Daphne Daphne

(Daphne, Δάφνη). The daughter of the Roman god Peneus, Apollo was captivated by her beauty and began to pursue her. She turned to the gods with a prayer for salvation and was turned into a laurel, which in Greek is called Δάφνη. Therefore, this tree was dedicated to Apollo.

(Source: " Concise Dictionary mythology and antiquities. M. Korsh. St. Petersburg, edition of A. S. Suvorin, 1894.)

(Δάφνη), "laurel"), in Greek mythology, a nymph, daughter of the land of Gaia and the god of the rivers Peneus (or Ladon). The story of Apollo's love for D. is told by Ovid. Apollo pursues D., who gave her word to remain chaste and remain celibate, like Artemis. D. prayed to her father for help, and the gods turned her into a laurel tree, which Apollo hugged in vain, who henceforth made the laurel his favorite and sacred plant (Ovid. Met. I 452-567). D. - an ancient plant deity, entered the circle of Apollo, losing his independence and becoming an attribute of God. At Delphi, the winners of the competitions were given laurel wreaths (Paus. VIII 48, 2). The sacred laurel on Delos is mentioned by Callimachus (Hymn. II 1). The Homeric hymn (II 215) reports divinations from the laurel tree itself. At the festival of Daphnephoria in Thebes, laurel branches were carried.
Lit.: Stechow W., Apollo und Daphne, Lpz.-B., 1932.
A. T.-G.

European drama turns to myth in the 16th century. (“Princess D.” by G. Saksa; “D.” by A. Beccari and others). From con. 16th century after the play "D." O. Rinuccini, set to music by J. Peri, the embodiment of the myth in dramaturgy is inextricably linked with music (the plays “D.” by M. Opitz, “D.” by J. de La Fontaine and others are opera librettos). Among the operas of the 17th-18th centuries: "D." G. Schutz; "D." A. Scarlatti; "Florindo and D." G. F. Handel; "The transformation of D." I. I. Fuks and others; in modern times - "D." R. Strauss.
AT antique art D. was usually depicted being overtaken by Apollo (a fresco of the Dioscuri house in Pompeii) or turning into a laurel tree (plastic works). AT European art the plot was perceived in the 14-15 centuries, first in a book miniature (illustrations for Ovid), during the Renaissance and especially the Baroque, it became most widespread (Giorgione, L. Giordano, J. Brueghel, N. Poussin, J. B. Tiepolo and etc.). The most significant of the plastic works is the marble group of P. Bernini "Apollo and D.".

(Source: "Myths of the peoples of the world".)

Nymph; pursued by Apollo in love with her, she asked her father, the river god Peneus (according to another myth, Ladon), for help and was turned into a laurel tree.

// Garcilaso de la VEGA: "I look at Daphne, I am dumbfounded..." // John LILY: The Song of Apollo // Giambattista MARINO: "Why, tell me, O Daphne..." // Julio CORTASAR: Daphne's voice // N.A . Kuhn: DAFNE

(Source: Myths Ancient Greece. Dictionary reference.» EdwART, 2009.)

See what "Daphne" is in other dictionaries:

- (Greek daphne laurel). 1) a plant of this family. berry; the most common type of it is our wild-growing wolf pepper. 2) a nymph, the daughter of the river god Peneus and Gaia, at the same time loved by Apollo and Leucappus; she was saved from the persecution of Apollo by turning into ... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

Nymph, wolf's bast Dictionary of Russian synonyms. daphne n., number of synonyms: 5 asteroid (579) wolf ... Synonym dictionary

In Greek mythology, a nymph; pursued by Apollo in love with her, she asked her father, the river god Peneus, for help and was turned into a laurel tree ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Laurel. Origin time: New. (common). Jewish female names. Meaning Dictionary... Dictionary of personal names

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. Apollo and Daphne. 1743 44. Louvre. Paris This term also exists ... Wikipedia

s; and. [Greek Daphnē] [capitalized] In Greek mythology, a nymph who took a vow of chastity and turned into a laurel tree to save herself from the lover Apollo who pursued her. * * * Daphne in Greek mythology is a nymph; pursued... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Daphne- (Greek Daphne) * * * in Greek mythology, a nymph, daughter of Gaia and the river god Peneus. Pursued by Apollo in love with her, she turned into a laurel. (I.A. Lisovy, K.A. Revyako. The ancient world in terms, names and titles: Dictionary guide to ... ... Antique world. Dictionary reference.

