10 Great Facts about Greek god Apollo

10 Great Facts about the Greek god Apollo

The god of light, the god of prophecy, the god of medicines, the god of arts, and the god of archers amongst other designations. He summoned winds for sailors, plagues for those who incurred his wrath, good health and life for those he favoured and arrows of death for those whose time had come. Apollo was called upon for aid in the battle to guide the spears, javelins and arrows of heroes and to brush aside those of the enemy. 

A slayer of dragons and an averter of evil he took the form of a dolphin for which his most sacred shrine is named; Delphi, the very centre of the world according to the ancient Greeks from where he would issue prophetic wisdom for which he was famed in the whole of the western world. He is also the god of music with his inseparable lyre produced by Hermes with which he enchanted muses. Myths always describe this god as a figure of unparalleled beauty symbolizing the Greek ideal of male beauty. This article will delve into the 10 great facts about this famous but seldom understood god.

 

1. Son of a God and a Titan

In Greek mythology, Apollo was the son of Zeus, the king of the gods and Leto, a Titan goddess.  Leto was the daughter of Titans Croesus and Phoebe. She had some supernatural powers herself but only a few, compared to the Olympian Gods. Leto is mostly famous because of her relationship with Zeus, which resulted in giving birth to two divine children and Apollo was one of them. Everything started going south when Hera found out that Leto was pregnant by her husband, Zeus.

Furious, she cursed Leto not to find solid ground or an island on Earth to give birth to her children. Fortunately, just as she was ready to have her babies, a floating island emerged from the sea. Once the babies were born, the island stopped floating and became stable. It was called Delos and became a sacred island for the ancient Greeks. As the son of Zeus, Apollo was considered a god, one of the most important gods in the Greek pantheon, associated with music, prophecy, healing and the sun.

Who was Zeus?: CLICK HERE to Find Out.

2. God of Confusion???

Apollo was one of the major gods in Greek mythology, and he was associated with many things. He was primarily known as the god of the sun, light, music, poetry, prophecy, and archery. He was also associated with healing and medicine, as well as with knowledge and intellectual pursuits. In addition, he was sometimes considered the god of art, dance, and the harvest……practically “everything.” Although the god is always associated with the sun, the original sun god was the titan Helios, but everyone forgot about him. His distinct characteristic of being one of the most complex and multifaceted gods in the Greek pantheon, and his diverse attributes and domains made him a popular and important figure in Greek mythology.

3. Apollo’s Favourite Temple was at Delphi

It was a major pilgrimage site for the ancient Greeks and continues to attract visitors today as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Temple of Apollo at Delphi was one of the most important and famous temples in ancient Greece. The temple was renowned for its oracle, which was believed to be able to communicate the will of Apollo to mortals. The oracle was consulted by people from all over Greece, and even from other parts of the ancient world, seeking guidance on important matters such as wars, alliances and personal issues.

It was believed that the priestess Pythia at the temple who sat on a special three-legged bronze bowl could communicate directly with Apollo and provide prophetic advice. Her title was also historically glossed in English as the Pythoness. The name Pythia is derived from Pytho, which in myth was the original name of Delphi. The oracle was traditionally consulted by offering gifts and sacrifices to Apollo and then asking a question of the priestess, who would deliver a cryptic message believed to be from the god himself.

Read This Also: Fascinating Facts about God of War, Ares.

4. Apollo had a Twin Sister

Apollo has a twin sister named Artemis the goddess of hunting and animals and is often depicted with a bow and arrow. She was also one of the three virgin goddesses.  A hunter named Orion became best friends with Artemis and they would often hunt together both during the day and at night. Apollo was worried she would not uphold her promise to remain pure and tricked Artemis into killing Orion. Apollo lied to his sister and said that there was an evil villain who had just come into their city and raped one of her best friends and was fleeing by swimming out to sea. Artemis was furious and immediately hunted down this villain. She saw him swimming out to sea, so she pulled back an arrow and fatally shot him, only to find out that she had killed Orion.

Related Read: Top Fascinating Facts about Temple of Artemis. 

5. Apollo was no Fence Sitter!

Apollo was one of the few Greek gods to aid the Trojans in the Trojan War. Most of the gods and goddesses helped the Greek soldiers, but Apollo helped Troy. This is because one of his Greek leaders kidnapped a young Trojan woman and made her his own. The Trojan woman’s father was a priest of Apollo. Apollo was certainly one of the most famous gods of the Trojan War, but he wasn’t the only Greek god to aid the Trojans.

