In 'Apollo and Daphne', why does Apollo wear a laurel wreath?

So, even though Daphne is the one who turns into the tree, the laurel ends up being a symbol of Apollo himself. The god is often depicted in art as wearing a wreath of laurel, and his lyre and bow are usually decorated with laurel leaves. read more

The Greek word for laurel is Daphne. In the story Eros playing a rather nasty trick hits Apollo with an arrow to make him fall in love with Daphne, a nymph. He then strikes Daphne with an arrow to make her repulsed by Apollo. Overcome he chases her and she flees. read more

Apollo feels like crap about how it all went down, so he "honors" Daphne by making the laurel his sacred tree. He also gives the tree some of his own eternal youth to make it an evergreen. So, even though Daphne is the one who turns into the tree, the laurel ends up being a symbol of Apollo himself. read more

A laurel wreath is a circular wreath made of interlocking branches and leaves of the bay laurel (Laurus nobilis, Lauraceae), an aromatic broadleaf evergreen. In Greek mythology, Apollo is represented wearing a laurel wreath on his head. read more