DAFNA Dictionary-reference book on Ancient Greece and Rome, on mythology

DAFNA- (laurel) A Greek mountain nymph who was constantly harassed by Apollo and who, in response to a plea for help, was turned into a laurel tree by Mother Earth. (During the time of the ancient Greeks, there was a famous sanctuary of Apollo in the laurel forest on ... ... List of ancient Greek names

AT ancient Greek mythology nymph. Pursued by Apollo in love with her, D. asked for help from the father of the river god Peneus, and he turned her laurel tree (Greek daphne laurel). The myth of D. was reflected in poetry (“Metamorphoses” by Ovid), in ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Books

• "Daphne, you are my joy...", K. 52/46c, Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus. Reprinted music edition of Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus "Daphne, deine Rosenwangen, K. 52/46c" . Genres: Songs; For voice, piano; for voices with keyboard; scores featuring the voice; Scores…

Apollo. The myth of Apollo, Daphne, Apollo and the Muses. N. A. Kuhn. Legends and myths of Ancient Greece

Apollo is one of ancient gods Greece. Traces of totemism are clearly preserved in his cult. So, for example, in Arcadia they worshiped Apollo, depicted as a ram. Apollo was originally a god who guarded the flocks. Gradually, he became more and more a god of light. Later, he was considered the patron saint of immigrants, the patron saint of Greek colonies being founded, and then the patron saint of art, poetry and music. Therefore, in Moscow on the building of the Bolshoi academic theater there is a statue of Apollo with a lyre in his hands, riding a chariot drawn by four horses. In addition, Apollo became a god predicting the future. In everything ancient world famous for his sanctuary at Delphi, where the Pythian priestess gave predictions. These predictions, of course, were made by the priests, who knew well everything that was happening in Greece, and they were made in such a way that they could be interpreted in one direction or the other. It was known in antiquity that the prediction given at Delphi to the king of Lydia Croesus during his war with Persia. He was told: “If you cross the river Halys, you will destroy a great kingdom,” but which kingdom, his own or Persian, this was not said.

Birth of Apollo

The god of light, the golden-haired Apollo, was born on the island of Delos. His mother Latona, driven by the wrath of the goddess Hera, could not find shelter anywhere. Pursued by the dragon Python sent by the Hero, she wandered all over the world and finally took refuge on Delos, which at that time was rushing along the waves of a stormy sea. As soon as Latona entered Delos, huge pillars rose from the depths of the sea and stopped this deserted island. He stood firm in the place where he still stands today. All around Delos the sea roared. The cliffs of Delos rose despondently, bare without the slightest vegetation. Only sea gulls found shelter on these rocks and announced them with their sad cry. But then the god of light Apollo was born, and streams of bright light spilled everywhere. Like gold, they poured the rocks of Delos. Everything around bloomed, sparkled: the coastal cliffs, and Mount Kint, and the valley, and the sea. The goddesses gathered on Delos loudly praised the born god, offering him ambrosia and nectar. All nature around rejoiced along with the goddesses. (Myth about Apollo)

Apollo vs Python
and the founding of the Delphic oracle

The young, luminous Apollo rushed across the azure sky with a cithara (Ancient Greek string musical instrument, similar to a lyre) in her hands, with a silver bow over her shoulders; golden arrows jingled loudly in his quiver. Proud, jubilant, Apollo rushed high above the earth, threatening all evil, all generated by darkness. He aspired to where the formidable Python lived, pursuing his mother Latona; he wanted to take revenge on him for all the evil that he had done to her.
Apollo quickly reached the gloomy gorge, the dwelling of Python. Rocks rose all around, reaching high into the sky. Darkness reigned in the gorge. A mountain stream, gray with foam, was swiftly rushing along its bottom, and mists swirled above the stream. The terrible Python crawled out of its lair. Its huge body, covered with scales, twisted between the rocks in countless rings. Rocks and mountains trembled from the weight of his body and moved. Furious Python betrayed everything, he spread death all around. Nymphs and all living things fled in horror. Python rose up, mighty, furious, opened his terrible mouth and was ready to devour the golden-haired Apollo. Then there was a ringing of the bowstring of a silver bow, as a spark flashed in the air, a golden arrow that did not know a miss, followed by another, a third; arrows rained down on Python, and he fell lifeless to the ground. The triumphant victorious song (pean) of the golden-haired Apollo, the winner of Python, sounded loudly, and the golden strings of the cithara of the god echoed it. Apollo buried the body of Python in the ground where sacred Delphi stands, and founded a sanctuary and an oracle in Delphi in order to prophesy to people the will of his father Zeus.
From a high shore, far out to sea, Apollo saw the ship of the Cretan sailors. Under the guise of a dolphin, he rushed into the blue sea, overtook the ship and took off from sea ​​waves to feed him. Apollo brought the ship to the pier of the city of Chrisa (City on the coast of the Corinthian Gulf, which served as a harbor for Delphi) and through the fertile valley led the Cretan sailors, playing on the golden cithara, to Delphi. He made them the first priests of his sanctuary. (Myth about Apollo)

