Daphne -Laurel tree
She was a young beautiful nymph, daughter of the river god Peneus. She was a huntress who dedicated herself to Artemis, goddess of the hunt, and, like the goddess, refused to marry. She was pursued by many admirers but she rejected every lover, including the powerful son of Zeus, Apollo. Apollo fell in love with Daphne, and when she rejected his advances, he pursued her through the woods. Daphne got frightened and prayed to her father for help. Whereupon her father told her that he would protect her by turning her into a Laurel Tree on the bank of his river (Greek native daphne). When Apollo came looking for Daphne, her father told him that she was transformed into a Laurel tree. Apollo then cut off some branches and made himself a crown of laurel branches.
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24 comments:
OK! We are on the same wavelength--I JUST popped over AFTER posting about a Daphne-- too curious!
And you, the chrysanthemum.
i love this mythn and this is my favorite version of it. but it just occurred to me: if she had prayed to her mother instead of her father, you think shw would have turned him into a tree instead?
I've always loved this myth :-)
I always disliked the part where he cut off some of her branches. How rude!
hi it is January 18th I just wanted to tell you my health has returned 100%. Yesterday I played with toys and enjoyed playing tag with Phd girl. I was able to pick up toys in my mouth for the first time in ages--she throws them, I run and get them-- we had a blast--suddenly life seems grand again.
Now, I hope you are better too. We have to take our vitamins, and nap, don't we?
I've never heard this myth Princess.
I'll look at a Laurel tree differently from now on!
Thank you for introducing me to Japonisme!
Have a nice weekend!
Constance
Hmm, I shall have to take a closer look at that laurel tree in my garden and keep an eye out for any ravishing Apollo's! :-)
That painting, while scrumptuously executed is disturbing in its imagery (is it just me?) and, "The Gods" have long 'set wrong' with me. This is excruciating and beautiful at once... but I want to smash Apollo and free Daphne (again, just me?).
I hope you're feeling much better. You're a delight of the blogoshpere.
And I agree with Chedwick, naps are gooooood! :-)
Barend Kiefte?
Just curious, but a web search turned this up on your blog. Is there a connection to philosophy as taught at Memorial University?
Jim Thistle
jthistle@nf.rogers.com
wow! finally i have the visuals of daphne! i like thsi story and i was a greek mythology reader as a child. i hated apollo then :) i have always wanted to be as carefree and guy free during those days :)
Just topping by to say hi!
25th-- how are you today?
Sounds like letting your nose be cut off to spite your face, but I could be wrong!
Hope you're okay, Princess Haiku.
last day of january--how are you doing?
Dear Friends,
I'm sorry that I haven't been blogging lately. The bronchitis I had turned into walking pneumonia and haven't had much energy. The good news is that I am finally improving and will be posting a storm of new entries soon. Promise.
Love,
Your Princess Haiku
Perhaps you know Edna St. Vincent Millay's "Daphne"?
Why do you follow me?-
Any moment I can be
Nothing but a laurel-tree.
Any moment of the chase
I can leave you in my place
A pink bough for your embrace.
Yet if over hill and hollow
Still it is your will to follow,
I am off;- to heel, Apollo!
What a charming narrative!
Just check in to your blog after about 3 months blogbreak and read this. Beautiful.
I am looking forward to that storm of new posts.
Shake it
princess.
I have been thinking about the tree thing, Lotus and decided that I wouldn't mind being one. Perhaps a tall, cool pine.
a. decker. I think it would be a wonderful thing to set Daphne free. We are in great need of a visual artist.
The Bernini is lovely, Lotus.
I never heard of Barend Kiefte, Jim. Your comment intrigues.
cbb, thanks for the Millay poem. I enjoyed reading it.
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