Tales of Apollo

Daphne was a beautiful young mountain nymph who lived her life in the service of Gaia the Earth Mother. But much to the disappointmenr of her father Peneius, Daphne had no interest in men or family matters. Instead, she was happy just to fulfill her priestess duties in the temple of the goddess. Peneius very much desired a grandchild, but in spite of all his match making attempts Daphne was determined to remain a virgin. She was contented to spend her days in the company of other maidens and emulating the ways of the goddess Artemis. Daphne loved nothing more than the freedom of the woods and the challenge of the hunt.

One day on Mount Olympus some words were exchanged between Apollo and Aphrodite's young son Eros. It seems that Apollo suggested that Eros should lay down his bow and arrows and leave archery to the men.

The little god of love was greatly offended for he thought himself to be very proficient in the sport. To regain his honor Eros decided that he would make Apollo pay for his insulting remarks. Taking up his golden arrows, Eros aimed carefully and shot Apollo directly through the heart. At that very moment, the sun god caught sight of Daphne as she ran happily through the woods with her companions.

As he began to fall hopelessly in love with her, Eros took another arrow and reloaded his bow. This time pierced the heart of the young nymph with an arrow that had been dipped in lead.

Apollo frantically searched the woods for his newest love interest. When he finally caught sight of Daphne, Apollo approached his beloved with open arms and the hope of whisking her away in a passionate embrace. Feeling the cold effects of the leaden arrow, the uninterested maiden turned and ran quickly away from the sun god. Apollo followed after her, desperately calling her name and assuring her that he was no monster but one of the divine Olympians that had fallen madly in love with her. This frightened Daphne more than before, so she quickened her pace and ran faster in the opposite direction of her love crazed suitor. As Apollo was closing in, Daphne pleaded with Gaia to help her. In an instant her legs became rooted to the ground and her body began to sprout leaves.

Apollo arrived as the last piece of bark encased the lovely wood nymph's face. Gaia had transformed Daphne into a laurel tree allowing her to escape the embrace of Apollo and to keep her virginity. Needless to say thr god was heartbroken. He cut off one of the branches and placed it upon his head, and from that day forward the laurel branch became forever sacred to the god of the sun.

Hyacinthus

Hyacinthus was a Prince of Sparta, who because of his great beauty was admired by many including Apollo himself. One day as the god was teaching the youth to throw a discus, Zephyr, the West Wind became very jealous of the youth's new relationship. He also desired the company of Hyacinthus and was resentful of all the time he was spending with the sun god. As Apollo threw the discus, Zephyr caught it in mid-air and brought it down hard against the side of the Prince's skull, killing him instantly.

Apollo frantically watched as the blood of his young lover flowed into the earth, but there was nothing he could do. Death had already claimed Hyacinthus but in his place sprouted the hyacinth flower, which we still call by his name.

Apollo was not the only god who was known to sometimes fall in love with a member of his own sex. Zeus also loved a Trojan youth named Ganymede. The most popular version of the story tells us that Zeus found the boy to be so desirable, that he changed himself into an eagle and carried the young man off to Mount Olympus. Ganymede was then made the personal cupbearer of the father of the gods. This was said to be after Hebe relinquished her position as cupbearer to become the wife of Heracles. Later, Ganymede was placed among the stars and is known to us as the constellation Aquarius.

Apollo and Marsyas

Another tale of Apollo involves the satyr Marsyas. One day the goddess Athena fashioned a double flute from the bones of a stag and decided to show off her new invention by playing a tune at one of the god's many banquets. The music was delightful, but all the while she played Athena noticed Hera and Aphrodite could not control their laughter. Disgusted, Athena took her instrument and headed into the Phrygian woods where she sat herself down comfortably next to a stream. She began to pipe out a tune when suddenly she caught a glimpse of herself in the water.

Horrified by how silly her puffy blue cheeks looked as blew into the mouthpiece, the goddess cast the flute aside and placed a curse on anyone who picked it up. The innocent victim would be a satyr named Marsyas, who came along and found the flute lying in the weeds.

He picked it up and placed it to his lips. Like magic, the flute which was still charmed with the music of Athena, began to play on its own. Marsyas promptly paraded throughout Phrygia entertaing all the peasants with his new find. His audience declared that not even Apollo himself could make better music on his lyre, and like a fool Marsyas did not disagree.

When this news reached Apollo, it so much angered the god that he challenged the satyr to a musical contest, the winner being able to inflict any punishment that he desired upon the loser.

Marsyas readily agreed to the challenge. With the Muses as the jury, the battle first began with Marsyas piping a beautiful melody on his pipe. All were still as the air was filled with music.

When Marsylas finished, Apollo quickly reached for his instrument. Not wanting to be outdone by his opponent, the god began to pluck the strings of his lyre and soon released an enchanting tune of his own. The Muses listened intently and when the contest was over they found each musician to be equal in talent.

Apollo once again challenged Marsyas, this time to turn his instrument upside down and both play and sing at the same time. Without thinking about the consequences, the over-confident satyr blindly accepted the dare, but much to his dismay he soon found out it was impossible to carry out such an action with a flute. Apollo on the other hand reversed his lyre and played a tune while singing out tales of his fellow gods.

The Muses had no other choice but to declare Apollo the winner. No one knows why Apollo chose such a cruel punishment for his rival, for he had Marsyas flayed alive and his skin nailed to a pine tree. It is said that either the satyrs blood or the many teardrops shed by his woodland friends formed the river Marsyas.

The Contest of Apollo and Pan

Apollo was involved in another musical contest, this time with the woodland god Pan. The competition was judged by the river god Tmolus, who after listening to both play their instruments, prononuced Apollo as the winner. Standing among the crowd of spectators that had gathered to hear was none other than King Midas himself.

Unfortunately the King made the mistake of loudly expressing his disappointment with the decision, stating that it was obvious Pan gave the better perfromance. Apollo made the outspoken Midas pay dearly for his remarks by causing his ears to be transformed into those of an ass.

This made the king very embarrassed and from that time on he took to wearing a Phrygian cap, which he pulled down tightly over his head.The only person privy to this secret was Midas' barber, who for fear of his own life was careful to always hold his tongue. Feeling that he could no longer keep this private information to himself, the barber ran to a deserted meadow and dug a hole, into which he whispered "King Midas has the ears of an ass!" When he had finished he replaced the dirt and quickly went on his way feeling as though he had just releaved a great burden from his shoulders.

Unfortunately for him the reeds in the area overheard the secret and repeated it outloud to all that passed by. King Midas was so humiliated that he promptly had the barber put to death.

Medea's Lair Of Greek Mythology © 1999-2009.