See Also: daphne(medicine)
daphne(dictionary)
Daphne(encyclopedia)
Daphne(dictionary)
du Maurier, Dame Daphne(encyclopedia)

Daphne (sh)




In Greek mythology, the personification of the laurel tree.

The beautiful daughter of a river god, Daphne lived a pastoral existence and rejected every lover. When Apollo pursued her, she prayed to Gaea or to her father to save her, whereupon she was transformed into a laurel. Apollo took its leaves to weave garlands that were thenceforth awarded to prize-winning poets. Daphne's other pursuer was Leucippus, who was killed because of Apollo's jealousy.