Daphne

Based on the poem "Metamorphoses" by Ovid

The bright, joyful god Apollo knows sadness, and grief befell him. He knew grief shortly after defeating Python. When Apollo, proud of his victory, stood over the monster slain by his arrows, he saw near him the young god of love Eros, pulling his golden bow. Laughing, Apollo said to him:
- What do you need, child, such a formidable weapon? Leave it to me to send out the smashing golden arrows with which I just killed Python. Are you equal in glory with me, the archer? Do you want to achieve more fame than me?
The offended Eros proudly answered Apollo: (The myth of Apollo)
- Your arrows, Phoebus-Apollo, do not know a miss, they smash everyone, but my arrow will hit you.

Eros waved his golden wings and in the blink of an eye flew up to the high Parnassus. There he took out two arrows from the quiver: one - wounding the heart and causing love, he pierced the heart of Apollo with it, the other - killing love, he launched it into the heart of the nymph Daphne, daughter of the river god Peneus.
Once I met the beautiful Daphne Apollo and fell in love with her. But as soon as Daphne saw the golden-haired Apollo, she started to run with the speed of the wind, because the arrow of Eros, which kills love, pierced her heart. The silver-eyed god hurried after her.
- Stop, beautiful nymph, - cried Apollo, - why are you running from me, like a lamb pursued by a wolf, Like a dove fleeing from an eagle, you rush! After all, I'm not your enemy! Look, you hurt your legs on the sharp thorns of the blackthorn. Oh wait, stop! After all, I am Apollo, the son of the Thunderer Zeus, and not a simple mortal shepherd,
But the beautiful Daphne ran faster and faster. As if on wings, Apollo rushes after her. He is getting closer. Now it's coming! Daphne feels his breath. The strength leaves her. Daphne prayed to her father Peneus:
- Father Peney, help me! Part quickly, earth, and devour me! Oh, take away this image from me, it causes me only suffering!
As soon as she said this, her limbs immediately became numb. The bark covered her delicate body, her hair turned into foliage, and her hands raised to the sky turned into branches. For a long time, sad Apollo stood before the laurel and, finally, said:
“Let a wreath of only your greenery decorate my head, let from now on you decorate with your leaves both my cithara and my quiver. May your greenery never wither, O laurel, Stay forever green!
And the laurel quietly rustled in response to Apollo with its thick branches and, as if in a sign of consent, bowed its green top.

Apollo at Admet

Apollo had to be cleansed from the sin of the spilled blood of Python. After all, he himself cleanses the people who committed the murder. By the decision of Zeus, he retired to Thessaly to the beautiful and noble king Admet. There he pastured the flocks of the king, and by this service atoned for his sin. When Apollo played in the middle of the pasture on a reed flute or on a golden cithara, wild animals came out of the forest thicket, enchanted by his game. Panthers and ferocious lions walked peacefully among the herds. Deer and chamois ran to the sound of the flute. Peace and joy reigned all around. Prosperity settled in the house of Admet; no one had such fruits, his horses and herds were the best in all of Thessaly. All this was given to him by the golden-haired god. Apollo helped Admet get the hand of the daughter of Tsar Iolk Pelias, Alcesta. Her father promised to give her as a wife only to one who would be able to harness a lion and a bear to his chariot. Then Apollo endowed his favorite Admet with irresistible power, and he fulfilled this task of Pelias. Apollo served with Admet for eight years and, having completed his expiatory service, returned to Delphi.
Apollo lives in Delphi during spring and summer. When autumn comes, the flowers wither and the leaves on the trees turn yellow, when it is close Cold winter, covering the peak of Parnassus with snow, then Apollo, on his chariot drawn by snow-white swans, is carried away to the country of the Hyperboreans, which does not know winter, to the country of eternal spring. He lives there all winter. When everything in Delphi turns green again, when flowers bloom under the life-giving breath of spring and cover the valley of Chrisa with a colorful carpet, the golden-haired Apollo returns to Delphi on his swans to prophesy to people the will of the thunderer Zeus. Then in Delphi they celebrate the return of the god-soothsayer Apollo from the country of the Hyperboreans. All spring and summer he lives in Delphi, he visits his homeland Delos, where he also has a magnificent sanctuary.

