Greek God Apollo Research Paper “I guess darkness serves a purpose: to show us that there is redemption through chaos. Among Apollo’s other Greek epithets was Nomios (Herdsman), and he is said to have served King Admetus of Pherae in the lowly capacities of groom and herdsman as penance for slaying Zeus’s armourers, the Cyclopes. Distance, death, terror, and awe were summed up in his symbolic bow. The word Dionysian occurs as early as 1608 in Edward Topsell’szoological treatise, The History … Her daughter Artemis was born first, and the girl helped her mother to safely deliver her own brother, Apollo. Apollo was such a uniquely Greek god that the Romans, when they adopted Greek religion, could find no parallel for him. Apollo And Python. Apollo appears often in the myths, plays and hymns. When Hera learned that Leto had become pregnant after an affair with Zeus, she banned her husband’s mistress from giving birth on terra firma. This is a basic glossary entry on Apollo. Apollo - Who Is Apollo? What’s more, the invention of string music is attributed to him. He was also often depicted with one or both of his two main attributes: a bow and a lyre. While he was as skilled as his sister in archery and usually seen with his bow, Apollo was considered to be a more cultured god than his wild huntress twin. It lay in the territory of Phocis on the steep lower slope of Mount Parnassus, about 6 miles (10 km) from the Gulf of Corinth. The lyre was not just a symbol of Apollo, but of all of Greece. He is also the patron of prophecy, inspiration, music, poetry, literature, archery, hunters, healing and medicine. He was the god of music, poetry, archery, healing, the sun, and prophecy, as well as patron of the arts and the oracle. The god of true prophecies came to be associated with some of his father’s duties as a giver of laws. Was the Griffin a Bird from Greek Mythology. Even the gods feared him, and only his father and his mother, Leto (Roman: Latona), could easily endure his presence. Media in category "Apollo in ancient Greek pottery". More than any other god, Apollo encapsulated everything the Greeks thought was unique and exceptional about their own culture. He was also a god of crops and herds. Apollo, in Greco-Roman mythology, a deity of manifold function and meaning, one of the most widely revered and influential of all the ancient Greek and Roman gods. Apollo’s oracles gained such a reputation for honesty that it became customary to consult them before writing new laws. Eventually, he came to represent the entire culture of the Greek world. He kept a herd of cattle and watched over the flocks and herds of men. Updated July 9, 2020. See Helios. He was also called Lyceius, presumably because he protected the flocks from wolves (lykoi); because herdsmen and shepherds beguiled the hours with music, scholars have argued that this was Apollo’s original role. From the time of Homer onward, Apollo was the god of divine distance—the god who made mortals aware of their own guilt and purified them of it, who presided over religious law and the constitutions of cities, and who communicated with mortals his knowledge of the future and the will of his father, Zeus. Other oracles of Apollo existed on the Greek mainland, on Delos, and in Anatolia, but none rivalled Delphi in importance. In art, Apollo was represented as a beardless youth, either naked or robed. Ancient Greek god Apollo FAQs | Image to right – Columns of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, Greece. This Attic White Ground kylix of the early 5th century BC has a most distinctive depiction of the Apollo. Leto was the famous mother of Artemis and Apollo in Greek mythology, but how much do... How were a blind giant and the goddess of the hunt linked? While Apollo and Artemis could use their bows to bring disease, Apollo in particular was associated with healing and medicine. Because it was not fixed to the ocean floor, it was not firm ground so Hera’s ban to the lands of the earth did not apply there. He sits on a cross-legged stool. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The oracles were subsequently interpreted and versified by priests. Apollo in Greek and Roman mythology is god of archery, music and dance, truth and prophecy, healing. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. By the time the Romans adopted him into their pantheon, he was so intrinsically Greek that they didn’t change a single thing about him. Of the Greek festivals in honour of Apollo, the most curious was the octennial Delphic Stepterion, in which a boy reenacted the slaying of the Python and was temporarily banished to the Vale of Tempe. Fragment of ancient statue. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Themis, the goddess of divine law, taught him how to use oracles to give humans a glimpse into the truth of fate. Apollo had many love affairs, though most had unfortunate endings. Keep reading to learn... Triton: A God of the Sea in Greek Mythology, Hecate Greek Goddess of Witchcraft : The Complete Guide. The ancient Greek god Apollo enjoyed having temples built in his honor. (Greek mythology, Roman mythology): The son of Zeus and Leto (or Jupiter and Latona), and the twin brother of Artemis (or Diana). Apollo. When her son was born, Leto promised that he would someday be a great god and the island of Delos would become rich as a site of pilgrimage. Daphne, in her effort to escape him, was changed into a laurel, his sacred tree; Coronis was shot by Apollo’s twin, Artemis, when she proved unfaithful; and Cassandra rejected his advances and was punished by being made to utter true prophecies that no one believed. While Apollo was still sometimes seen as a protector of livestock, despite having given the job to Hermes, he was even more closely associated with the protection of humans. The following 75 files are in this category, out of 75 total. In Greco-Roman mythology, Apollo is a deity of manifold function and meaning. Apollo, sometimes known as Phoebus Apollo, was a major god in ancient Greek mythology and was one of the Twelve Olympians. He used this instrument to compose music. Apollo was pictured as a handsome athletic youth with curly hair. When Hera learned that Leto had become pregnant after an affair with Zeus, she banned her … He liked the attention. He is often depicted with a very curly hair wearing a laurel wreath around his head. In particular, he looked after young men. Who was Apollo? These interesting stories have been studied and shared for hundreds of years and are still very popular today. Thus, Pytho was renamed Delphi after the dolphin (delphis), and the Cretan cult of Apollo Delphinius superseded that previously established there by Earth (Gaea). Eventually, the idea emerged that Apollo himself was the god of light and the driver of the sun’s chariot was either subservient to him or a lesser aspect of his power. In Italy Apollo was introduced at an early date and was primarily concerned, as in Greece, with healing and prophecy; he was highly revered by the emperor Augustus because the Battle of Actium (31 bce) was fought near one of his temples. This was evident in the ancient Olympic Games. He had other special powers. Allard Pierson Museum Cult statue in temple amphora 7770.jpg 1,600 × 1,067; 176 KB. Poseidon, Apollo, and Artemis, marble relief, portion of the east section of the Parthenon frieze, 448–429. As the god of music he ruled over harmony, which was believed to be the foundational principle of math. This is part of the myth of Troy, mentioned in the first pages of the Iliad, Homer's book about the famous ten-year war. Delphi, ancient town and seat of the most important Greek temple and oracle of Apollo. I believe in that. Apollo is the quintessential Greek god who, more than any other singular deity in the pantheon, represented what the Greeks most valued in their culture. While Apollo and his sister were given a royal welcome into the world, they grew up largely removed from Olympus. Apollo took to carrying the … The Greeks often thought of Apollo as being the same as Helios, the Sun god, or the same as the sun, and so he is one of the sky gods who always beat out the earth gods in Greek myths. As Greek culture evolved and expanded, their national god’s character took on even more duties. Rivaling Zeus in reverence, Apollo gained such religious significance by communicating to mortals through prophets at his oracles—the most notable being the Oracle of Delphi. Leto’s mother, Phoebe, gave Apollo the sacred site of Delphi to honor his birth. While modern thought looks at math and art as opposites, however, sculptors in Greece looked to the mathematical principles inspired by Apollo to formulate the perfect proportions with which to portray his beauty. Olympos in Thessaly and landed in the Greek camp near Troy. In ancient Rome, Apollo was the only Greek god … Living in the wilderness, Apollo also became a god of herdsmen. He and his twin sister were destined from birth to be among the great Olympians. Though his existence is uncertain, he was later said to have been a slave on the island of Samos. Like many of the gods and heroes of Greek mythology, Apollo was one of the sons of Zeus. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. He became very angry with the insolence of Agamemnon. He and his twin sister Artemis were the children of Zeus and the Titaness Leto. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. In art Apollo was represented as a beardless youth, either naked or robed. Download all free or royalty-free photos and vectors. His oracles at Delphi were the most famous seers in the ancient world. Though Apollo was the most Hellenic of all gods, he derived mostly from a type of god that originated in Anatolia and spread to Egypt by way of Syria and Palestine. As a young-looking man himself, Apollo also represented the epitome of male beauty in the Greek world. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. He was the god of light, music, medicine, and poetry; and prophecy, dance, manly beauty, and more. Apollo’s duties within the pantheon expanded throughout his mythology. Athens Greece, Apollo marble statue, the ancient greek god of arts, poetry and music. Khryses was a priest of Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). What Were the Hamadryads in Greek Mythology? As Greek thinkers developed new theories of mathematics, they prayed to Apollo for guidance. Apollo is dubbed the most Hellenic of the Olympian gods and has been widely and influential in legends of Greek mythology. Apollo wasted no time in avenging his mother, Leto. A gentler side of his nature, however, was shown in his other attribute, the lyre, which proclaimed the joy of communion with Olympus (the home of the gods) through music, poetry, and dance. He was lauded as the Giver of Music, Medicine, Light, Law, Prophesy and the Arts. My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!) Apollo could see the future, not always, but sometimes. I think that’s the basis of Greek mythology”, Brendan Fraser once said about the idea of all Greek Gods and myths. This is a replica of the ancient Greek lyre, named after Apollo, the national divinity of the ancient Greeks. Hera, angry at Zeus’ affair with Leto, tried to … Apollo is the Greek god of music, poetry, light, prophecy, and medicine. Apollo was the Greek god of the sun, light, poetry, prophecy, medicine, knowledge, justice and order. The god’s medium was the Pythia, a local woman over 50 years old who, under his inspiration, delivered oracles in the main temple of Apollo. Corrections? Artemis' symbols included a bow and arrow, a quiver and hunting knives and the deer and the cypress were sacred to her. Rural Greeks saw him as a shepherd while urban Greeks associated with poetry and law. Apollo, Aeacus, Angelos, Aphrodite, Ares, ... Artemis was one of the most widely venerated of the Ancient Greek deities, and her temple at Ephesus was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Apollo was the son of Zeus (king of all the gods.) Apollo had a twin sister, Artemis, the huntress, a little brother Hermes, and several half brothers and sisters. It was His mother, Leto, was one of the younger Titans. The island was affixed to the seabed and, as Leto predicted, it was considered a holy site. Asclepius (in Greek: Ἀσκληπιός, Asklēpiós, in Latin: Aesculapius) was a hero and god of medicine in ancient Greek religion and mythology. Apollo was born with a golden sword in his hand, and everything on Delos turned to gold as soon as he lifted it. Most famously, a trade with Hermes resulting in Apollo becoming the god of music and poetry. Because he was called Phoebus, or “bright,” Apollo was sometimes conflated with the sun god, Helios. While the highlight is undoubtedly the Temple of Apollo, the site is full of impressive monuments and items. During the time of the ancient Greeks, Apollo was one of the most important and widely worshipped gods. He was also a god of crops and herds, primarily as a divine bulwark against wild animals and disease, as his Greek epithet Alexikakos (Averter of Evil) indicates. Initially … The beautiful god of poetry, truth, light, and law embodied everything that set the Greeks apart from their neighbors. Asclepius represents the healing aspect of the medical arts; He was one of Apollo's sons, sharing with Apollo the epithet Paean ("the Healer"). From there Apollo went to Pytho (Delphi), where he slew Python, the dragon that guarded the area. He would go on, though, to be associated with more and more parts of Greek life. Leto finally found safety on the floating island of Delos. His forename Phoebus means “bright” or “pure,” and the view became current that he was connected with the Sun. The god wears a white sleeveless chiton, which is fastened with pins at the shoulders, and a red himation wrapped around the lower part of his body. Omissions? He established his oracle by taking on the guise of a