Laurus nobilis is an aromatic evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean. The bay tree produces broad, smooth leaves commonly referred to as a bay leaf. Bay leaves are steeped in centuries of folklore and were incorporated into many legends of ancient Greece. Bay leaf whole adds savory herbal notes to soups, stews, and sauces, and is commonly paired with other spices like rosemary and thyme. The leaf of the bay laurel has a mythic history. Ancient mythology recounts that Apollo pursued the uninterested nymph Daphne. Apollo stalked Daphne until the gods granted her protection by turning her into a bay tree. In the Greek language, the herb is still called "dafni." At the Temple of Delphi, which is dedicated to Apollo, the priestesses would eat bay leaves before divining the future. Because bay leaves are mildly narcotic, this may have helped induce the trance state. Even the roof of the temple was thatched bay leaves. This roofing not only served as a sunscreen, but protection from lightning, disease, and evil