viridescent

getting lost in an old forest and finding yourself here

Narcissus x hybridus

In Greek mythology Narcissus was the son of the River God Cephissus and the Naiad nymph Liriope. Narcissus was very beautiful, but also vain, foolish, and cruel to those who loved him.

The poet Ovin’s version of the myth tells of Narcissus walking in the woods one day when he came across Echo, a mountain nymph. She was enamored by Narcissus’ beauty and professed her love to him. He spurned her as he had with all the people who loved him, and she was devastated. Echo spent the rest of her days wandering the woods in despair and madness, repeating everything she heard but never adding words of her own.

The goddess Nemesis heard about Echo’s fate and decided to punish Narcissus for his cruelty. She used her powers of vengeance to lead him to a crystal clear pond where he caught a glimpse of his reflection. He was captivated by his own beauty and unable to draw himself away. He stayed at the pond, gazing at himself and whispering sweet nothings, never stopping to eat, drink, or sleep. He was completely consumed by his own reflection, and eventually died there, bent over the pond.

In the place where Narcissus died, the first daffodils of spring started to bloom. Their heads bent downward to see their own reflection in the pond, just as Narcissus had.