[75][76], George Huxley regarded the identification of Apollo with the Minoan deity Paiawon, worshipped in Crete, to have originated at Delphi. He sided with the Trojans, and sent a terrible plague to the Greek camp, which indirectly led to the conflict between Achilles and Agamemnon. So, when he spotted a ship sailing from Crete, he sprang aboard in the form of a dolphin. This is why Apollo's most important name in the Cretan legends is Delphinius and his hereditary priests and priestesses of Pythia are the true oracles of Delphi. Apollo as a handsome beardless young man, is often depicted with a cithara (as Apollo Citharoedus) or bow in his hand, or reclining on a tree (the Apollo Lykeios and Apollo Sauroctonos types). Apollo - World History Encyclopedia They are Apollo's sacred birds and acted as his vehicle during his travel to Hyperborea. Education is said to have originated from Apollo and the Muses. Dolphins, ravens, swans and wolves were Apollo's sacred animals. It probably is a cognate to the Doric month Apellaios (),[9] and the offerings apellaia () at the initiation of the young men during the family-festival apellai (). Apollo helped many Trojan warriors, including Agenor, Polydamas, Glaucus in the battlefield. Greek God Symbols - Sacred Animals, Plants and Symbols - Mythologian The Theophania festival was held in Delphi to celebrate his return.[150]. [68] Such songs were originally addressed to Apollo and afterwards to other gods: to Dionysus, to Apollo Helios, to Apollo's son Asclepius the healer. Henceforth, Hyperborea became Apollo's winter home and wolves became sacred to him. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Many myths have him train his children. [226], Prometheus was the titan who was punished by Zeus for stealing fire. It was an act of revenge against Apollo who claimed he was a better archer than Eros. The son of Zeus and Hera, he was depicted as a beardless youth, either nude with a helmet and spear or sword, or as an armed warrior. In antiquity, Apollo was associated with the planet Mercury. Hermes & The Cattle of Apollo - Mythology Comparisons Growing up, Apollo was nursed by the nymphs Korythalia and Aletheia, the personification of truth. Apollo appears in Rachel Smythe's 2018 comic Lore Olympus[382][383] as an antagonist. The ancient Greeks believed that Mercury as observed during the morning was a different planet than the one during the evening, because each twilight Mercury would appear farther from the Sun as it set than it had the night before. Temple of Apollo Pythios Sotir, 1800-year-old stele on way back from Italy after 23 years, Slab with marching ancient Greek warriors discovered at Apollo temples on ancient black sea island in Bulgaria's Sozopol, A topographical dictionary of Ancient Rome, "New find at Mdina most important so far in old capital", Realencyclopdie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft, "APOLLO, THE YOUNG, AND THE CITY - KEY THEMES - Apollo - Fritz Graf", "Mosaics in Tunisia: Apollo and the Muses", "Cygnus X-1 Book Two: Hemispheres Lyrics | Rush.com", "Trials of Apollo: The Dark Prophecy release date, synopsis", "Dionysus in Nietzsche and Greek Myth by Gwendolyn Toynton", Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. [151][152] Shamans like Abaris and Aristeas were also the followers of Apollo, who hailed from Hyperborea. Basically, Apollo and his twin sister Artemis were raised by a she-wolf and around wolves. [21] The Hittite testimony reflects an early form *Apeljn, which may also be surmised from comparison of Cypriot with Doric . Apollo the Greek God of Sun by Nnnmmm Artemis Symbols He is the inventor of string-music, and the frequent companion of the Muses, functioning as their chorus leader in celebrations. The love between Apollo and Admetus was a favored topic of Roman poets like Ovid and Servius. The seventh and twentieth, the days of the new and full moon, were ever afterwards held sacred to him. The laurel wreath that Apollo wears is a symbol of victory and honor, which was used in Greek times to identify the victors in athletic competitions, including the Olympics. In North-Europe they speak of the ", Martin Nilsson (1967), Vol I, pp. The crew was awed into submission and followed a course that led the ship to Delphi. This contrast appears to be shown on the two sides of the Borghese Vase. Rhoeo, a princess of the island of Naxos was loved by Apollo. Hecate is the goddess of crossroads and Apollo is the god and protector of streets.[338]. Since Apollo was the god of healing, he performed purification ceremonies for mortals who had committed immoral acts. There are several different animals that are associated with Athena in classical literature and mythology. Apollo gave him a tame deer as a companion but Cyparissus accidentally killed it with a javelin as it lay asleep in the undergrowth. He is the god of war. Wilderness and animals Ajesit. When Admetus wanted to marry princess Alcestis, Apollo provided a chariot pulled by a lion and a boar he had tamed. Apollo Symbol List What Are The Symbols of Apollo? Apollo also renamed him as Heracles. What was Athena's sacred animal? The Vedic Rudra has some similar functions with Apollo. He also gave to Apollo various gifts, like a golden tripod, a golden bow and arrows, a golden chariot and the city of Delphi.[167]. [17] In the ancient Macedonian language (pella) means "stone,"[18] and some toponyms may be derived from this word: (Pella,[19] the capital of ancient Macedonia) and (Pelln/Pellene).