Daphne, the daughter of the river Peneus was a beautiful river nymph. Growing up beside the river, she spent her days swimming or wandering through the forests in the company of gentle animals who were her play-mates. One day Apollo, the handsome young Greek god of sunlight and music happened to see her. Seeing the girl through the veil of the sun-lit trees, Apollo’s heart skipped a beat. Now this was not a chance meeting but poor Apollo did not know that.
He had once angered Eros, the boy god of love. Eros was playing with his bow and arrows when Apollo came upon him. Proud of his own mastery over archery and his recent slaying of a serpent, he mocked Eros. “The bow and arrows are not toys, my boy. Leave these to warriors like me who are worthy of them,” he laughed. An angry Eros decided to teach him a lesson, a lesson in love. He took his quiver full of arrows up a mountain and from there sent forth a sharp and pointed gold-tipped shaft. The gold-tipped arrow soon found its target and pierced the heart of young Apollo. Eros dipped into his quiver and selected another one — this time it was blunt and made of lead. This he sent down to the edge of the River Peneus where it found its way to fair Daphne’s heart. So it was that Apollo was filled with love and longing for the beautiful nymph while the girl’s heart became cold and unfeeling.
Back to our story we left in the forest, the lovelorn Apollo called out to the nymph. “Would you stop fair one?”
Daphne heard him but did not even give him so much as a glance. That was a pity, for with his curls of gold and handsome face lit up by a warm smile, Apollo was strikingly attractive. “Leave me alone, I don’t want to talk to you or anyone else,” she shouted as she raced across a path between the trees. “Wait! I’m not any other person. I’m a god. The god of sunlight, of music, of healing. The name is ...” Daphne was nowhere to be seen. She was so quick, the delicate nymph.
As she raced through the forest Daphne could hear his footsteps following her. A thought came to her head as she ran. He said he was a god. That means he will soon catch up with her. She ran and ran like her legs had wings but soon she grew tired and out of breath. A murmur of the river could be heard. She knew her father was near. “Oh father, use your powers, please turn me into something so that men will stop chasing me!” The sounds of the river now became louder. Suddenly Daphne felt her legs grow heavy and she looked down to see they had become tree roots and barks were creeping up her delicate body. Her hair turned to leaves and her arms became branches. Apollo had by now caught up with her and watched in horror. “What have you done?” he cried as he tried to touch her fingers but before he could they turned to leaves! She had become a laurel tree.
Apollo touched the tree sadly. “I understand you will never be mine. But please allow me to wear your leaves as a crown. My hair, my lyre and my quiver will wear your leaves. And like me, you will remain ever young and green.” A cool breeze blew and the tree branches nodded gently.