Apollo

Apollo (Roman Counterpart was also called Apollo)
When the Roman Empire conquered the Greeks in 146BC, the Romans assimilated various elements from other cultures and civilisations, including the gods and goddesses that were worshipped by the Ancient Greeks. He was the only Greek god who was not given a Latin name.

Picture of the Greek god Phoebus Apollo playing the lyre

Facts about Apollo
The following facts and profile provides a fast overview of Apollo:

Apollo Profile & Fact File

Appearance: Young, handsome, golden hair, tall and strong

Personality: Competitive, sociable, fun loving

Alternative Name: Phoebus Apollo

Role & Function: The function of Apollo is described as being the god of the sun, prophecy, medicine, crops and music. His task was to to harness his chariot with four horses and drive the Sun across the sky. He was also the god of plague

Status: Major God and one of the Twelve Olympians

Symbols: Bow and Arrows, Lyre, Raven, Wolf and Laurel Tree

Roman Counterpart: The Roman name for this god was also Apollo, although there were differences in their functions. He was also called Phoebus (meaning "bright, shining")

Name of Wife: Unmarried but had many lovers, many of them were doomed

Name of Father: Zeus

Name of Mother: Leto

Names of Children: Asclepius, Orpheus,Troilus and Aristaeus

The Family of Apollo
According to Greek legends and myths the family of Apollo were as follows:

• Father: Zeus
• Mother: Leto
• Sister: Artemis
• Wife: Unmarried
• Children: The names of his children by various lovers were Asclepius, the god of Healing, Orpheus and the heroes Troilus and Aristaeus

Apollo and Mount Olympus
In Greek Mythology the principle Greek gods, that included Apollo, were referred to as the Twelve Olympians and lived on the summit of Mount Olympus which was protected by a special layer of clouds. The gods and goddesses who lived on Mount Olympus attended sumptuous banquets in the council-chamber of the gods and feasted on ambrosia (the food of the gods) and nectar (the drink of the gods).

The names of the other Olympian gods were Zeus, Hera, Athena, Hestia or Dionysus, Ares, Aphrodite, Poseidon, Demeter, Artemis, Hephaestus and Hermes.

The Greek Gods Family Tree and Genealogy
The genealogy of these ancient deities can be established via the Greek gods family tree which also provides an overview of the relationship of Apollo to the other Greek gods and deities. The Greek gods family tree and genealogy provides an overview of his relationship to the other Greek gods and deities.

The Symbols of Apollo
In the sculptures, vases, mosaics and paintings of Greek Art the Olympian god Apollo was often illustrated with images representing his symbols. The symbols of Apollo were bows and arrows, the golden chariot, the lyre, crops and shepherds, the raven, various animals and birds and the laurel tree

• The Silver Bow and Arrows

  • The symbol of the silver bows and arrows are associated with Apollo in relation to the myth in which he killed the monster Python

• The Lyre

  • The lyre symbolizes his role as god of music and dance

  • The lyre, which had been given to Apollo by Hermes (Mercury) in exchange for the Caduceus or rod of health, is said to have possessed such extraordinary powers, that it caused a stone, upon which it was laid, to become so melodious, that ever afterwards, on being touched, it emitted a musical sound which resembled that produced by the lyre itself.

• The Sun, Golden chariot, Crops and Shepherds

  • These symbols relate to his ability to bring the sun and well-being to humans hence his association with healing. He rides his golden chariot pulling the sun across the sky

• The Laurel Tree

  • The symbol of the

• Animals and Birds

  • The symbols of music were wolves, deer, and swans. The symbols of birds such as the chicken and dove are connected with prophecy and were sacrificed in his name. The raven was once a white bird but Apollo turned the raven black for bringing him bad news

Pictures of Apollo with some of his symbols including his bows and arrows, lyre, animals and birds

Apollo in Greek Mythology - the Lover
Apollo, the Greek god of sun, featured in the stories, myths and legends in Greek Mythology and is renown as a lover whose liaisons with mortals were often doomed. The names of the lovers of Apollo included Daphne who became a laurel tree, Coronis, who was unfaithful and shot by his sister Artemis, and Cassandra, who rejected him, and was doomed to utter true prophecies that no one would believe.

