Daphne

Daphne was a nymph and a follower of the huntress-goddess Artemis (Diana). Depending on the two versions of the myth, Daphne was either the daughter of the river-god Peneius or Peneus in Thessaly, or she was the daughter of the river-god Ladon in Elis. She was loved by the god Apollo.

There are two versions of the myth of Daphne. One version told by Pausanias was different than the one told by the Roman authors Ovid and Hyginus.

According to Pausanias, Leucippus was the son of King Oenomaus of Elis, and the young prince fell in love with the huntress, who often hunted with her companions on the Ladon River. But Daphne was not interested in any men. So Leucippus resorted to trickery to be close to Daphne. Since Leucippus had long hair, he disguised himself as another young huntress by wearing a girl's dress and calling himself as Oeno. Oeno was actually the name of his sister.

Oeno (Leucippus) and Daphne became great friends and companions in the goddess' frequent hunts. Leucippus-Oeno was an excellent hunter.

But one day, Daphne and all of her companions decided to take a bath. It was said that Apollo was also in love with Daphne, so the jealous god caused Daphne and her other companions to have a strong desire to bathe in the river.

Leucippus was reluctant to strip in front of them, which would expose his disguise, so Daphne and her companions playfully stripped him of his clothes. Upon their discovery that Leucippus was impersonating a girl, they angrily seized their spears and killed Leucippus.

The second version is best told by the Roman poet Ovid, in his Metamorphoses. Hyginus' Fabulae lacked details and it is rather short. Ovid's version is the best-remembered myth.

This myth is set in Thessaly. Apollo ridiculed Cupid (Eros) that archery should be best left to him. Indignant at Apollo's words, Cupid used one of his arrows on the sun-god and made Apollo fall in love with Artemis' hunting companion, Daphne.

Daphne was known throughout Thessaly for her beauty, but she had already turned away many suitors. Her father Peneius had reluctantly given her his boon that she didn't have to marry anyone. Daphne had either wanted to remain a virgin, because she was a follower of Artemis, or Cupid used his lead-tipped arrow on her to make her reject any man's proposals.

Either way, Apollo pursued Daphne, who tried to flee from him. Ovid said that Daphne was the first maiden that Apollo fell in love with. His sweet words and pleas were ignored. She knew that if Apollo couldn't win her hand in marriage, the god would then take it by force.

As swift a runner as Daphne was, she realised that she could not hope to avoid capture, because no mortal was swifter than Apollo and she knew that she would be tired soon. So Daphne prayed to her father, imploring him to save her modesty from her pursuer.

Peneius heard her cry for help, and transformed his daughter into a laurel or bay tree. Apollo arrived too late, and was sorrowful that she could not be his bride. Apollo however decided that the laurel trees would be sacred to him. The wreath of laurel leaves would be worn on the head as a crown to the victors of the Pythian Games and the crown of the Roman emperors.