Apollo’s Pursuit of Daphne
After Apollo mocks the god of love, Eros retaliates by striking Apollo with a golden arrow of desire and the nymph Daphne with a leaden arrow of revulsion. This leads to a relentless pursuit through the Vale of Tempe, ending only when Daphne's father transforms her into a laurel tree to save her. Heartbroken, Apollo declares the laurel his sacred plant, symbolizing victory and poetic inspiration.