Echo (mythology) facts for kids
Echo was a beautiful nymph in Greek mythology. She was a special kind of nymph called an Oread, which means she lived in the mountains. Echo loved to talk and had a lovely voice.
Echo and Hera
According to ancient stories by a writer named Ovid, Echo had a special job. She used her talking skills to distract the goddess Hera. This was to keep Hera busy while Zeus, Hera's husband, was involved in other activities. Echo would lead Hera away and praise her with many words.
But Hera eventually found out about Echo's trick. She became very angry. As a punishment, Hera put a curse on Echo. From that day on, Echo could only speak the very last words she heard from someone else. This old story is why we use the word echo today to describe a sound that repeats.
Echo and Narcissus
After her curse, Echo met a very handsome young man named Narcissus. Everyone who saw Narcissus fell in love with him because he was so good-looking. However, Narcissus was only interested in himself. He could not love anyone else.
Echo fell deeply in love with Narcissus. Because of her curse, she could not start a conversation with him. But she desperately wanted to be near him. So, she followed him everywhere, making sure he never saw her.
One day, Narcissus got lost and called out, "Is anyone here?" Echo, hidden nearby, could only repeat, "Here, here, here." Narcissus then asked her to come out. Echo did, and she tried to show him her love using hand movements. But Narcissus became angry that so many people loved him. He told Echo that he did not love her.
Echo was heartbroken and very sad. She prayed to the goddess Aphrodite for help. Aphrodite granted Echo's wish for release from her pain. Echo faded away, but Aphrodite loved her voice so much that she kept it alive. This is why Echo's voice can still be heard repeating words in hollow places like valleys and mountains.
Another Story: Echo and Pan
There is another story about Echo's life and how she became an echo. In this version, Echo was a wonderful dancer and singer. But she did not want to fall in love with any man. This made the god Pan very angry.
Pan ordered his followers to kill Echo and tear her into pieces. These pieces were scattered all over the world. The goddess Gaia collected all the pieces of Echo's body. However, Echo's voice was not collected. So, it remained spread across the world, still repeating the last words that people say. In some versions of this story, Echo and Pan had a child named Iambe.
See also
In Spanish: Eco (mitología) para niños
