The Beautiful Youth Who Loved His Own Reflection
A youth so beautiful that all who saw him fell in love, while he cared for none of them. A goddess of vengeance made him see his own reflection in a spring — and at last he met someone worthy of himself. The psychological term "narcissism" is his name.
He bent to drink and met the face in the water eye to eye, and could not tear himself away. Reach out, and the reflection shattered; call to it, and it made no sound. Knowing it was himself, he still could not leave, until he wasted away and died. In his place grew a flower bowing over the water — the narcissus still hangs its head to this day.
Below are how modern works borrow or reinterpret this name or story — not the original material. The two differ, so keep them apart.
That email didn’t look right? Free · unsubscribe anytime · Privacy