Apollo
God of the Prophecy, the Sun, Music, and Healing
By Shannon H. & Zoe R.
Origin Myth
Apollo was born to Zeus and the mortal Leto, he and his sister were the result of one of the many affairs that Zeus had with mortal women. Hera (Zeus's wife) was angered with Zeus for having children with another woman, so she banned Leto from giving birth to her children on solid ground. Leto was then guided to the Island of Delos which was a floating island. Leto waited on the island for nine days and nine nights, due to Hera's anger, she forbid the Goddess of childbirth, Eilithyia to aid Leto, Iris (Goddess of Rainbows) distracted Hera by presenting her with a fifteen foot long necklace, which allowed Eilithyia to give birth to Apollo and Artemis. Apollo was named God of the Oracle, Sun, Music, and Healing; Artemis was named Goddess of the Moon and the Hunt.
Unlike many of the other Olympian Gods and Goddesses, Apollo was not given a special name by the Romans, however they often referred to him as Phoebus Apollo. His Latin name is Sol for Sun, which he was also sometimes called.
Unlike many of the other Olympian Gods and Goddesses, Apollo was not given a special name by the Romans, however they often referred to him as Phoebus Apollo. His Latin name is Sol for Sun, which he was also sometimes called.
History and Backround
Apollo chasing after a reluctant nymph
Apollo is described by the Greeks as being a handsome, beardless young man. According to Greek legends, Apollo never married, though he often pursued many nymphs. To his disappointment, many of them did not express the same attraction for him and often times, they were disgusted with him. Many of his statues/paintings show him chasing after women, as seen on the left.
Apollo was also known as the God of Prophecy, which made his temple at Delphi an important place for the Greeks.
Apollo was also known as the God of Prophecy, which made his temple at Delphi an important place for the Greeks.
Powers and Domain
Apollo possessed many unique powers that were important to the Greeks. One of them, would be his ability to heal, he passed on this trait to his son Aesculapius who was made God of Medicine. However, Apollo is also the God of Plague. Though he can heal sicknesses, he also has the power to spread them as well.
In some versions of him, Apollo was described as being able to tell the future, which made him the God of the Oracle, or the God of the Prophecy. He also has some other powers/traits like being exceptionally talented at playing music (he is most partial to the lyre), and is described as having an appealing voice.
Apollo is widely known for being the God of the Sun as well. He was privileged by Zeus to ride his chariot, attached to the Sun twice a day every day, to make the sun rise, and the sun set. Having the Sun being one of his domains, he is described as consistently having a bright and warm aura about him.
In some myths of him, he is also known to be able to shape-shift into various animals such as the deer, swan, dolphin, wolf, raven etc.
His symbols were the lyre, the wreath, the bow and arrow, the omphalos, and the sun.
In some versions of him, Apollo was described as being able to tell the future, which made him the God of the Oracle, or the God of the Prophecy. He also has some other powers/traits like being exceptionally talented at playing music (he is most partial to the lyre), and is described as having an appealing voice.
Apollo is widely known for being the God of the Sun as well. He was privileged by Zeus to ride his chariot, attached to the Sun twice a day every day, to make the sun rise, and the sun set. Having the Sun being one of his domains, he is described as consistently having a bright and warm aura about him.
In some myths of him, he is also known to be able to shape-shift into various animals such as the deer, swan, dolphin, wolf, raven etc.
His symbols were the lyre, the wreath, the bow and arrow, the omphalos, and the sun.
Significant Myths of Apollo
Apollo and Daphne
One day while hunting, Apollo spotted a beautiful nymph named Daphne, daughter of a river god named Peneus. As Apollo reached out to touch Daphne, she screamed to her father begging for help, she was then transformed into a laurel tree, and from that day on, Apollo always wore a laurel wreath on his head as a tribute to the beautiful nymph Daphne, who didn't love him back.
Apollo and Cassandra
Apollo once met, and fell in love with a princess named Cassandra, the beautiful daughter of Priam, King of Troy, and Hecuba. Cassandra wanted proof of his love, so Apollo granted her the gift of the Prophecy. But Cassandra was not really in love with Apollo. When she rejected him, he cursed her so that no one would believe a word she said. Cassandra foretold the downfall of Troy and warned her father's people of the Trojan Horse, yet no one believed her. Later, she warned Agamemnon that his wife Clytemnestra was going to murder him, again, Cassandra was right yet Agamemnon over looked her warning, and was murdered by his own wife.
