The talmudic variant of the myth of Narcissus is examined and compared to the well-known version of Ovid. Although it is not possible to confirm direct borrowing, the talmudic authors comprehended the basically pathological aspects of narcissistic fixation, and also introduced an original element into the story which depicts the escape from narcissistic mirroring. By acknowledging the mirror as symbol it is possible to conceive of the inherent alterity of the mirror image. The talmudic modification is elucidated with contemporary developmental reflections on the concept of the mirror stage.