[20]. Apollo appears often in the myths, plays and hymns. [56] Walter Burkert discerned three components in the prehistory of Apollo worship, which he termed "a Dorian-northwest Greek component, a Cretan-Minoan component, and a Syro-Hittite component. [9] The name of Apollo's mother Leto has Lydian origin, and she was worshipped on the coasts of Asia Minor. [citation needed] If Hecate is the "gate-keeper", Apollo Agyieus is the "door-keeper". [362] In 1895, V. I. Leonardos proposed the term kouros ("male youth") to refer to those from Keratea; this usage was later expanded by Henri Lechat in 1904 to cover all statues of this format. The branch of laurels was actually something Apollo wore as a sign of his love for the demigod Daphne. "Helios", in. Apollo is known in Greek-influenced Etruscan mythology as Apulu.[2]. 2006. [208], Apollo helped the Greek hero Diomedes, to escape from a great tempest during his journey homeward. Apollo - Wikipedia Ptolemy Hephaestion, New History Book 4 (summary from Photius, Myriobiblon 190), Thus scholia on Paus. Seen as the most beautiful god and the ideal of the kouros (ephebe, or a beardless, athletic youth). Ileus was very dear to Apollo. Sacred Animals. What of his robes so fine in texture, so soft to the touch, aglow with purple? [222], Phorbas was a savage giant king of Phlegyas who was described as having swine like features. Marpessa was kidnapped by Idas but was loved by Apollo as well. c. Excessive mutilation of animal corpses. De Agostini / G. Nimatallah / Getty Images, Tomisti / Wikimedia Commons/ CC BY-SA 3.0. The Greeks used standard types because they believed that the world of objects was a series of typical forms which could be represented in several instances. Being Zeus' favorite children, they were given more powers and duties. [62], Apollo in his aspect of "healer" has a connection to the primitive god Paean (-), who did not have a cult of his own. Artemis was the daughter of Zeus and Leto and the twin sister of Apollo. The most famous is the little owl, which was associated with Athena because she was the patron goddess of the city of Athens, where owls were said to be common. When Apollo found out about her infidelity through his prophetic powers or thanks to his raven who informed him, he sent his sister, Artemis, to kill Coronis. His skills as a physician surpassed that of Apollo's. Apollo - God of the Sun and Music - Crystalinks She bore to Apollo a son, whom Apollo named Ileus, after the city of his birth, Ilion (Troy). [74] However it can explain only the Doric type of the name, which is connected with the Ancient Macedonian word "pella" (Pella), stone. [215] Seeing several of his nymphs and Aristaeus drowning in a river, he took them to safety and healed them. When Zeus allowed the other gods to get involved in the war, Apollo was provoked by Poseidon to a duel. Greek God Names | List of Mythical Greek Gods - Universe of Symbolism In Aeschylus' Oresteia trilogy, Clytemnestra kills her husband, King Agamemnon because he had sacrificed their daughter Iphigenia to proceed forward with the Trojan war. [140] Swans circled the island seven times and the nymphs sang in delight. When Iamus reached the age of education, Apollo took him to Olympia and taught him many arts, including the ability to understand and explain the languages of birds. . is apollo reaching out to me? : r/Hellenism - Reddit During the war between the sons of Oedipus, Apollo favored Amphiaraus, a seer and one of the leaders in the war. Apollo gives an order through the Oracle at Delphi that Agamemnon's son, Orestes, is to kill Clytemnestra and Aegisthus, her lover. When Apollo spotted a ship of Cretan sailors that was caught in a storm, he quickly assumed the shape of a dolphin and guided their ship safely to Delphi. Hence, Apollo then became the master of the lyre. Not wanting to have the child, she entrusted the infant to Apollo and left. Apollo is the god who affords help and wards off evil; various epithets call him the "averter of evil". Pleased with this, Apollo sent gentle breezes that helped Odysseus return safely to the Greek camp.[210]. After the death of Sarpedon, a son of Zeus, Apollo rescued the corpse from the battlefield as per his father's wish and cleaned it. In the cave, he found a tortoise and killed it, then removed the insides. Apollos Family Tree Who Are Apollos Parents and Siblings? [209], During the Trojan War, Odysseus came to the Trojan camp to return Chriseis, the daughter of Apollo's priest Chryses, and brought many offerings to Apollo. According to Algonquian folklore, how does one transform into a Wendigo? "You Apollo Smintheus, let my tears become your arrows against the Danaans, for revenge". Fairbanks), Eustathius on Iliad; cf. Water from this spring was sacred; it was used to clean the Delphian temples and inspire the priestesses.