dolphin, leaping aboard a Cretan ship, and forcing the crew to serve him. Images of Apollo were based on a rigid set of criteria, including principles of mathematics in proportion and symmetry, that established them as ideal figures of male beauty. Posted by tour guide on Nov 4, 2014 in Greek | 0 comments. Ancient Greeks have always viewed the wreath a sign of victory and athleticism. Please like and share this article if you found it useful. The ancient Greeks worshiped many of these gods and goddesses as part of their religion. Dreamstime is the world`s largest stock photography community. The bow symbolized distance, death, terror, and awe, while the lyre more gently proclaimed the joy of communion with Olympus through music, poetry, and dance. A myrtle wreath garnishes his carelessly bound hair. This term is used to symbolize athleticism, youthfulness and beardless. Apollo, however, came to represent the civilization itself. With these gifts, Apollo became a god of prophecy and truth. Apollo’s family ties. He also brought out the sun each day. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Apollo-Greek-mythology, Theoi Greek Mythology - Biography of Apollon, Apollo - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Apollo - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), detail of the Parthenon frieze with Poseidon, Apollo, and Artemis. From birth, it was said that Apollo would grow to be a powerful god. He started shooting his invisible plague arrows at mules and dogs and then soldiers. The most famous of the sanctuaries of the god Apollon were his Artemis, the Greek goddess of hunting, is his twin sister. Apollo is almost always pictured with his lyre, which became his most recognizable attribute. His mother was the gentle Leta. Greek God Apollo Research Paper 1689 Words | 7 Pages. Orestes being purified by Apollo after his acquittal by the court of the Areopagus, detail of a 5th-century-. He rushed “like night” out of Mt. Beginning with his gift for prophecy, the invention of the bow, and his adoption of music, the bright young god seemed on his way to fulfilling this destiny. The Iliad starts at the beginning of the tenth year of fighting. Statue of Apollo from the Temple of Apollo, Pompeii, Italy. He was the patron god of the city of Delphi. In the mythology of ancient Rome, Apollo, known by the same name to the Greeks, was a According to The World Book … Updates? They also acted as witnesses, established the moment as one of great importance. Python was traditionally the child of Gaea, the personification of earth. Its popularization is widely attributed to the work The Birth of Tragedy by Friedrich Nietzsche, though the terms had already been in use prior to this, such as in the writings of poet Friedrich Hölderlin, historian Johann Joachim Winckelmann, and others. Apollo is thought to inspire the … One could actually write forever about Ancient Corinth. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. In most ancient Greek myths, Apollo is considered the epitome of Kouros. They considered him to still be a god that represented the height of the Greek culture they admired. In virtually every part of Greek culture, Apollo had a hand. The Apollonian and the Dionysian are philosophical and literary concepts represented by a duality between the figures of Apollo and Dionysus from Greek mythology. As her first attempt had failed, Hera went so far as to kidnap Eileithyia, her daughter and the goddess of childbirth. The god of poetry became so synonymous with everything the Greek people valued that he came to represent the light of the sun itself. Use them in commercial designs under lifetime, perpetual & worldwide rights. Apollo, byname Phoebus, in Greco-Roman mythology, a deity of manifold function and meaning, one of the most widely revered and influential of all the ancient Greek and Roman gods. And diseases, the Sun and light. He is one of the Twelve Olympian gods who live on Mount Olympus. He is one of the most widely revered and influential of all the ancient Greek and Roman gods. As Greek poems were often set to such songs, he became the god of both poets and music. The connection with the poets was only the first way in which Apollo came to represent Greek culture, however. Neither the mainland nor any island would welcome her when she went into labor. Many poems describe him delighting the gods with his playing and musicians competed at his Pythian Games to great acclaim. The ancient Greek city is well-preserved, and the nearby museum hosts lots of antiquity gems. Your Ancient Greek Apollo stock images are ready. From herding cattle to devising the mathematical proof