Apollo and the Muses

In spring and summer, on the slopes of the wooded Helikon, where the sacred waters of the Hippocrene spring mysteriously murmur, and on high Parnassus, near clean waters Kastalsky spring, Apollo leads a round dance with nine muses. Young, beautiful muses, daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (Goddess of memory), are the constant companions of Apollo. He leads the choir of muses and accompanies their singing by playing on his golden cithara. Apollo walks majestically ahead of the choir of muses, crowned with a laurel wreath, followed by all nine muses: Calliope - the muse of epic poetry, Euterpe - the muse of lyrics, Erato - the muse of love songs, Melpomene - the muse of tragedy, Thalia - the muse of comedy, Terpsichore - the muse of dancing, Clio is the muse of history, Urania is the muse of astronomy and Polyhymnia is the muse of sacred hymns. Their choir thunders solemnly, and all nature, as if enchanted, listens to their divine singing. (Myth Apollo and the Muses)
When Apollo, accompanied by the Muses, appears in the host of the gods on the bright Olympus and the sounds of his kithara and the singing of the Muses are heard, then everything on Olympus falls silent. Ares forgets about the noise of bloody battles, lightning does not flash in the hands of Zeus, the cloudmaker, the gods forget strife, peace and silence reign on Olympus. Even the eagle of Zeus lowers its mighty wings and closes its keen eyes, its menacing scream is not heard, it quietly slumbers on the rod of Zeus. In complete silence, the strings of the cithara of Apollo solemnly sound. When Apollo cheerfully strikes the golden strings of the cithara, then a bright, shining round dance moves in the banquet hall of the gods. The Muses, Charites, the eternally young Aphrodite, Ares and Hermes - all participate in a merry round dance, and the majestic maiden, the sister of Apollo, the beautiful Artemis, walks ahead of everyone. Filled with streams of golden light, the young gods dance to the sounds of Apollo's kithara. (Myth Apollo and the Muses)

Sons of Aloe

The far-reaching Apollo is terrible in his anger, and then his golden arrows do not know mercy. Many were struck by them. Proud of their strength, who did not want to obey anyone, the sons of Aloe, Ot and Ephialtes, died from them. Already in early childhood they were famous for their enormous growth, their strength and courage that knew no barriers. While still young men, they began to threaten the Olympian gods Ot and Ephialtes:
- Oh, just let us grow up, just let us reach the full measure of our supernatural strength. We will then heap Mount Olympus, Pelion and Ossa one on top of the other ( Greatest Mountains in Greece on the coast of the Aegean Sea, in Thessaly) and we will ascend to heaven on them. We will then steal from you, Olympians, Hera and Artemis.
So, like the titans, the rebellious sons of Aloe threatened the Olympians. They would carry out their threat. After all, they bound Ares, the formidable god of war, with chains; for thirty whole months he languished in a copper dungeon. For a long time, Ares, insatiable scolding, would have languished in captivity if the quick Hermes had not kidnapped him, deprived of his strength. Mighty were Ot and Ephialtes. Apollo did not bear their threats. The far-striking god pulled his silver bow; like sparks of flame, his golden arrows flashed in the air, and Ot and Ephialtes, pierced by arrows, fell.