[331]. Apollo 's sacred animals were the Wolf, the Dolphin, the Python and the Swan. He says that the matter should be brought before Athena. [164] According to a variation, Apollo had also travelled to Crete, where Carmanor purified him. No prophecies were issued during this time. Delphi - World History Encyclopedia [148] From his father Zeus, Apollo had also received a golden chariot drawn by swans. [86] Homer interprets Apollo as a terrible god ( ) who brings death and disease with his arrows, but who can also heal, possessing a magic art that separates him from the other Greek gods. Apollo divides months into summer and winter. Apollo's Sacred Animals. He would also make cheese and serve it to Admetus. [243] He was later resurrected and taken to heaven. [178], To complete his third task, Heracles had to capture the Ceryneian Hind, a hind sacred to Artemis, and bring back it alive. Apollo shone so brightly he overshadowed Helios the Sun God, and eventually became known as a Sun God in his own right. wolves, dolphins, roe deer, swans, cicadas (symbolizing music and song), hawks, ravens, crows, python (referencing Apollo's function as the god of prophecy), mice . Leto is the daughter of the Titans Coeus and Phoebe, while Zeus is the son of Cronus and Rhea, another pair of Titans who had several other children that became Olympian gods. In the traditionally Celtic lands, he was most often seen as a healing and sun god. Several of this Goddesses roles may appear incompatible in nature. Apollo is often associated with the Golden Mean. Apollo took care of the male offspring and Artemis of Niobe 's daughters. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. The gods Athena and Ares came to the battlefield and took sides. While none of the Greek originals have survived, several Roman copies from approximately the late 1st or early 2nd century exist. Moon, Hunting, Archery, Virgins, Chastity (twin sister of Apollo) Artemis's Symbols. Then, Apollo struck the strings of his lyre. Only Midas dissented and questioned the justice of the award. Why is Angel Number 555 strongly linked to Twin Flame Love? According to other versions, she cried for help during the chase, and Gaia helped her by taking her in and placing a laurel tree in her place. Arion requested them to let him sing for the last time, to which the sailors consented. [380] He also appears in the 2014 Hi-Rez Studios Multiplayer Online Battle Arena game Smite as a playable character.[381]. Purified, Apollo was escorted by his half sister Athena to Delphi where the oracular shrine was finally handed over to him by Gaia. Dolphin | Greek Mythology Wiki | Fandom His symbols include the sun, the bow and arrow, and the lyre. Apollo raised and educated the child on his own. Impressively, Apollo defeated the mighty Python at just four days old. Not only did Apollo save Hector from Achilles, he also tricked Achilles by disguising himself as a Trojan warrior and driving him away from the gates. Hera - The Greek Queen of the Gods - Symbol Sage Animals of the Greek Gods - Athens and Beyond (2023) ThoughtCo, Sep. 7, 2021, thoughtco.com/apollo-god-symbols-117070. [79], A non-Greek origin of Apollo has long been assumed in scholarship. The doe, the dog, the boar, and the wolf were sacred to her among the animals; among the plants, the laurel, the cedar, and the olive tree. Apollodorus states that the gods willingly went to the king disguised as humans in order to check his hubris. Apollo | Sacred Wicca As a protector of the young (kourotrophos), Apollo is concerned with the health and education of children. Many of his sons founded new cities and became kings. She is always depicted as majestic and queenly. Apollo - God of Music - Greek God - The White Goddess That being said, some people believe that Apollos counterpart in Roman mythology was Phoebus. When Zeus suggested that Dionysus defeat the Indians in order to earn a place among the gods, Dionysus declared war against the Indians and travelled to India along with his army of Bacchantes and satyrs. To commemorate his son's bravery, Apollo commanded Boeotians to build a town around the tomb of the hero, and to honor him.[183]. p. 529, Pausanias VIII 41, 8-IV 34, 7-Sittig. Hera - Wikipedia They were nicknamed Nete, Mese and Hypate after the highest, middle and lowest strings of his lyre. [368] Some time after this mosaic was executed, the earliest depictions of Christ would also be beardless and haloed. Pindar's Paeans: A Reading of the Fragments with a Survey of the Genre, The Uses of Greek Mythology By Ken Dowden, Benjamin Acosta-Hughes, Luigi Lehnus, Susan Stephens -, Apollonius Rhodius. He is the son of Zeus and the youngest Olympian. [339], As patrons of arts, Apollo and Athena were companions of the Muses, the former a much more frequent companion than the latter. Apollo also buried in Hyperborea the arrow which he had used to kill the Cyclopes. [349][344], After the battle of Actium, which was fought near a sanctuary of Apollo, Augustus enlarged Apollo's temple, dedicated a portion of the spoils to him, and instituted quinquennial games in his honour. He was the giver of laws, and his oracles were consulted before setting laws in a city. The nymphs decided that Apollo's argument was just. Marsyas taunted Apollo for "wearing his hair long, for having a fair face and smooth body, for his skill in so many arts". During his stay in Troy, Apollo had a lover named Ourea, who was a nymph and daughter of Poseidon. The Nemean Lion. his son Telamon joined Heracles when he sieged the city during Laomedon's rule. They spend their time on Parnassus, which is one of their sacred places. However, Apollo declined to fight him, saying that he wouldn't fight his uncle for the sake of mortals. An oracle prophesied that Troy would not be defeated as long as Troilus reached the age of twenty alive. In the 2nd and 3rd century CE, those at Didyma and Claros pronounced the so-called "theological oracles", in which Apollo confirms that all deities are aspects or servants of an all-encompassing, highest deity.