DAPHNE, in Ancient Geography, a small village near to, or in the suburbs of, Antiochia of Seleucus in Syria; with a large grove, well watered with springs. In the middle of the grove stood the temple of Apollo and Diana. Its extent was 80 stadia or 10 miles; the distance from the city five miles: A place pleasant and agreeable, from the plenty of water and the temperature of the air, and its soft-breathing breezes. The grove was of bay-trees, intermixed with cypresses: which last multiplied so fast, as to occupy the whole of it. Pompey gave some land for enlarging the grove. Antiochus Ephiphanes built a very large temple of Daphneus Apollo. The place at length became so infamous, that people of modesty and character avoided resorting thither; so that Daphnici mores became proverbial.