Phoebus+Apollo

= = =Phoebus Apollo: //Ἀπόλλων//=

Apollo is the god of sunlight, prophecy, medicine, archery, poetry, music, and unmarried men. He is considered “The most Greek of all the gods.” His tree is the laurel and though he has several sacred animals, the crow and the dolphin are primary to him. Symbols of Apollo include: Laurel wreaths, golden chariot, golden lyre, and golden bows and arrows. Phoebus Apollo’s name is the same in Greek and Roman mythology. He is also known as Delian, because of his birth place, Delos, and Pythian due to his triumph over the dragon, Python, at four days old. The first part of his name “Phoebus” means brilliant or shining, and his corresponding titan is Helios, whom became less powerful at reign of Zeus. His story talks of him carrying the sun with his chariot of flames for sunrise and sunset, and his sister brings on the moon. He was born in the small island Delos, on the seventh day of the month Thargelion. Zeus is his father, and Leto is his mother. He had several lovers, including men; after all the Greek characters of mythology are famous for "hooking up!" Though he has had several lovers, he only has a few children. He had a child named Aristaeus, a son named Troilus, and Asclepius. Daphne, a tree nymph, is his most commonly known partner. He thought that Hermes was his son, who was in fact the child of his father, Zeus. He is the twin brother to Artemis, goddess of the hunt. She is also goddess of the moon, just as Apollo is to the sun.

He was in the Trojan War to kill the Greek encampment. He spread the plague during this time. There are several stories of Apollo working alongside his sister in battle. He is a masterful musician and poet, and plays on his golden lyre for the gods on Mt. Olympus. He was once challenged by Pan in music playing abilities. He won and was relieved of "depraved ears" and given the ears of a donkey (supposedly a good thing). He is a good archer and a healer, turning medicine into an art among men. He is very well known as the god of light, and has no darkness in him at all. This is very symbolic in the light and dark sense. Being the god of light meant he was also very truthful and never said anything false. Apollo is known for prophecy because of his connections with the most important oracle of Greek mythology. His oracle is the oracle at Delphi, Pythia. The name 'Pythia' derived from Pytho, which in the myths was the original name of Delphi. The Greeks derived this name from the pythein, meaning to rot, referring to the decomposition of the body of the monstrous serpent after she was slain by Apollo. The location of the oracle is an important aspect to several mythology stories. She was in Castalia, the sacred spring; Cephissus its river, it was at the center of the world, and many pilgrims came to visit it. Other shrines are in no comparison. Pythia is known for answering questions pertaining to the future, like a psychic. The priestess answers these questions by going into a trance caused by vapor before she spoke. She sat on a three legged stool, or a tripod as she spoke. Apollo and Pythia are a “purely beneficent power, a direct link between gods and men.” Pythia is one of the most recognized Oracles in mythology. She plays a role in the Percy Jackson series, telling campers about their demi-god quests. The Greeks celebrated Apollo through several festivals including Boedromia, Carneia, Daphnephoria, Delia, Hyacinthia, and others. He is also given the Pythian games, that were held every four years, two years after the olympics. The Greeks prayed for him mostly for their health and to defend their animals. They also wrote hymns for him, called paeans. Apollo has been seen quite often throughout history. His symbol, the sun, has been worshipped through many cultures and religions, the Aztecs, Mayans, and Egyptians for example. Today greek mythology has been seen in all sorts of merchandising, like the 1960s sportscars. Apollo has the honor of being recognized for spacecraft: the Apollo missions, for example. You can also find Apollo mentioned in the more recent Percy Jackson and the Olympians young adult book series. In the book Apollo was very much a modern day character. He was rather pompous, and was known for his good looks and not so great haikus (like someone else in our class :D).