Marsyas

Apollo severely punished the Phrygian satyr Marsyas because Marsyas dared to compete with him in music. Kifared (That is, playing the cithara) Apollo did not bear such impudence. Once, wandering through the fields of Phrygia, Marsyas found a reed flute. She was abandoned by the goddess Athena, noticing that playing the flute invented by herself disfigures her divinely beautiful face. Athena cursed her invention and said:
- Let the one who raises this flute be severely punished.
Knowing nothing of what Athena said, Marsyas picked up the flute and soon learned to play it so well that everyone heard this unpretentious music. Marsyas became proud and challenged Apollo, the patron of music, to a contest.
Apollo came to the call in a long lush mantle, in a laurel wreath and with a golden cithara in his hands.
How insignificant before the majestic, beautiful Apollo seemed the inhabitant of the forests and fields of Marsyas with his miserable reed flute! How could he extract from the flute such marvelous sounds as flew from the golden strings of the cithara of Apollo, the leader of the Muses! Apollo won. Enraged by the challenge, he ordered the unfortunate Marsyas to be hung by the hands and skinned from him alive. So paid Marsyas for his courage. And the skin of Marsyas was hung in the grotto near Kelen in Phrygia, and later it was said that she always began to move, as if dancing, when the sounds of the Phrygian reed flute flew into the grotto, and remained motionless when the majestic sounds of the cithara were heard.

Asclepius (Aesculapius)

But Apollo is not only an avenger, not only does he send death with his golden arrows; he heals diseases. The son of Apollo, Asclepius, is the god of doctors and medical art. The wise centaur Chiron raised Asclepius on the slopes of Pelion. Under his guidance, Asclepius became such a skilled physician that he surpassed even his teacher Chiron. Asclepius not only healed all diseases, but even brought the dead back to life. By this he angered the ruler of the kingdom of the dead Hades and the Thunderer Zeus, as he violated the law and order established by Zeus on earth. Enraged, Zeus threw his lightning bolt and struck Asclepius. But people deified the son of Apollo as a god of healing. They erected many sanctuaries for him, among them the famous sanctuary of Asclepius at Epidaurus.
Apollo was honored throughout Greece. The Greeks revered him as a god of light, a god who cleanses a person from the filth of spilled blood, as a god who prophesies the will of his father Zeus, who punishes, sends diseases and heals them. He was revered by the Greek youths as their patron. Apollo is the patron saint of navigation, he helps to found new colonies and cities. Artists, poets, singers and musicians are under the special patronage of the leader of the choir of muses, Apollo-kyfared. Apollo is equal to Zeus the Thunderer himself in terms of the worship that the Greeks paid him.

Ancient Greek mythology is rich in curious characters. In addition to the gods and their offspring, legends describe the fate of mere mortals and those whose lives were connected with divine creatures.

Origin story

According to legend, Daphne is a mountain nymph, born in the union of the goddess of the earth Gaia and the river god Peneus. In Metamorphoses, he explains that Daphne was born to the nymph Creusa after a romantic relationship with Peneus.

This author held to the myth that he fell in love with a pretty girl after being pierced by an arrow from Eros. The beauty did not reciprocate, since the other end of the arrow made her indifferent to love. Hiding from the persecution of God, Daphne turned to her parent for help, who turned her into a laurel tree.

According to another writer, Pausanias, the daughter of Gaia and the god of the rivers Ladon, was transferred by her mother to the island of Crete, and a laurel appeared in the place where she was. Tormented by unrequited love, Apollo wove himself a wreath from the branches of a tree.

Greek mythology is famous for its variability of interpretations, so modern readers also know the third myth, according to which Apollo and Leucippus, the son of the ruler Enomai, were in love with the girl. The prince, dressed in a woman's dress, pursued the girl. Apollo bewitched him, and the young man went to bathe with the girls. For the deceit, the nymphs killed the prince.

Due to the fact that Daphne is associated with a plant, her independent destiny in mythology is limited. It is not known whether the girl subsequently became a human. In most references, she is associated with the attribute that accompanies Apollo everywhere. The origin of the name is rooted in the depths of history. From Hebrew, the meaning of the name was translated as "laurel".

The myth of Apollo and Daphne

The patron of the arts, music and poetry, Apollo was the son of the goddess Latona and. Jealous, the wife of the Thunderer did not give the woman the opportunity to find shelter. sent a dragon named Python after her, who chased Latona until she settled on Delos. It was a harsh uninhabited island that blossomed with the birth of Apollo and his sister. Plants appeared on the deserted shores and around the rocks, the island was lit up with sunlight.

