Myth with a Moral
Many of the ancient Myth Stories, like the legend of Narcissus, incorporate tales with morals that provided the old story-tellers with short examples of exciting tales for kids and children of how to act and behave and reflected important life lessons. The characters of the heroes in this type of fable demonstrated the virtues of courage, love, loyalty, strength, perseverance, leadership and self reliance. Whereas the villains demonstrated all of the vices and were killed or punished by the gods. The old, famous myth story and fable, like Narcissus, were designed to entertain, thrill and inspire their young listeners...

The Myth of Narcissus - the Magical World of Myth & Legend
The story of Narcissus is one of the fantastic stories featured in ancient mythology and legends. Such stories serve as a doorway to enter the world of the Ancient Greeks and Romans. The names of so many of the heroes and characters are known today through movies and games but the actual story about such characters are unknown. Reading a myth story such as Narcissus is the easy way to learn about the stories of the classics.

The Magical World of Myth and Legend

The Short Story and Myth of Narcissus
The myth about Narcissus is featured in the book entitled The story of Narcissus is featured in the book entitled Favorite Greek Myths by Lilian Stoughton Hyde, published in 1904 by D. C. Heath and Company. Learn about the exciting adventures and dangerous quests undertaken by the mythical characters that feature in the hero myths, fables and stories about the gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece and Rome that are available on this website.

Myths and Stories about gods and goddesses

Narcissus

Narcissus

• Short story of Narcissus
• A Myth Story of the Ancient World
• The gods, goddesses of the ancient Myth Stories & Legends
• The monsters and beasts of classical Mythology
• The story of Narcissus by Caroline H. Harding and Samuel B. Harding
• A famous Myth Story and fable of the Ancient World for schools and kids