Nemesis

Nemesis is the goddess of indignation against, & retribution for, evil deeds and undeserved good fortune.

There are many different theories on the origins of Nemesis; one of them described her as the offspring of either Oceanus or Zeus, but according to the Greek poet Hesiod, Nemesis was supposedly the child of Erebus (The Darkness) and Nyx (The Night/ Shadow), while others believed that Nemesis was giving life from Nyx alone.

Roughly translated, Nemesis means “to give what is due” Happiness and unhappiness were measured out by her, care being taken that happiness was not too frequent or too excessive. If this happened, Nemesis could bring about losses and suffering.

Nemesis

Nemesis was known to be a very angry goddess. She was always seen with a whip, rein, sword, a balance, and apple branch, or a pair of scales in her left hand. She is said to be tall and slender with unkept brown hair. She liked to appear threatning to all mortals. Some saw her as a white winged beauty while others saw her as monsterous and ugly.

The Birth of Helen of Troy

Roman Counterpart: Adrasteia "The Inescapable"

The Tale of Narcissus

Narcissus is the most handsome hunter whom many have ever seen, though he does not return anyone’s affections. One of the most disappointed nymphs, Echo, prays to Nemesis, that "he who loves not others love himself." Nemesis answers this prayer. Narcissus looks at his own reflection in a river and suddenly falls in love with himself. He can think of nothing and no one else. He wastes away, leaning perpetually over the pool, until finally he perishes, transforming into the flower, Narcissus.

Narcissus, the symbol of vanity, was a young hunter from Thespiai. He was the son of Kephisos and Liriope. He was celebrated for his beauty, and attracted many admirers but, in his arrogance, spurned them all.

Echo was an Oreiad nymph of Cithaeron. Hera cursed her with the voice of the echo, to only repeat the last words of what was said before, as punishment for distracting her with chatter.

Zeus (Jupiter) was the king of the gods, the god of sky and weather, law, order and fate. He was depicted as a regal man, mature with sturdy figure and dark beard. His usual attributes were a lightning bolt, royal sceptre and eagle.

Helen of Troy was the demigod daughter of Zeus and Nemesis. She was taken by Paris as his wife (since she was considered to be the most beautiful woman in the world)

Nemesis is being forced to love Zeus, though she refuses his love and so to avoid him she transforms into a fish and runs away. Zeus himself turns into a swan and chases after her. He eventually catches her and mates with her. Nemesis soon lays a blue and silver egg and once the egg hatches, Helen of Troy is born.

The story distresses the dangers of egotism and the nature of the self-absorbed individual. Echo is yet another unlucky female who is a victim of jealousy. The devastating story of Echo’s unreturned love and Narcissus’s corrupt love symbolize the tragedy of missed connections, for they both love wrongly

Narcissus himself symbolizes the dangers of being too self-absorbed. His death symobolizes the dangers of rejecting love.The pool in which he falls into symbolizes truth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElOUZKhrluQ&feature=youtu.be