Armed with a silver bow, the young man decided to take revenge on Python, who did not give his mother peace. He flew across the sky to the gloomy gorge where the dragon was located. A furious terrible beast was ready to devour Apollo, but the god hit him with arrows. The young man buried his rival and erected an oracle and a temple on the burial site. According to legend, today Delphi is located on this place.

Not far from the place of the battle, the prankster Eros flew by. The mischievous man played with golden arrows. One end of the arrow was adorned with a gold tip, and the other with lead. Boasting before the hooligan of his victory, Apollo invoked the wrath of Eros. The boy shot an arrow into the heart of God, whose golden tip evoked love. The second arrow with a stone tip hit the heart of the lovely nymph Daphne, depriving her of the ability to fall in love.

Seeing the beautiful girl, Apollo fell in love with her with all his heart. Daphne is on the run. God pursued her for a long time, but could not catch up. When Apollo came close, so that she began to feel his breath, Daphne prayed to her father for help. To save her daughter from torment, Peneus turned her body into a laurel tree, her hands into branches, and her hair into foliage.

Seeing what his love had led to, the inconsolable Apollo hugged the tree for a long time. He decided that Laurel wreath will always accompany him in memory of his beloved.

In culture

"Daphne and Apollo" is a myth that inspired artists of different centuries. He is one of the popular legends of the Hellenistic era. In ancient times, the plot was depicted in sculptures describing the moment of the transformation of a girl. There were mosaics that confirmed the popularity of the myth. Later painters and sculptors were guided by Ovid's exposition.

During the Renaissance, antiquity again received great attention. In the 15th century, the popular myth of a god and a nymph resonated in the paintings of the painters Pollaiolo, Bernini, Tiepolo, Brueghel and. Sculpture by Bernini in 1625 was placed in the cardinal residence of Borghese.

In literature, the images of Apollo and Daphne are repeatedly mentioned thanks to. In the 16th century, the works "Princess" by Sax and "D." authorship of Beccari, which are based on mythological motifs. In the 16th century, Rinuccini's play Daphne was set to music and, like the works of Opitz and, became an opera libretto. Inspired by a story of unrequited love, musical works wrote Schutz, Scarlatti, Handel, Fuchs and.

daphne, Greek ("laurel") - the daughter of the river god Peneus or Ladon, one of the most beautiful nymphs.

He fell in love with Daphne, but not because of beauty, but as a result of Eros' malicious joke. Apollo had the imprudence to laugh at the golden bow of the god of love, and Eros decided to demonstrate to him the effectiveness of his weapon. At Apollo, he shot an arrow that evokes love, and at Daphne, who happened to be nearby, he shot an arrow that kills love. Therefore, the love of the most beautiful of the gods did not find reciprocity. Pursued by God, Daphne began to beg her father to change her appearance, she was ready to die rather than become Apollo's lover. Daphne's wish came true: her body was covered with bark, her hands turned into branches, her hair into foliage. She turned into an evergreen laurel tree, while Apollo, in memory of his first love, began to wear a decoration in the form of a laurel wreath.

Apparently, the first poetic story about tragic fate Daphne belongs to Ovid (the first book of Metamorphoses). He inspired Bernini to create the famous sculptural group "Apollo and Daphne" (1622-1624), as well as Pollaiolo, Poussin, Veronese and many other artists - authors of paintings of the same name. Perhaps the very first of all operas, written by J. Peri to the text of the poet O. Rinuccini in 1592, was called Daphne. A number of further musical incarnations of this plot (Gagliano - 1608, Schutz - 1627, Handel - 1708) are closed by the opera "Daphne" by R. Strauss (1937).

As tradition testifies, the myth of Daphne existed long before Ovid (although, perhaps, in a slightly different version). At the place where, according to legend, Daphne turned into a tree, the temple of Apollo was built, which in 395 AD. e. was destroyed by order of Emperor Theodosius I, an opponent of paganism. Since pilgrims continued to visit the local laurel grove, in the 5th-6th centuries. n. e. a monastery was founded there with a temple of the Virgin Mary; the mosaic decorations of the temple, created in the 11th century, are one of the pinnacles of the "second golden age" of Byzantine art. This temple stands to this day in a green laurel grove ten kilometers west of Athens and is called "Daphni".