Our legends of November-Turkish Legend

 

Daphne (DEFNE)

Apollo, the God of Light, son of Zeus, sees a young and beautiful girl by the river. The name of this unique beauty is Daphne. Apollo falls in love with her and wants to talk. But Daphne runs away. Daphne escapes, Apollo chases. On the one hand, the flirtatious God shouts, "Don't run away, I love you." Daphne keeps running because she hears bad things happen to women speaking to the Gods. Apollo is about to catch her beloved Daphne. Daphne realizes she can't escape. Daphne stops, rides her feet on the ground and ‘’O mother earth, cover me, hide me, protect me!’’ she says.

Daphne feels her body wooded after begging. A gray crust covers her chest and her hair becomes leaves. Its arms extend into branches, its young feet become roots and plunge into the depths of the earth, turning into a laurel tree.

Surprised by this view, Apollo watches Defne's being a tree with astonishment and sorrow.

Then he hugs and hears the sound of her heart still beating under its hard shells and calls out:’’ Daphne, from now on you will be the sacred tree of Apollo. Those leaves that do not wither and do not shed will be a wreath to my head.

Dear heroes, those who are victorious in wars, will always decorate your foreheads with your leaves. Our name will go side by side in songs and poems’’ Upon these sweet words, Daphne greets Apollo with respect by bowing her branches.

The place where this story takes place is today's Hatay Harbiye. With sadness and excitement, Apallon takes that tree as its emblem and makes a crown from its bright leaves. Since then, victory in poetry and weapons is rewarded with the Laurel branch. According to the belief, Defne's tears make the waterfalls in Harbiye.