Apollo deeply
offended Eros, more commonly known as Cupid, by mocking his archery skills, and Eros
sought vengeance on Apollo. Eros shot Apollo with a golden arrow that would
make him fall in love with Daphne, daughter of the river god Peneus. However,
Eros also shot Daphne with a leaden arrow that filled her with hatred for love.
Apollo chased after Daphne relentlessly until Daphne was forced to pray to her
father for help. In order to help her escape Apollo, Daphne’s father
transformed her into a laurel tree. Apollo, still in love with Daphne and
brokenhearted, created the laurel wreath as tribute to her. The laurel then
later came to be known as one of Apollo’s symbols.
Though at first glance eternal youth would seem glorious, I would not think
that immortality would ultimately be worth it. Of course it has its obvious
advantages like never growing old and retaining your physical appearance for
all of eternity, but at what cost? I would not be able to watch my family and
friends wither away and die while I remained. Simply the knowledge that
everyone you meet and care for will certainly be gone, while you must live on
forever seems like more of a curse than a gift. Sure, you would be able to live
through civilizations as they rise and fall and probably gain an infinite
amount of knowledge, but as cliché as it sounds, that wouldn’t mean anything
without people to share it with. And of course, life can be fleeting, but that
is what makes it precious, and eternal youth would take away from that.
"Myth of Apollo and Daphne - Greeka.com." Greeka.
N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.greeka.com/greece-myths/apollo-daphne.htm>
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