读名画：阿波罗和达芙妮

Joe

About the painting

The painting，called Apollo and Daphne，waspainted by John William Waterhouse in 1908. Waterhouse was among the most popular Victorianartists. He's known for working in the Pre-Raphaelitestyle. In the paining was a terrified girl running awayfrom the God Apollo.

The girl was Daphne，the daughter of the rivergod Peneus. One day the love god Eros took twoarrows，one of gold and the other of lead. He shotApollo with the golden one，which was to inspire loveand Daphne with the leaden one，inspiring hatred. SoApollo felt in love with Daphne while Daphne wantednothing to do with him. Apollo kept chasing downher and she just ran away from him. Soon she grewweary in her running and Apollo would catch her atlast. Fearful，she called out to her father for help. Asall gods of water had the ability of transformation，Peneus transformed his daughter into a laurel tree. Apollo reached the laurel tree and claimed the treeas his special tree，and adorned himself with some ofits leaves. And that is why the laurel was a symbol ofApollo.

More about Apollo

Apollo was the son of Zeus and Leto. Accordingto Greek mythology，Leto was driven by Hera formal and to land; at last Poseidon took pity on her andbrought the island of Delos out of water for her tolive on. There she gave birth to the twins，Apollo andArtemis.

Apollo was the sun god. He wore a purple robe. He usually sat in his bright eastern palace early inthe morning and made ready to start his daily journeyacross the sky. During the day he drove his carriageof gold and ivory，and brought light，life and loveto the great world below. Late in the afternoon hecame to the end of his journey in the far western seaand got on his golden boat to return to his easternhome.

Apollo was also the god of music and poetry. He could stir up all feelings. These feelings areexpressed in lofty songs. With his lyre of gold and the sweet accents of his godlike voice heldthe choir of the Muses at Olympus. The pleasant music from his lyre was so exciting that stonesmarched into their places in rhythmic time and of their own will when he helped Poseidon build upthe walls of Troy. On one occasion，invited to a contest by the human musician Marsyas，he wonand then flayed him to death for his pride. On another occasion，he lost out to Pan at a musical contest and turned the ears of the judge，King Midas，into those of an ass.

His son，Orpheus，took over such skill from the father that his lyre moved man and animals alike. Apollo stood for youthful and manly beauty. His golden hair，stately manner and air allcombined to make him the admiration of the world. A beautiful girl，by the name of Clytle，was so fond of his beauty and glory that from dawn to dusk she knelt on the ground，her handsoutstretched towards the sun god，and her eyes looked at his golden wheeled carriage racingacross the blue sky. Though her love was not returned，she had never changed her mind aboutApollo. The gods were moved at the sad sight，and changed her into a sunflower.

关于这幅画

这幅画名为《阿波罗和达芙妮》，是画家约翰威廉沃特豪斯于1908年所作。沃特豪斯是维多利亚时代最受欢迎的画家之一，以前拉斐尔派风格著称。画中可见一惊恐女子从阿波罗身边逃开。

这位女子名叫达芙妮，是河神佩纽斯之女。一天，爱神厄洛斯拿了两支箭，一支金箭，一支铅箭。他用金箭射中了阿波罗，将铅箭射向了达芙妮。前者在中箭人心中激起了无限爱意，而后者则在中箭人心中激起了憎恶之情。于是阿波罗爱上了達芙妮，而达芙妮却不愿与他有任何瓜葛。阿波罗不停地追逐着达芙妮，达芙妮则不停地逃跑。不久，达芙妮便跑累了，眼看就要被阿波罗追到了，惊恐之下，她向父亲求助。作为水神，佩纽斯有着变形的天赋，他将女儿变成了一棵月桂树。阿波罗伸手抚摸着月桂树，宣布该树为他专有，并用她的树叶佩戴在身上。月桂树由此成了阿波罗的象征。

关于阿波罗

在众多的奥林匹斯山神中，主神宙斯和雷托之子阿波罗最受推崇。据希腊神话记载，雷托被天后赫拉驱赶得四处流浪。最终是海神波塞冬怜悯她，从海中捞起提落岛让她居住。在岛上，她生了孪生儿子阿波罗和阿尔特弥斯。

阿波罗是太阳神。清晨他身着紫袍，坐在那明亮的东方宫殿，准备开始每日穿越天空的旅行。白天，他驾着用金子和象牙制成的战车，给广阔无垠的大地带来光明、生命和仁爱。黄昏时分，他在遥远的西海结束了旅行，然后就乘上金船返回东方的家中。

阿波罗还是音乐神和诗神。他可唤起人们倾注于圣歌中的各种情感。在奥林匹斯山上，他手拿金质竖琴，用悦耳的音调指挥缪斯的合唱。当他帮助波塞冬建造特洛伊城墙时，竖琴奏出的音乐如此动听，以致石头有节奏地、自动地各就其位。有一次他接受凡人音乐家马斯亚斯的挑战参加一次竞赛。战胜对方后，他将对手剥皮致死以惩罚他的狂妄自大。在另外一次音乐比赛中，因输给了潘神，他就将裁判迈尔斯国王的耳朵变成了驴耳朵。

阿波罗的儿子俄耳甫斯继承了父亲这方面的才能。他的竖琴使人与动物皆受感动。

阿波罗象征着青春和男子汉的美。銫的头发、庄重的举止、容光焕发的神态，这些足以使他受到世人的青睐。一位名叫克里提的美丽少女迷恋于他的英俊潇洒，跪在地上，从黎明到黄昏，双手伸向太阳神。她凝视着那辆金质马车在蔚蓝的天空驰骋。虽然她的爱并未得到回应，但她对阿波罗的痴情却从未改变。目睹这悲哀的场面，众神深受感动，将她变成了一株向日葵。