Echo

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From Athena to Zeus: Basics of Greek Mythology

mythology. Greek. Hermes. (Roman Mercury)

A Study of Greek and Roman Mythology

Echo

Greek mythology

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External Websites

Greek Legends and Myths - Echo and Narcissus in greek mythology
Mythweb - Echo
Roman Myth Index - Echo
Encyclopedia Astronautica - Echo

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Greek Legends and Myths - Echo and Narcissus in greek mythology
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Roman Myth Index - Echo
Encyclopedia Astronautica - Echo

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Article History

Echo, in Greek mythology, a mountain nymph, or oread. Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Book III, relates that Echo offended the goddess Hera by keeping her in conversation, thus preventing her from spying on one of Zeus’ amours. To punish Echo, Hera deprived her of speech, except for the ability to repeat the last words of another. Echo’s hopeless love for Narcissus, who fell in love with his own image, made her fade away until all that was left of her was her voice.

According to the Greek writer Longus, Echo rejected the advances of the god Pan; he thereupon drove the shepherds mad, and they tore her to pieces. Gaea (Earth) buried her limbs but allowed her to retain the power of song.