Several gods and goddesses from both sides participated in the conflict, either assisting their respective sides or intervening in the war for their own ends. He was joined by the goddess Aphrodite, who supported the Greeks, and the god Poseidon, who opposed the Greeks but remained neutral in the end. On the Greek side, the goddess Athena and the god Hermes played key roles in the war, helping their fellow Greeks in battle. importantly, it was Apollo who guided Paris’ arrow to strike Achilles heel fatally wounding him.

6. For Apollo Love was Love

 

It is said after his father Zeus, Apollo was the most recognized and influential deity. He was the god of arts for many and for others the god of purification and had many male love interests apart from the female ones like Daphne. One of the most famous was Admetus who was the king of Feres and the father of Eumelus the main leader of the Trojan War. According to mythology after the murder of Delphyne, Apollo was committed to the serfdom of Admetus. It was at this time that they fell in love and it was even said that Apollo despite being a god put his pride aside and served him specifically not out of obligation but by choice because he worshipped him.

Hyacinth was a young man of great beauty that attracted two deities, one was Apollo and the other Zephyrus god of the wind. Hyacinth spent most of his time listening to the music of Apollo stocking the jealousy of Zephryrus who killed him with a discus to the head. In the place where his blood spilt sprouted a flower which Apollo christened hyacinth.

7. God the Father

Apollo, like the other Greek gods, had a lot of children. The myths claim that Apollo had a number of male children a single daughter inheriting their father’s skills and abilities. In Greek mythology, Apollo’s children were adored for their abilities, wisdom, and power. Even today, those who have a deep interest in mythology continue to be inspired by their stories. Orpheus, Apollo’s son, was considered to be able to play the lyre better than Apollo himself. He was one of two famous sons. a musician whose lyrical playing and singing could woo even the gods. Asclepius, Apollo’s other son, was said to have the ability to revive the dead and would give Asclepius his healing and medicinal powers. Aristaeus, a god of agriculture, animal husbandry and beekeeping, was another one.

8. Apollo the Cowboy who fell in Love with the Lyre

Apollo was also known as the cowherd god and had a sacred (bright red) cow, the best cow in the world. That changed when Hermes, the god of mischief, was born. Hermes once stole fifty of these cows and ate them. The only thing that stopped Apollo from killing the bandit god on the spot was the harp, an invention of Hermes. Apollo went crazy and exchanged the whole herd for a musical instrument. Hermes made a lyre out of a turtle shell. Luckily, Apollo liked the music she made so much that he forgave Hermes and gave him the iconic Caduceus. Some versions of the story say that Apollo even taught humans how to care for and domesticate cows.

9. The first Manned Spacecraft to the Moon was Named Apollo 11

From 1961 to 1975, the United States of America carried out a series of space missions with the intention of safely transporting a man to the Moon and back to Earth. Apollo 11 was the name of the spacecraft that carried the first crew to the Moon. NASA chose the name “Apollo” in honour of the Greek god of light and music who was also associated with healing and prophecy. Deke Slayton, an astronaut and test pilot who was one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts, came up with the idea for the name. Because it suggested a new era of human exploration and achievement, Slayton thought the name Apollo was appropriate. The fact that Apollo 11 was the eleventh crewed mission in the Apollo program is indicated by the number “11” in its name.

What Do You Know about Apollo 11 Mission? Click Here for More Information.

10.  Apollo’s Pythian Games

The Pythian Games were held in honour of the Greek god Apollo, who was associated with many things, including music, poetry, prophecy, healing, and the sun. The games were originally held to celebrate Apollo’s victory over the serpent Python, which according to Greek mythology, took place near the sanctuary of Delphi where the games were held. The Pythian Games were one of the four Panhellenic Games of Ancient Greece, along with the Olympic Games, the Nemean Games and the Isthmian Games.

They were held every four years at the sanctuary of Apollo in Delphi, Greece and were originally held to celebrate Apollo’s victory over the serpent Python. The Pythian Games were first held in the 6th century BCE and were initially a musical competition, but eventually included athletic and equestrian events. The games were open to all Greek city-states and attracted competitors from across the Greek world. During the games, athletes and musicians would compete in various events, including foot races, chariot races, music competitions, and even competitions in art and literature.

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Apollo is one of the ancient Greek gods, a member of the 12 gods of Olympus. He is easily one of the most popular ones, too! Associated with the sun, music, the arts, and oracles among many things, Apollo has innumerable myths and legends surrounding him. He is one of the few gods who retained his name even when the Romans claimed him as part of their pantheon! Apollo features prominently in Greek and Roman art and is also depicted in Renaissance art and he continues to feature in the popular culture of the modern world.