Apollo, the golden-haired god of the sun, music, and prophecy, was not just known for his divine prowess, but also for his many romantic escapades. Like many of the Olympian deities, Apollo’s love life was complex and often fraught with drama, leading to the birth of numerous children, each of whom carried forward a piece of their father’s vast legacy.
Asclepius
Among Apollo’s most famous offspring was Asclepius, the god of medicine and healing. Born from a union with the mortal princess Coronis, Asclepius was raised by the centaur Chiron, who taught him the art of medicine. Asclepius’s skills were so great that he even managed to bring the dead back to life, a feat that alarmed both gods and mortals and led to his eventual death by Zeus’s thunderbolt.
Cassandra and Helenus
Then there were the prophetic twins, Cassandra and Helenus, born to the Trojan queen Hecuba. Apollo granted Cassandra the gift of prophecy; however, when she spurned his advances, he cursed her so that no one would believe her predictions. This twist of fate led to the downfall of Troy, as her warnings about the Trojan Horse went unheeded.
Linus
The musically gifted Linus, born to the Muse Calliope, and the heroic Phaeton, born to the nymph Clymene, were other notable children of Apollo. Phaeton’s tragic attempt to drive his father’s sun chariot remains one of the most poignant tales of hubris in Greek mythology.
Orpheus
Orpheus, whose mother was the Muse Calliope, was another of Apollo’s sons. His music was said to be so mesmerizing that it could charm beasts, coax trees and rocks into dance, and divert rivers from their course. The tragic tale of his descent into the Underworld to retrieve his beloved wife Eurydice is one of the most enduring love stories from ancient times.
But these are just a handful of Apollo’s children. Many others dotted the ancient Greek landscape, from warriors and kings to seers and poets. Each carried a unique gift from their divine father, and their tales are a testament to Apollo’s far-reaching influence in the realm of gods and mortals.
List of Apollo’s Children
- Agreus: A noble of Dirphe or perhaps a king of Euboea, born from Apollo’s union with Amphissa, a Lokrian princess.
- Amphiaraus: A seer and prince of Argos, he was Apollo’s son with Queen Hypermnestra. He met his fate during the Theban war and was transformed into a divine oracle by Apollo.
- Amphissos: He ruled Dryopia in Ozolean Lokris, born from Apollo’s affair with Dryope.
- Amphithemis (Garamos): A king of Libya’s Garamonian tribe, his mother was the Cretan princess Akalle.
- Anios: King of Delos, son of Apollo and Rhoio, a Naxian princess.
- Apis: An early Peloponnesian king, he was Apollo’s son.
- Asclepius (Asklepios): A famed physician from Thessaly, born to Apollo and Coronis, or possibly to the Messenian princess Arsinoe. He ascended to godhood posthumously.
- Branchus (Brankhos): The inaugural priest of Apollo’s oracle at Branchidae, he was Apollo’s son.
- Delphos: Founder and namesake of Delphi, his mother was either Kelaino, Thyia, or Melaina.
- Dorus (Doros): A Kouretes tribe king in Aetolia, one of Apollo’s three sons with Phthia.
- Dryops: The namesake king of Dryopia.
- Eleuther: A Boeotian bard, born to Apollo and Aithousa.
- Epidaurus (Epidauros): The founding king of Epidaurus in Argolis.
- Eriopis: A Messenian princess, daughter of Apollo and Arsinoe.
- Erymanthus (Erymanthos): An Arcadian lord, he earned Aphrodite’s ire for revealing her affair with Adonis.
- Hilaeira: A Messenian princess, possibly Apollo’s daughter with King Leukippos’ wife.
- Iamus (Iamos): A seer from Arcadia and Elis, son of Apollo and the nymph Euadne.
- Idmon: An Argive seer and Argonaut, possibly Apollo’s son with Kyrene.
- Ileus: A Trojan noble, son of Apollo and the nymph Ourea.
- Ion: A prince of Athens, later king of Achaea and eponym of the Ionians.
- Ismenos (Ismenus): An oracular priest near Thebes, son of Apollo and the Oceanid Melia.
- Centaurus (Kentauros): A Lapithae tribe lord in Thessaly.
- Ceos (Keos): The inaugural king of Keos island.
- Chaeron (Khairon): Founder of Chaeronea in Boeotia.
- Coronus (Koronos): A Sicyonian king.
- Cycnus (Kyknos): From Boeotia’s Hyria, transformed into a swan.
- Lapithes: The first Lapithae king in Thessaly.
- Laodocus (Laodokos): A Kouretes tribe king in Aetolia.
- Leucippides (Leukippides): Hilaeira and Phoebe, Messenian princesses, possibly Apollo’s daughters.
- Linus (1) (Linos): A Boeotian bard, possibly Apollo’s son with the Muse Calliope or Ourania.
- Linus (2) (Linos): An Argive prince, torn apart by dogs.
- Lycomedes (Lykomedes): A king of Skyros, son of Apollo and Parthenope.
- Lycoras (Lykoras): Founder of Lycoreia in Phokis.
- Melaneus: An archer and lord of Thessalian Oechalia.
- Miletus (Miletos): A Cretan lord and eponymous founder of Miletos in Caria.
- Mopsus (Mopsos): A seer from Colophon in Lydia.
- Oncius (Onkios): A lord from Arkadia’s Onkion region.
- Orpheus: A Pierian bard, possibly Apollo’s son with the Muse Calliope.
- Parthenius (Parthenos): A Naxian princess, possibly Apollo’s daughter.
- Phagrus (Phagros): A Malian lord.
- Philammon – He was a talented musician and a renowned bard. His mother was either Chione or Philonis, depending on the version of the myth. Apollo, recognizing his son’s talent, gifted him with musical abilities.
- Philanderos (Philanderus) – Associated with the island of Crete, he was the son of Apollo and the nymph Akakallis.
- Phoibe (Phoebe) – There’s some debate regarding her parentage, as many attribute her as the daughter of King Leukippos, but some versions mention Apollo.
- Phylakides (Phylacides) – Like Philanderos, he was also linked with Crete and was the offspring of Apollo and Akakallis.
- Polypoites – A king of the Kouretes tribe in Aitolia, he was one of Apollo’s sons with Phthia.
- Pythaeus – He played a significant role in spreading the cult of Apollo, especially among the Argives.
- Syros (Syrus) – Associated with the foundation of Assyria, he was a son of Apollo and the nymph Sinope.
- Teneros (Tenerus) – He served as an oracular priest at the shrine of Apollo, which highlights the close bond between the god of prophecy and his progeny.
- Tenes – The legendary first ruler of the island of Tenedos, he was born to Apollo and Prokleia.
- Troilos (Troilus) – While often considered a son of King Priamos and Queen Hekabe, some stories do mention Apollo as his father.
- Trophonios (Trophonius) – Known for the story where he was swallowed by the earth and later became an oracular spirit. As with other characters, there’s some debate regarding his parentage.
- Zeuxippos (Zeuxippus) – He ruled over Sikyon and was the offspring of Apollo and the nymph Syllis.
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