thumb|340x340px|Apollo and Daphne by Bernini in the Galleria Borghese|left Daphne was a nymph who scorned Apollo's advances and ran away from him. When Apollo chased her in order to persuade her, she changed herself into a laurel tree. According to other versions, she cried for help during the chase, and Gaia helped her by taking her in and placing a laurel tree in her place.Hyginus, Fabulae 203. According to Roman poet Ovid, the chase was brought about by Cupid, who hit Apollo with a golden arrow of love and Daphne with a leaden arrow of hatred.Ovid, Metamorphoses 1.452–567; Tripp, s.v. Daphne. The myth explains the origin of the laurel and the connection of Apollo with the laurel and its leaves, which his priestess employed at Delphi. The leaves became the symbol of victory and laurel wreaths were given to the victors of the Pythian games.
thumb|340x340px|Apollo and Daphne by Bernini in the Galleria Borghese|left Daphne was a nymph who scorned Apollo's advances and ran away from him When Apollo chased her in order to persuade her she changed herself into a laurel tree According to other versions she cried for help during the chase and Gaia helped her by taking her in and placing a laurel tree in her placeHyginus Fabulae 203 According to Roman poet Ovid the chase was brought about by Cupid who hit Apollo with a golden arrow of love and Daphne with a leaden arrow of hatredOvid Metamorphoses 1452–567; Tripp sv Daphne The myth explains the origin of the laurel and the connection of Apollo with the laurel and its leaves which his priestess employed at Delphi The leaves became the symbol of victory and laurel wreaths were given to the victors of the Pythian games