of beauty, Apollo’s name was invoked by Greeks from all walks of life. Everyone knew that Apollo was the god of music. Allard Pierson Museum Cult statue in temple amphora 7731.jpg 1,600 × 692; 164 KB. Apollo did not disappoint, as he established himself as both a master of archery and a prophetic truth-teller when he was still quite young. The Olympian gods were the main gods of Ancient Greece. Apollo listened to Chryses. Apollo loved his family - all of them, except perhaps Mars (god of war.) How was Apollo usually pictured? His mother, Leto, was one of the younger Titans. Leto gave birth to twins. Though his original nature is obscure, from the time of Homer onward he was the god of divine distance, who sent or threatened from afar; the god who made men aware of their own guilt and purified them of it; who presided over religious law and the constitutions of cities; and who communicated with mortals through prophets and oracles his knowledge of the future and the will of his father, Zeus (Roman: Jupiter). This was the name of a Greek fabulist of the 6th century BC, famous for such tales as The Tortoise and the Hare. In Greek mythology, Apollo was a powerful and diverse God. In Classical mythology, Apollo and his twin, Artemis, were born on the isle of Delos to Zeus and Leto. His son Asclepius became the god of physicians and Apollo was invoked by both trained doctors and practitioners of folk medicine. The son of Zeus and Leto, he was the god of crops and herds and the primary deity of the Delphic oracle. As Zeus' favorite son, Apollo had direct access to the mind of Zeus and was willing to reveal this knowledge to humans. Zeus arrived shortly after the birth to place a golden circlet on his son’s head, marking him as a prince among the Olympians. The other ancient mother goddesses of the pantheon were there to help Leto, however. Apollo earned his place as a god that represented what it meant to be Greek through his many attributes and spheres of influence. Apollo’s cattle would eventually lead him to become Greece’s patron of music. Apollo is most often described as the Greek god of music and poetry. Apollo came to, more than any other god, represent how the Greeks saw their own culture. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. Everyone wanted to know the future. Traditionally, Apollo and his twin, Artemis (Roman: Diana), were born on the isle of Delos. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. A very handsome young man. Leto raised them mostly in the wilder parts of the world to avoid Hera’s continued anger. Apollo has been recognized as a god of music and dance, truth and prophecy, healing and diseases, the Sun and light, poetry, and more. A divinity beyond human comprehension, he appears both as a beneficial and a wrathful god. One of these Greek gods is Apollo, the god of the sun and light. During the Archaic period (8th to 6th century bce), the fame of the Delphic oracle spread as far as Lydia in Anatolia and achieved Panhellenic status. However, I believe that first-time visitors would appreciate some useful info instead of a history book. He liked the gifts. Although Apollo had many love affairs, they were mostly unfortunate: Daphne, in her efforts to escape him, was changed into a laurel, his sacred shrub; Coronis (mother of Asclepius) was shot by Apollo’s twin, Artemis, when Coronis proved unfaithful; and Cassandra (daughter of King Priam of Troy) rejected his advances and was punished by being made to utter true prophecies that no one believed. Apollo the God of Culture Like many of the gods and heroes of Greek mythology, Apollo was one of the sons of Zeus. Apollo, God of Healing, Light, Truth, Medicine, and Music Roman name: Apollo. When his younger brother Hermes stole the herd, Apollo traded his role as herdsman and shepherd for the younger god’s newly-invented lyre. Apollo is a younger god, the son of Zeus and the nymph Leto, and the twin brother of Artemis.. Apollo’s sister Artemis More Greek gods All our Ancient Greece articles. Aesop Αἴσωπος m Ancient Greek (Anglicized) From the Greek Αἴσωπος (Aisopos), which is of unknown meaning. There were many gods of Greece who personified one or two aspects of the culture. His seemingly divergent fields worked together to create the cornerstones of classical society. The ruins of the Temple of Apollo in Corinth, Greece. He usually had a laurel wreath about his head that he wore in … The poems it accompanied spread their shared culture and religion and were so identifiable with the region that the instrument is still featured on coins to this day. Delphi is now a major archaeological site with well-preserved ruins.