Eros, Apollo and Daphne in Greek Mythology
Daphne was the daughter of the river god Peneus. The legend and story of Apollo and Daphne involves Eros, god of love who was also famed as an archer. Apollo teased Eros about his ability as an archer and in revenge Eros shot two arrows, one with a gold tip other with a lead tip. The arrow with the gold tip hit Apollo instilling desire and lust. The arrow with the lead tip hit Daphne instilling a hatred of lust and desire. The god chased Daphne endlessly and eventually she appealed to her father to help. Peneus gave her the gift of transformation and she turned into a laurel tree. He often wore a crown of laurels in tribute to her.

Apollo and Coronis in Greek Mythology
Coronis was the lover of Apollo and mother of his son, Asclepius, the god of healing and medicine. The god sent a white raven (or crow) to watch over her and raven informed Apollo of her infidelity. His sister, the goddess Artemis shot Coronis and turned the raven black for being the bearer of bad news.

Picture of Apollo and of Daphne
turning into a laurel tree

Facts about Apollo in Greek Mythology
Discover interesting information and facts about Apollo, the Greek god of the sun, medicine and music, featured in the stories, myths and legends in Greek Mythology. The facts about Apollo provides a list detailing fascinating additional info to increase your knowledge about Apollo in Greek Mythology.

Apollo in Mythology and Legend
Apollo was the patron of Delphi (Pytho) where the first oracle of Ancient Greece was located.

Apollo returned to Delphi in the form of a dolphin (hence, the name Delphi)

Apollo killed the monster Python that guarded the oracle at Delphi (Pytho), hence his patronage of the oracle. The Pythian Games were held in his honor every four years

In Greek mythology Orestes murdered his mother Clytemnestra and appealed to Apollo to cleanse him of his guilt. The ritual cleansing with the blood of a pig blood symbolically absolved him from his crime. Delphi became associated with ritualistic cleansing and became a place of exile for those who committed murder or terrible deeds.

Apollo was also the god of plague and during the Trojan war he shot arrows of plague into the camp of the Greeks

He was the god of music hence his association with the lyre. Apollo also directed the choir of the nine Muses, the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne

His gift of prophecy led to the legend and mythology in which Apollo granted Cassandra the gift of prophecy in return for sexual favors. Cassandra went back on her promise and Apollo cursed her so that no one would ever believe her prophecies

In the myth of Niobe she bragged that she was more important than Leto, the mother of Apollo and his sister Artemis, as she had 14 children and Leto only two. In revenge for the insult, the brother and sister killed all of Niobe's children, except two, with their bow and arrows. Niobe wept for her dead children so much that she turned into a pillar of stone.

Apollo

• Apollo
• Interesting information and Facts about the Greek god Apollo
• Apollo, the Greek god of the sun, medicine and music
• Stories and Legends in Greek Mythology associated with Apollo
• Facts and information about the Gods and Deities of the Ancient World for schools and kids
• Apollo, the Greek god of the sun, medicine and music

Apollo - Greek Gods & Greek Mythology for Kids
Apollo, the Greek god of the sun, medicine and music, was one of the extraordinary number of gods and goddesses worshipped by the Ancient Greeks. The legend and myth about Apollo has been passed down through the ages and plays an important role the history of the Ancient World and the study of the Greek classics. Apollo features in the religious beliefs of the ancient Greeks which are based on the idea that these supernatural beings resembled mortals but possessed great magical and mystic powers.

• The Greek gods and goddesses were immortal but not invulnerable.
• The Greek Gods including Apollo lived on the summit of the mythical Mount Olympus
• Apollo looked and dressed like a mortal, ate and slept and was able to marry and have children
• The Greek gods and goddesses were more beautiful, taller and stronger than mere mortals

Greek gods and goddesses, such as Apollo, possessed supernatural powers and presided over specific dominions and were strongly associated with areas of power. Apollo is known as the Greek god of the sun, medicine and music.