Apollo, a son of Zeus, was the twin brother of Artemis and the god of light (mental illumination), of knowledge, reason, and truth. He was also the god of archery with his bow and arrows (the sun's rays), medicine, prophecy, and music. Helius/Hyperion was the Titan sun god, who later gave Apollo his task of driving the four-horse sun chariot through the sky during the day. Apollo's influences in these various areas can be seen in that he was the father of Orpheus, patron of the Muses, and father of Asclepius. He was also identified sometimes with the sun Titan Helios. Since he was so powerful and had so many responsiblities, Apollo was one of the most revered of the gods. His mother was the Titaness Leto, and she bore him and Artemis on the island of Delos. He is best remembered for his beauty and his musical instrument, the lyre. He also flew in a golden chariot, pulled by white swans.

          The greatest of Apollo's shrines was the oracle at Delphi, considered the center of the world. Apollo had to win the oracle from a terrible and irritable old dragon, named Python. The oracle had told Python that the son of Leto would defeat him. Python tried to eat Leto when he had the chance, but she escaped. When he saw Apollo approaching, Python knew he was to die, but he didn't go down without a fight. It took over one thousand silver arrows from Apollo's bow to slay Python. Mount Parnassus, once a dreary and dark place under the rule of Python, became a beautiful place of music and light.

          One of the greatest love stories in mythology involves Apollo and the nymph Daphne. It came about from Apollo being too proud. After defeating Python, Apollo rejoiced Cupid, the son of Aphrodite, for carrying the bow and arrow, with which Apollo excelled. Cupid showed just how good he was with his weapon; he shot a golden arrow, representing love, into Apollo's heart, and shot one made of lead, representing aversion to love. From that point on, Apollo loved Daphne, but she hated him. Apollo pursued her relentlessly, but Daphne made her father, the river god Peneus, promise that she would never have to marry. When Apollo physically pursued her and caught her, she begged to her father to save her. Peneus turned her into a tree on the spot. Apollo, crushed that she would not be his bride, instead made her be his tree, and the laurel tree became sacred to all.

          Apollo was one of the ringleaders in the revolt against Zeus. When Zeus crushed the rebellion, he assigned Apollo to help build the wall around Troy, in the service of the king Laomedon.

ACTIVITIES:
Apollo activity

KEY TEST WORDS: (Know the material behind these items.)
Apollo, Phoebus, lyre, prophecy, Python, Mt. Parnassus, Daphne and the laurel tree, and Peneus.

The Olympians

The Lesser Deities

FOOTNOTES:
Apollo is also called Phoebus Apollo. Phoebus means "brilliant" or "shining". He is usually represented as a youthful athlete, perhaps the finest existing statue of him being the Apollo Belvedere of the Vatican. His hair is long, and usually tied, like that of his sister Artemis, in a large knot above the forehead. Apollo is often represented as engaged in playing the lyre.

SOURCES:
Jane Smith
Edith Hamilton's Mythology
Bulfinch's Mythology
The Encyclopedia of Mythology, by Eric Flaum
Manual of Mythology, by Alexander S. Murray