In Classical mythology, Krokus was a mortal man who, unhappy with his love affair with Smilax, was turned by the gods into a plant bearing his name: the crocus Saffron. Smilax is believed to have been given a similar fate and was transformed into bindweed. In one variation of the myth, Krokus was said to be a companion of Mercury and was accidentally killed by the god in a game of discus.