Apollo and Daphne

  • The myth of Apollo and Daphne is a hopeless love story from Greek Mythology.
  • Eros made Apollo fall in love with the Nymph Daphne, but made Daphne hate Apollo, who was unable to stop himself pursuing her. She was finally changed into a Laurel tree to escape him.

The Myth

  • Apollo mocks Eros
    • Apollo, the patron of Archery, mocked Eros for only having the ability to make his victims fall in love, whereas Apollo kills his victims.
  • Eros takes his revenge
    • Eros was annoyed, so he took his revenge by shooting Apollo with an arrow of gold and making him fall in love with the Nymph Daphne.
    • Eros then shot Daphne with an arrow of lead making her hate Apollo.
  • Daphne asks to be changed
    • Apollo relentlessly pursued Daphne who, desperate to prevent him catching up with her, pleaded with her Father, Peneus, to save her by changing her form.
    • Peneus then transformed Daphne into a laurel tree.
  • The Laurel tree becomes an evergreen
    • Apollo vowed never to leave her and used his power of immortality to make the laurel into an evergreen.
    • Laurel leaves decompose very slowly.

 

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