Basic information

Apollon (or Apollo) was the great Olympian god of prophecy and oracles, healing, plague and disease, music, song and poetry, archery, and the protection of the young. He was depicted as a handsome, beardless youth with long hair various attributes including: a wreath and branch of laurel; bow and quiver; raven; and lyre. Apollon was one of the most popular gods with innumerable shrines and sanctuaries scattered throughout the Greek world. The most important of these was the great oracle at Delphi, which not only provided prophesies of the future, but also ruled on matters of religion.

Birth and youth

Apollo was the son of Zeus and Leto (Latona), one of the female Titanes, and the twin brother of Artemis (Diana), the goddess of the hunt. When Zeus’ wife Hera discovered that Leto was pregnant and that Zeus was the father, she banned Leto from giving birth on "terra firma". In her wanderings, Leto found the newly created floating island of Delos, which was neither mainland nor a real island. She gave birth there and was accepted by the people, offering them her promise that her son would be always favorable toward the city. Afterwards, Zeus secured Delos to the bottom of the ocean. This island later became sacred to Apollo. According to legend, Apollo grew to adulthood in just four days. To escape the island, he changed himself into a dolphin and caused a great storm on the sea. Main myths

Apollo and Python

In Greek mythology, Python was the earth-dragon of Delphi, always represented in Greek sculpture and vase-paintings as a serpent. He presided at the Delphic oracle, which existed in the cult center for his mother, Gaia ("Earth") Pytho being the place name that was substituted for the earlier Krisa.

Python became the chthonic enemy of the later Olympian deity Apollo, who slew him and remade his former home and the oracle, the most famous in Classical Greece, as his own. Changes such as these in ancient myths may reflect a profound change in the religious concepts of Hellenic culture.

The legend says that when Zeus lay with the goddess Leto, and she was to deliver Artemis and Apollo, Hera sent Python to pursue her throughout the lands, so that she could not deliver wherever the sun shone. Thus when Apollo the infant was grown he pursued Python, making his way straight for Mount Parnassus where the serpent dwelled, and chased it to the oracle of Gaia at Delphi; there he dared to penetrate the sacred precinct and kill it with his arrows beside the rock cleft where the priestess sat on her tripod. The priestess of the oracle at Delphi became known as the Pythia, after the place-name Pytho, which Greeks explained as named after the rotting of the slain serpent's corpse in the strength of Hyperion (day) or Helios (the sun).

Apollo and Daphne

The God Apollo sees Eros, the Greek god of love playing with his arrows and laughs at the young man pretending to be a warrior. Cupid/Eros claims to be the most powerful, and takes his arrow and hits Apollo with a golden arrow, leading him to fall in love with the first woman he sees.  The unfortunate victim is Daphne, a nymph and daughter to the River God Peneus. Daphne has been pierced with an iron arrow that makes her invulnerable to the entreaties of love.   Apollo soon drives her crazy with his constant attentions. Not wanting his attentions she tries to flee.  Soon Apollo is chasing her, and she cries out to her Father to save her. Peneus then turns his daughter into a laurel tree. Apollo can’t catch her before the transformation. After it he makes a crown of laurel leafs and puts it on his head. Apollo claims laurel a sacred tree and after it laurel becomes one of Apollo’s symbols.

Symbols

Apollo's most common attributes were the bow and arrow. Other attributes of his included the kithara (an advanced version of the common lyre), the plectrum and the sword. Another common emblem was the sacrificial tripod, representing his prophetic powers. Every four years at Delphi the Pythian Games were held in Apollo's honor, where the bay laurel plant was used in expiatory sacrifices and in making the crown of victory at these games.

The palm tree was also sacred to Apollo because he had been born under one in Delos. Animals sacred to Apollo included wolves, dolphins, roe deer, swans, cicadas (symbolizing music and song), hawks, ravens, crows, snakes (referencing Apollo's function as the god of prophecy), mice and griffins, mythical eagle–lion hybrids of Eastern origin.

In literary contexts, Apollo represents harmony, order, and reason—characteristics contrasted with those of Dionysus, god of wine, who represents ecstasy and disorder. The contrast between the roles of these gods is reflected in the adjectives Apollonian and Dionysian. However, the Greeks thought of the two qualities as complementary.

Apollo is often associated with the Golden Mean. This is the Greek ideal of moderation and a virtue that opposes gluttony. Seven was Apollos holy number, and he was connected to the calendar. The tripod was one of his symbols, and he was often referred to as Phoebus - the cleanser.

Muses

The Muses in Greek mythology, poetry, and literature, are the goddesses of the inspiration of literature, science and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge, related orally for centuries in the ancient culture that was contained in poetic lyrics and myths. Antiquity set Apollo as their leader, Apollon Mousagetēs ("Apollo Muse-leader")

The Muses, the personification of knowledge and the arts, especially literature, dance and music, are the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (memory personified).

Hesiod's account and description of the Muses was the one generally followed by the writers of antiquity. It was not until Roman times that the following functions were assigned to them, and even then there was some variation in both their names and their attributes:

1) Calliope - Epic poetry

2) Clio - History

3) Euterpe - lyric poetry

4) Thalia - Comedy and pastoral poetry

5) Melpomene - Tragedy

6) Terpsichore - Dance

7) Erato - Love poetry

8) Polyhymnia - Sacred poetry

9) Urania – Astronomy

Each muse has her own attribute (emblem): Calliope carries a writing tablet; Clio carries a scroll and books; Erato is often seen with a lyre and a crown of roses; Euterpe carries a flute, the aulos; Melpomene is often seen with a tragic mask; Polyhymnia is often seen with a pensive expression; Terpsichore is often seen dancing and carrying a lyre; Thalia is often seen with a comic mask; and Urania carries a pair of compasses and the celestial globe.