Most of the Greek Gods who inhabited Mount Olympus dallied with mortals from time to time, some with better results than others. In this timeless tale, Cupid teaches his uncle Apollo a lesson at the expense of a hapless nymph.
Cupid and Apollo
According to legend, one day Apollo saw his nephew Cupid (Cupid was the son of Ares and Aphrodite, both siblings of Apollo) stringing his bow. Cupid, god of Love, had two sorts of arrows: one that would make you fall in love, and another that would take love away.
Apollo, who was (among other things) the God of Archery, mocked his nephew, telling him “Why are you concerned, playful boy, with powerful weapons? Such weapons are suitable only for my shoulders. I am the one who is able to give sure wounds to the wild animals, my enemies. See to it that you are content to kindle the little flames of love with your torch and do not try to claim a skill for which I am famous.”
Cupid became very angry at Apollo’s arrogance and decided to teach him a lesson. He shot one of his love-arrows into his uncle and a love-removing arrow into the fair nymph Daphne, daughter of Peneus, a River God.
Apollo and Daphne
Daphne, struck by the arrow, rejected all of her handsome suitors, much to her father’s dismay. She begged him to allow her to remain a maiden and never marry, and he granted her wish, even though men continued to pursue her on account of her great beauty.
One day, she was spotted by Apollo, who immediately swooned with love for the fair nymph. He chased her and tried to talk to her, but she wouldn’t listen and kept running away. He told her that he was the son of Zeus, alternatively begging and threatening her, but she simply fled. Apollo, who was also God of Healing, lamented: “The art of healing is my discovery and I am called the Healer throughout the world, and the power of herbs is subject to me. Alas for me that love is not curable by any herbs and that the arts that benefit all men are of no use to their master!”
Daphne kept fleeing Apollo, but he had the speed of a God and she knew that soon he must catch her. She fled to the river Peneus, seeking the protection of her father. As Apollo got closer, she cried out to her father to protect her and take away her beauty so that she could escape.
No sooner had she said so than she began to change. Her slender arms became rough and brown, her feet became roots and her hair changed to leaves. Fair Daphne had turned into a beautiful Laurel Tree. Apollo said that if he could not have her, at least the tree would be his, and it was he that made Laurel the adornment of Generals and temples.
Source: Hendricks, Rhoda A. Classical Gods and Heroes. New York: Morrow Quill Paperbacks, 1974.