Apollo and Niobe
A mortal woman named Niobe was boasting that she was better than Leto, the mother of Apollo and Artemis, because she had given birth to fourteen children, while Leto had only given birth to two. This enraged Apollo and Artemis, for they were very loyal to their mother. Apollo, along with his sister Artemis killed all fourteen of Niobe's children. Apollo shot the boys, and Artemis shot the girls. Niobe went mad out misery, and was turned into a rock by Zeus. And out of her now stone eyes, came the river Achelous, which is fed by her tears.
Apollo and Coronis
Coronis was a beautiful mortal who had a very passionate affair with Apollo. She became pregnant with Apollo's son, Asclepius (God of Medicine). She then made a dreadful mistake, she fell in love with another man, and when Apollo found out, he was so enfuriated that he asked his sister Artemis to kill Coronis. Apollo then placed her body on a pyre which was lit on fire. Apollo cut Asclepius from her burning body.
One day while hunting, Apollo spotted a beautiful nymph named Daphne, daughter of a river god named Peneus. As Apollo reached out to touch Daphne, she screamed to her father begging for help, she was then transformed into a laurel tree, and from that day on, Apollo always wore a laurel wreath on his head as a tribute to the beautiful nymph Daphne, who didn't love him back.
Apollo and Cassandra
Apollo once met, and fell in love with a princess named Cassandra, the beautiful daughter of Priam, King of Troy, and Hecuba. Cassandra wanted proof of his love, so Apollo granted her the gift of the Prophecy. But Cassandra was not really in love with Apollo. When she rejected him, he cursed her so that no one would believe a word she said. Cassandra foretold the downfall of Troy and warned her father's people of the Trojan Horse, yet no one believed her. Later, she warned Agamemnon that his wife Clytemnestra was going to murder him, again, Cassandra was right yet Agamemnon over looked her warning, and was murdered by his own wife.
Apollo and Niobe
A mortal woman named Niobe was boasting that she was better than Leto, the mother of Apollo and Artemis, because she had given birth to fourteen children, while Leto had only given birth to two. This enraged Apollo and Artemis, for they were very loyal to their mother. Apollo, along with his sister Artemis killed all fourteen of Niobe's children. Apollo shot the boys, and Artemis shot the girls. Niobe went mad out misery, and was turned into a rock by Zeus. And out of her now stone eyes, came the river Achelous, which is fed by her tears.
Apollo and Coronis
Coronis was a beautiful mortal who had a very passionate affair with Apollo. She became pregnant with Apollo's son, Asclepius (God of Medicine). She then made a dreadful mistake, she fell in love with another man, and when Apollo found out, he was so enfuriated that he asked his sister Artemis to kill Coronis. Apollo then placed her body on a pyre which was lit on fire. Apollo cut Asclepius from her burning body.
Sources:
"APOLLO : Greek God of Music, Healing & Prophecy | Mythology, Apollon, W/ Pictures." THEOI GREEK MYTHOLOGY, Exploring Mythology & the Greek Gods in Classical Literature & Art. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Apollon.html>.
Bryany, Megan E. "Apollo." Mythlopedia Oh My Gods. NY: Scholastic, 2010
"Greek God Apollo." Greek Gods and Goddesses. Site Build It, 1999. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http://www.greek-gods-and-goddesses.com/greek-god-apollo.html>.
Smith, Doud. "Apollo." Ancient Greek and Roman Coins 2011 Version. 1999. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http://dougsmith.ancients.info/apollo.html>.
Additional Web Resource:
"Apollo." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Feb. 2012. Web. 27 Feb. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo>.
Bryany, Megan E. "Apollo." Mythlopedia Oh My Gods. NY: Scholastic, 2010
"Greek God Apollo." Greek Gods and Goddesses. Site Build It, 1999. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http://www.greek-gods-and-goddesses.com/greek-god-apollo.html>.
Smith, Doud. "Apollo." Ancient Greek and Roman Coins 2011 Version. 1999. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http://dougsmith.ancients.info/apollo.html>.
Additional Web Resource:
"Apollo." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Feb. 2012. Web. 27 Feb. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo>.