THE TALE OF DAPHNE AND APOLLO
The
tale of Daphne and Apollo has been told for many years. It is said that this
sorrowful story happened in Harbiye which is located in the southwest of
Antioch. Everything started with a dialog between Eros, the god of love and
Apollo, a skilled archer who was the son of Zeus and Leto. During the period
when Apollo was the god of sun, he doesn’t forgive himself about a snake he
killed and to cleanse his godship, he starts to play lyre. One day when he
wanders around, he sees the sweet baby-faced Eros. He goes near Eros and says:
-Eros,
that arrows on your back doesn’t suit a baby-faced god like you. Give them to
me so I can use them in battle, you know I use them well. Eros answers:
-Yes,
Apollo I know you do, but why do you underestimate me,
remember that my arrows can come at you too.
This
dialog makes Eros angry and he thinks of taking revenge on Apollo. He shoots an
arrow of hatred at Daphne who is passing by, and after that Daphne’s heart is
closed to all love on the earth. Just then, Eros shoots an Olympian arrow of
love at Apollo. At that moment, Apollo has a crush on Daphne. Every day he
descends from sky to search for the beautiful Nereid to marry her. Apollo
explains the situation to Daphne’s parents, but no matter how much they insist,
Daphne refuses to marry. Every day Apollo secretly watches this beautiful Nereid,
but watching isn’t enough for him anymore. One day when he is watching her, he
thinks to himself “I’m the strong, handsome, brave Apollo” and encourages
himself then confronts Daphne.
Seeing
him, Daphne starts to run and Apollo after her:
-Oh
beautiful Daphne, don’t run away from me. I’m Apollo, the god of Sun and music,
not your enemy.
Under
the effect of the arrow of hatred,
Daphne doesn’t stop and goes on running and love-hungry Apollo goes on chasing.
When he chases, he constantly pleas her to stop. Watching on Olympus, Zeus didn’t
help his son, no matter how sorry he is about this. Exhausted from running,
Daphne can’t run and asks for help from her father Ladon, god of rivers. Ladon
turns her into a Daphne tree. Her feet becomes roots, her torso becomes stem
and her hair becomes leaves. The tears that drops from her eyes becomes a
waterfall. Apollo makes a circlet from leaves and wears it all the time. The
waterfall and Daphne trees are located in Harbiye neighbourhood in Defne district of Hatay.
Author: Spaceweather
Interpreter: Ali Ayran
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