Apollo and Daphne

Apollo, holding a laurel branch, in pursuit of a woman.

Apollo had made one too many jokes at Eros' expense. To punish him, Eros shot Apollo with one of his golden arrows, which made Apollo fall madly in love with the nymph Daphne. Unfortunately for Apollo, Eros had shot Daphne with a lead arrow, which made her reject the god.

Apollo pursued Daphne and she tried to run away to escape him. Daphne called out to her father, the river god, for help. He changed her into a laurel tree just as Apollo was about to catch her.

Apollo was heartbroken. Even as a tree Daphne shuddered at Apollo's touch.