Central to this poem is the story of Protesilaus and Laodamia from the Trojan cycle. Protesilaus and Laodamia were married shortly before the Trojan War, in which he was the first Greek to die. In her grief, Laodamia committed suicide by jumping onto the fire that destroyed a bronze statute of her late husband. Daniel Garrison connects this story to Catullus' relationship with Lesbia saying, "Catullus was separated from Lesbia by his brother's death near Troy, Protesilaus from Laodamia by his own death in the Trojan War." This connection that Garrison draws explains Catullus' transition to the death of his brother, who died where the Romans believed Troy to be. Catullus returns to the theme of Lesbia's infidelity when he compares her behavior to Laodamia's faithfulness in lines 117 and 131.