Echo and the Curse of Hera (Greek Mythology)

Echo was once a beautiful and talkative nymph, known for her melodious voice and her love of conversation. She lived in the forests and mountains, delighting in the sounds of nature and the company of her fellow nymphs.

One day, the mighty Zeus, king of the gods, was on one of his secret visits to the mortal realm, often accompanied by the other nymphs. His wife, the jealous goddess Hera, suspected his wanderings and would often descend from Mount Olympus to try and catch him.

Whenever Hera was near, the playful Echo would cleverly distract her with her endless and captivating chatter. She would engage Hera in long conversations, delaying her and giving Zeus and the other nymphs time to escape and hide.

For a while, Echo's quick wit and flowing words served Zeus well, but eventually, Hera discovered Echo's trickery. Furious at being deceived and delayed, the queen of the gods decided to punish Echo for her interference.

"You shall use that tongue of yours," Hera declared in her divine wrath, "to deceive me no more! From this day forward, you will have no voice of your own. You will only be able to repeat the last words that are spoken to you."

And so, the once loquacious Echo was cursed to merely repeat the ends of other people's sentences. She could no longer initiate conversation or express her own thoughts and feelings freely.

Heartbroken and ashamed, Echo withdrew from the company of the other nymphs and wandered alone through the lonely forests and echoing caves.

One day, she encountered a handsome young man named Narcissus, who was renowned for his extraordinary beauty but was also vain and disdainful of others. Echo fell deeply in love with him at first sight and longed to speak to him, but she was unable to initiate a conversation due to Hera's curse.

Narcissus, while hunting, became separated from his companions and called out, "Is anyone here?"

Echo, hidden among the trees, could only reply, "Here... here..."

Confused, Narcissus called again, "Come to me!"

And Echo echoed, "To me... to me..."

Eventually, Narcissus discovered Echo, but he was unimpressed by her and cruelly rejected her advances, bewildered by her inability to speak her own mind.

Devastated by his rejection, Echo retreated further into the wilderness, her heart broken. She pined away for Narcissus until nothing was left of her but her voice, forever repeating the last words she heard – an echo in the truest sense.

And that is why, according to this myth, we hear echoes in the mountains and caves – the lingering voice of the heartbroken nymph who could only repeat the words of others.