The union between Apollo and Hecuba produced a son named Troilus. Perhaps the most famous of these women was a mortal named Hecuba, who was married to the King of Troy. He had many love affairs with both mortals and goddesses.Apollo is credited with killing the Cyclops in retaliation for arming Zeus with the thunderbolt.Apollo accidentally killed his dearest companion, Hyacinthus, in a discus throwing contest.The laurel, used in Greece as a status symbol, was Apollo’s tree.The dolphin and swan were the animals sacred to him.Ironically, Apollo was also a purifier, able to cleanse even those stained with the blood of their relatives.
He infected the Greek encampment with a plague and aided Paris in killing Achilles. According to Homer’s Illiad, Apollo played a major part in the Trojan War.Apollo killed a serpent named Python as a result of a contest it was conquered by a single arrow.Apollo defended the oracle at Delphi against Hercules, who was angry at the priestess for having denied him a prophecy.Because of his truthfulness and integrity, he was granted the gift of prophecy and oracles.Apollo served as an intermediary between the gods and men.Apollo is alternately referred to as the God of Light and the God of Truth.Apollo taught men the art of medicine, so he is often referred to as “The Healer.”.The nine Muses were companions of his they were goddesses known for inspiring art and music.His lyre, a stringed instrument that resembles a small harp, was made by Hermes. Apollo, a masterful magician, was known for delighting Olympus with tunes played on his golden lyre.His forename, Phoebus, means “bright” or “pure” and connects him to his grandmother, the Titan Phoebe.He and his twin sister Artemis, also an Olympian, shared an aptitude for archery.Within Roman mythology, he wasn’t known as much as the god of light and was focused mainly as the god of healing and prophecy. In Greek mythology, he was most widely known as the god of light. Both Leto and Zeus were proud of their son, who was radiant with grace and beauty.Īpollo was one of the few gods that the Romans kept the same name. When hymns were sung to Apollo they were called paeansĪt the drinking parties held on Olympus, Apollo accompanied the Muses on his cithara, while the young goddesses led the dance. The god Hermes create the lyre for Apollo and this instrument became a known attribute for him. He was the leader of the Muses (also known as Apollon Musegetes) and was director of their choir – functioning as the patron god of music and poetry. However, Apollo could also bring ill-health and deadly plague.Īpollo also became associated with dominion over colonists, and as the patron defender of herds and flocks. He is also an oracular god as a patron of Delphi and could predict prophecy through the Delphic Oracle Pythia.īoth medicine and healing are associated with Apollo and were thought to sometimes be mediated through his son, Asclepius. Apollo is the ideal of the kouros, which means he has a beardless, athletic and youthful appearance.