Harbiye Daphne Hatay

Located 7 km south of Antakya, Daphne was famous with its natural beauty in ancient times. A shady grove of cypress and laurel trees and numerous falls and curative springs dominated the place. Its pleasant climate drew the wealthy Antiochenes to build their summer homes here. Many of the mosaics displayed in the Hatay Museum were originally the floors of those houses.

According to the myth that gave this place its name, this is the spot where Apollo caught sight of Daphne, a beautiful nymph, and fell in love with her. When he tried to approach her however, she fled and Apollo began to pursue her. Realizing that there was no escape, she prayed to the Mother Earth, beging her for her protection. Daphne was transformed into a laurel tree just as Apollo reached her. Daphne's tears are said to be still flowing over the waterfalls of Harbiye. The Turkish word for laurel is 'defne', which is originated from the nymph's name. Seleucus I Nicator built a Temple to Apollo in the third century BC that became the principal adornment of his empire. The successors of Seleucus also built temples and palaces at Daphne, as did sevaral Romen emperors. It was probably in Daphne that Antony married Cleopatra in 40 BC . Daphne was also the site of the Games of Antioch, one of the successors of the ancient Olympic Games, that became one of the most famous festivals of its type in the ancient world. All of this beauty and splendor ultimately vanished in the catastrophes that eventually destroyed ancient Antioch.