April 3, 2011

Laurels







Apollo and Daphne, a vignette from ancient Greek mythology, is told by many including Ovid in Metamorphoses.

Apollo and Daphne - Antonio Pollaiuolo 

Apollo, the sun god, was cursed after making fun of Cupid for playing with his arrows and bows. 
Cupid then took two arrows, one of gold and one of lead. He incited love in Apollo with the gold arrow and hatred with the lead arrow in the beautiful nymph Daphne.  
Apollo sought her love and followed her everywhere. When Apollo was upon her, about to catch her, she called upon her father Peneus for help. 
Immediately, bark replaced her skin, her hair fell down in luxurious leaves and her arms twisted gracefully into branches. Apollo clung to the branches but they even resented his touch. She became his tree, and he avowed that her leaves would shine upon the heads of leaders. He made her immortally green.

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