Who was Echo in greek mythology?

Answer 1

Echo was one of the Oreads or mountain nymphs. She loved her own voice more than anything, and would often help Zeus hide his frivolities with the other nymphs by distracting Hera with stories. Hera learned of the deception, though, and took away Echo's voice, forcing her to, instead, mimic the voices and words of others.

Echo was an oread, who always had to have the last word. She was cursed by Juno to only be able to speak that which was spoken to her. She fell in love with Narcissus. Both of them died of grief, from not being able to be with the ones they loved.

Answer 2

Echo isn't a goddess. She is a nymph. A nymph is a creature that lives in the woods, mountains, or water. There however is a story behind it.

Zeus would travel to the mountains to play with the nymphs. However, Hera wouldn't like this. She would send the nymphs to catch him. But whenever Hera got close to catching Zeus, Echo would stall Hera and talk with her. Hera soon realized that Echo had been tricking her.

"Your tongue has made a fool of me! Henceforth, your words shall be more brief! You will always have the last word, but NEVER the first."

From that day on, Echo could only repeat the last words of everyone. One day, when wandering in the woods, Echo came across a youth boy named Narcissus. Narcissus was very conceited, yet handsome, and anyone who saw him immediately fell in love with him. Thus, Echo followed Narcissus. Soon, Narcissus noticed Echo was there.

"Who's here?" he called.

Sadly, Echo could only repeat his last words. "Here!"

"Come out! Let us meet!"

"Let us meet!" repeated Echo. Echo took this opportunity to try to impress Narcissus. She ran towards him, and hugged him. Narcissus threw her off and ran away.

"Get off!" he shouted. "I'd rather die than let you love me!"

"Love me!" repeated Echo. "Love me! Love me!"

Embarrassed, Echo ran off to live in a cave.

Soon, Narcissus came along a small pool. He knelt down, and saw his reflection.

"Who is this? They are beautiful!" he exclaimed. He attempted to kiss his love, but only touched the water. "What love is this? When I kiss my beloved, I only kiss water, when I touch my beloved, I only touch water!"

Narcissus then began to weep. When his tears touched the water, his reflection disappeared. "Don't go!" said Narcissus. Then he began to weep even more. "I see now! It is not someone else I weep for, it is my reflection I weep for!"

From that day on, Narcissus weeped at the pool. One day, he felt himself dying.

"Good-bye my love!" he cried.

Echo heard Narcissus from her cave, and repeated his words. "Good-bye my love!" Then Narcissus withered away. Echo grew sad from her loss, and didn't eat or anything. Slowly, Echo disappeared until only her voice, which from this day on, echos people's words in mountains and caves.

When the search patrol went to look for Narcissus, they only found a white flower with yellow stripes, which they called Narcissus.