Narcissos of Caravaggio
Narcissus is a figure in Greek mythology who is incredibly handsome that he falls in love with the image of himself reflected in the water. Even the adorable fairy Erko can't seduce him from his self-focus. The name Narcissus was passed down as the flower he became, and as a synonym for those obsessed with their appearance.
Narcissus and his reflection
Narcissus was born in Tespière, Poeotia, the son of Sephisos (the embodiment of the river of the same name in Pootia) and the witch Leripper. One day, his mother was warned by the prophet Tyresias that her son would live a long life as long as "he never knew himself". When he reached his teenage years, the handsome young man never found anyone who could touch his heartstrings, in fact, he left behind a long list of distressed and heartbroken maidens. Then, one day, he accidentally saw his reflection in a pool of water, and as a result, he fell into unrequited love and fell in love with himself.
Apparently, this one-way relationship did not bear fruit, and Narcissus could not pull himself out of the pool and emaciated himself in despair until he died of thirst and hunger.
"However, when the body or blood of Narcissus turned into flowers, eternal life was assured, at least to some extent, and these flowers were later named after him."
Narcissus and Urko
Another version of the myth appears in the works of the Roman writer Ovid. In this story, Narcissus, as handsome as ever, brutally rejects Erko's overtures. The lovely fairy is heartbroken and emaciated to death, leaving only her voice to respond to her plight. As punishment for his negligence, Narcissus was subsequently killed.
Erko and Narcissus Paintings of Pompeii
There is also a theory that Urko was punished by Hera for distracting the goddess with stories, while her husband Zeus's lover---- the mountain nymph, unwittingly escaped Mount Olympus. This explains why Erko can only repeat what others say to her. One day, while hunting deer in the forest, Narcissos met Erko in this state. After a useless exchange of repetitive words, Erko tried to hug the young man, but he rejected her and rushed out of the house. Erko then languished in the forest so much that her body eventually died out, leaving only her voice.
daffodil
Amenius and Artemis
Narcissus also appears in other myths, and as in Erko's story, he still plays the role of a refusal suitor. One of the young man's most fervent admirers was Aemenius, but Narcissus simply gave him a sword to get rid of himself, and he did the same. On his deathbed, Amenius cursed his unrestrained affection and begged the gods to punish him. Artemis responds to this request—perhaps showing disgust for hostile hunters—and forces Narcissus to fall tragically in love with his reflection.
Narcissus in Art and Culture
Unlike Greek artists, the Roman version of Narcissus and Erco was a very popular subject in Roman art, with nearly 50 frescoes in Pompeii alone. Renaissance art also made Narcissus shine. This story involving light and reflection was irresistible to Caravaggio, who captured this myth in his famous 16th-century painting. Finally, his name still exists today in psychoanalysis, narcissism refers to personality disorders that are excessive self-appreciation and focused on one's appearance.
In order to facilitate the reader's reading, the transliterated name is used in the text, and the comparison with the Greek is as follows:
Narcissus: Narcissus, meaning Narcissus. Known for his beauty, he eventually fell in love with his reflection in the water and stared at it for life. After his death, a flower with his name on it grew in his place.
Erko: Echo, meaning echo. The Oridians, who live on Kiteron, are cursed by Hera, the queen of heaven, for protecting Zeus, and can only repeat the last sentence.