Narcissism

While studying mythology, I learned the story Narcissus. As I recall the story, a young hunter named Narcissus was known for being very handsome. One day as he walked by a pool of water, he decided to get a drink. While doing so, he saw his reflection in the water and fell in love with it. However, when he realized he could not have the one he saw in the water, he killed himself beside the pool. The flower that grew where he died is called the Narcissus.

People who posses the personality characteristics that distinguished Narcissus are said to be narcissistic. According to the English Dictionary (online) synonyms for this term include: self-regard, self-love, self-absorption, self-conceit, self-admiration, and self-adulation. And this causes me to think about the current obsession with taking “selfies.” Just an observation.

First Known "Selfie"

Artist, Albrecht Dürer

First Master of the Self-Portrait

King Solomon of the Old Testament said: “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9 NIV)

~Picture from Wolf.com – online art magazine