Greek Mythology : Apollo & Daphne

One of the many myths that surprised me the most is that of Apollo & Daphne, told by Ovid in his Metamorphoses.

Everything starts with Apollo and Cupid. They have a little bit of a quarrel, with Apollo showing off his powers to the God of Love, saying that this latter has never done anything heroic. Cupid, in order to get revenge, throws an arrow against Apollo and another one, a lead arrow, against a naiad called Daphne. (Remember that the lead arrow makes the one that takes it hate another person).

Thus, Apollo, the Greek god of Culture and Poetry, fell in love with this nymph called Dafne. Conversely, she doesn’t reciprocate his affection. As you may know, it isn’t that simple that a Greek god backs off without trying to achieve his desires. So, one day, Daphne is having a bath in a river, which is her favourite location. Apollo happens to be there. (Notice that Apollo, as Zeus or Dionisus, is famous for being uncontrollable when taken by desire). When Daphne sees him, she tries to escape by running through the woods. Apollo follows her, trying to hold her and to possess her. Daphne cries and prays the Gods, in particular her father, the river Ladon, to save her from Apollo’s hands. Finally, in the moment in which Apollo touches her, she’s transformed into a laurel. Apollo aknowledges that he won’t possess her but still knows that he loves her more than anything in the world. From that moment, the laurel becomes his symbol and, therefore, the symbol of poetry.

In Italy, when a person graduates from University, he becomes laureato and wears a laurel crown. In Italy laurel is called alloro, which derives from laurus which means laurel, which happens to be the same etymology of laureato. So, a person that achieves the highest level of education has to wear the laurel. Therefore, that’s why the laurel is the symbol of poetry and that’s why all the most important poets, at least in Italy, have been always represented with a laurel crown. The love that Apollo felt for Daphne became the highest symbol of creative achievement, whom he protected as a god.

This is the Apollo & Dafne by Bernini, the most important artist of 17th century Italy. This sculpture is found in the Borghese Gallery, Rome.

This is a portrait of Dante. Notice the laurel crown, symbol of Poetry.

Sorry for any inconsistencies and mistakes that might exist in the story. I haven't read or studied mythology, I just know a couple of myths. If you spot mistakes in my blog, feel free to offer corrections.