Narcissus

Narcissus was the son of the river god Cephissus and the nymph Liriope. He was extraordinarily beautiful, and many fell in love with him, but he rejected them all with cold disdain. The nymph Echo loved him desperately, but he spurned her until she faded to nothing but a voice.

Nemesis heard the prayers of those Narcissus had rejected and led him to a clear pool. When Narcissus bent to drink, he saw his own reflection and fell hopelessly in love with it. He could not tear himself away — every time he reached for the beautiful face in the water, it dissolved at his touch.

Narcissus remained by the pool, gazing at his reflection, unable to eat or sleep. He spoke to it, wept over it, and slowly wasted away. When the nymphs came to prepare his funeral pyre, they found in his place a white and gold flower, its head bending toward the water — the narcissus, forever gazing at its own reflection.