{"id":10,"date":"2014-09-18T21:06:07","date_gmt":"2014-09-18T21:06:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greekgodsandgoddesses.net\/?page_id=10"},"modified":"2023-10-30T09:20:57","modified_gmt":"2023-10-30T09:20:57","slug":"apollo","status":"publish","type":"gods","link":"https:\/\/greekgodsandgoddesses.net\/gods\/apollo\/","title":{"rendered":"Apollo"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

God of the Sun, the Light, the Music and Prophecy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Apollo is one of the most complex and important gods, and is the god of many things, including: music, poetry, art, oracles, archery, plague, medicine, sun, light and knowledge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is one of the of the twelve Olympian deities<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is the son of Zeus<\/a> and the Titan Leto<\/a>, and was born in the Greek island of Delos, along with his older twin sister Artemis<\/a> – goddess of the hunt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apollo is the ideal of the kouros<\/em>, which means he has a beardless, athletic and youthful appearance. He is also an oracular god as a patron of Delphi and could predict prophecy through the Delphic Oracle Pythia<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both medicine and healing are associated with Apollo and were thought to sometimes be mediated through his son, Asclepius. However, Apollo could also bring ill-health and deadly plague.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apollo also became associated with dominion over colonists, and as the patron defender of herds and flocks. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hermes<\/a>, the greek god of trade, eloquence and messenger of the gods, created the lyre for Apollo. This instrument became a known attribute for him. When hymns were sung to Apollo they were called paeans ( not the Greek God Paean<\/a> )\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the drinking parties held on Olympus, Apollo accompanied the Muses on his cithara, while the young goddesses led the dance. Both Leto and Zeus were proud of their son, who was radiant with grace and beauty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apollo was one of the few gods that the Romans kept the same name<\/a>.\u00a0 In Greek mythology, he was most widely known as the god of light. Within\u00a0Roman mythology, he wasn’t known as much as the god of light and was focused mainly as the god of healing and prophecy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Children of Apollo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Apollo had a myriad of relationships, resulting in numerous offspring. While some of his children, like Asclepius, the god of medicine, gained significant fame, many others held varied roles across the Greek world. From oracular priests like Teneros in Boiotia to legendary kings like Polypoites in Aitolia and even figures associated with distant lands like Syros in Assyria, Apollo’s progeny influenced myths, legends, and the cultural fabric of ancient Greece. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These children, born from unions with mortals and nymphs alike, often underscored Apollo’s expansive domains and the broad influence of his divine legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More about Apollo’s children.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Facts about Apollo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n