What was it like when myths were first being formed,

when only the originals existed--before, as in our day,

there were so many copies, imitations, comparisons,

allegories, parables, metaphors, and analogies? Take

Narcissus, for example. When his contemporaries saw

 him gazing at his image in the pool, they wouldn't have

called him a 'Narcissist' or 'Narcissistic', would they?

So, what did they call him, before he, charmed by his

own image, fell into the pool and drowned? Do you

suppose they might have called him a 'Gingrichist'

 or, perhaps, 'Palinistic'?