Apollo and Daphne: The Past and Present of the Laurel Tree
For the ancient Greeks, the most important deities were not the king of gods, Zeus, but the sun god Apollo and the god of wine, Dionysus. Apollo was not only the embodiment of light but also of music, knowledge, and reason. He was considered the epitome of male beauty, and for a significant period, the Western world used "Apollo" as a standard for male beauty.
At the same time, Greek mythology adhered to the concept of "gods with human-like characteristics," where even the most rational gods had their moments of recklessness. After Apollo slew the giant serpent Python and built a temple on its burial site, the gods came to praise his achievement. Lost in the chorus of praises, Apollo encountered Cupid, the mischievous god of love, on his way back in his chariot. Apollo teasingly remarked to Cupid, "A bow and arrows are not toys for children."
Unbeknownst to Apollo, he had offended the mischievous Cupid, sealing his own fate and love life. As we know, Cupid possesses two types of arrows: the golden arrow that incites love and the lead arrow that keeps the heart unyielding. When Cupid learned of Apollo's infatuation with Daphne, the naiad daughter of the river god, he saw an opportunity for revenge. He shot Daphne with a lead arrow, causing her to feel repulsed by Apollo and unable to reciprocate his love.
However, Apollo's relentless pursuit was not deterred. He pleaded, "Stay with me, daughter of the river god, I am not your enemy. Do not treat me as a wolf when I am but a lamb. This is a pursuit of love, and yet you make me feel sorrow. As the god of medicine, I know of all plants with healing properties, but alas, I suffer from an ailment that cannot be cured with ointments!"
Despite her father being a river god, Daphne could not risk defying Apollo, one of the major gods. She could not bear being with him and continued to flee. In despair, she prayed to her father, "If he catches me, please destroy my body." Unable to let his daughter perish, the river god Peneus, at the moment when Apollo was about to seize Daphne, transformed her into a laurel tree. It was the last act of a father for his daughter.
Nevertheless, Apollo's love for her remained unyielding. "I will use your branches as my crown, your wood for my lyre, and your flowers to adorn my bow. Furthermore, I shall grant you eternal youth," he declared. Thus, under the blessing of the sun god, the laurel tree remained evergreen throughout the seasons. Apollo used its branches to fashion his crown, which became his symbol. It also became the origin of the "laurel wreath" bestowed upon accomplished individuals.
Apollo and Daphne: The Story of the Laurel Tree's Past and Present
To the ancient Greeks, the most significant deities were not Zeus, the king of gods, but Apollo, the sun god, and Dionysus, the god of wine.
Apollo represented not only light but also music, knowledge, and reason. He was considered the ultimate standard of male beauty for a long time in the Western world, which used "Apollo" to define male beauty.
Meanwhile, Greek mythology embraced the concept of "god-human similarity," where even the most rational gods had their moments of being carefree.
After Apollo killed the giant serpent Python and built a temple on its burial ground, the gods came to praise his achievements. Lost in the chorus of praise, Apollo encountered Cupid, the mischievous god of love, on his way back in his chariot. Teasingly, Apollo remarked to Cupid, "A bow and arrows are not toys for children."
Unbeknownst to Apollo, he had offended Cupid, the mischievous child. This led to the downfall of his love story.
As we know, Cupid possesses two types of arrows: the golden arrow that ignites love and the lead arrow that keeps hearts unyielding. Upon learning about Apollo's intense love for Daphne, the river nymph and daughter of the river god, Cupid saw an opportunity for revenge. He shot Daphne with a lead arrow, causing her to feel repulsed by Apollo and unable to respond to his love.
However, Apollo's pursuit did not waver. He pleaded, "Stay with me, daughter of the river god. I am not your enemy. Do not treat me like a wolf when I am just a lamb. This is a pursuit of love, and yet you make me feel sadness. As the god of medicine, I know of all the plantswith healing properties, but alas, I suffer from an ailment that cannot be cured with ointments!"
Despite being the daughter of a river god, Daphne couldn't risk defying Apollo, one of the major gods. She couldn't bear to be with him and continued to flee. In her desperation, she prayed to her father, "If he catches me, please destroy my body." Unable to let his daughter perish, the river god Peneus, at the moment Apollo was about to seize Daphne, transformed her into a laurel tree. It was the last act a father could do for his daughter.
Nevertheless, Apollo's love for her remained unyielding. "I will use your branches as my crown, your wood for my lyre, and your flowers to adorn my bow. Furthermore, I shall grant you eternal youth," he declared. Thus, under the blessing of the sun god, the laurel tree remained evergreen throughout the seasons. Apollo used its branches to fashion his crown, which became his symbol. It also became the origin of the "laurel wreath" bestowed upon accomplished individuals.
