Daughter of the river god Raton, one of the goddesses of the Nymphs, who debuted in Greek mythology. Apollo, the god of the sun, fell in love with her, wooing her passionately and pursuing her constantly. Fleeing in panic, Daphne asked her father for help, and the moment Apollo was about to catch up with her, the river god turned her into a laurel tree. The saddened Apollo took a branch from the laurel tree and wove it into a wreath on his head. From then on, the laurel was known as Daphne, the sacred tree belonging to Apollo, the sun god. The laurel wreath thus became a symbol of honor and was awarded to poets and athletes. (Daphne) (Place of origin: Greece)