Apollo and Daphne, legendary God of light
and beautiful river nymph. It might sound
like a pretty straightforward love story from
Greek mythology, but was that really the case?
Let’s find out together, right now.
Apollo, on his return from slaying the monster
python in Delphi, comes across Eros, otherwise
known as Cupid, practicing with his bow and
arrow. Arrogant from his victory, Apollo begins
to mock Eros, telling him to leave the weapons
of war to the stronger gods like himself.
This infuriated Eros, who, filled with a desire
for vengeance, climbed to the top of mount
Parnassus and unleased two arrows into the
sky from his famous bow.
The first arrow, sharp and gold tipped, pierced
the heart of Apollo, causing him to fall instantly
and uncontrollably in love with the water
nymph Daphne. The second arrow, blunt and
lead tipped, stuck Daphne and instilled in
her an intense aversion for love and a particular
dislike for Apollo.
Compelled by the power of Eros’s bow, Apollo
rushed to Daphne and began to speak of his
love for her, pleading to take her as his
wife. Equally under the spell of the magical
arrow, she was disgusted by the notion, and
deeply afraid of Apollo. She fled from him
but he pursued her, unable to resist the temptation
and desire in his heart.
The chase was never ending, and eventually
Daphne begged for help from her father the
River God Peneus, crying out “Open the earth
to enclose me, or change my form, which has
brought me into this danger. Let me be free
of this man from this moment forward.”
Her plea was answered and her form was lifted
into the air, transforming in a blur of light
as she was changed into a glorious laurel
tree, free at last from the desire of Apollo.
But despite her new form, Apollo remained
connected to her spirit and the overwhelming
emotion of lust that had been consuming him
changed in an instant to a dark grief, pain
and sadness coursing throughout his body.
He vowed to honour her forever, rendering
her tree evergreen and declaring the laurel
the symbol of tribute to poets.
A fascinating myth that had a long-lasting
impact on Greek culture. The word for Laurel
in the Greek language is Daphne as it also
became the official symbol of the great god
Apollo. Even to this day, the laurel wreaths
presented to victors in the Olympic games
trace back to this myth, the games originally
held in honour of Apollo.
It is a story that shows the jealousy and
pettiness of these immortal beings through
Eros and his need for vengeance so extreme,
as well as the power and danger of lust disguised
as love. Most of all, it shows these godly
beings as not so different to us, flawed human
beings.
