Apollo possessed many qualities due to which he was rightfully revered as the most beloved god. But it's not just about his attractiveness, the lyre and the golden chariot. We bring to your attention 10 facts worth knowing about the beautiful Apollo.

Dolce&Gabbana's menswear spring/summer 2014 collection was inspired by the gods, monsters and people of the myths and legends of ancient Sicily. In addition, the designers drew inspiration from the majestic, powerful structures that dotted the Sicilian territory, such as the temples dedicated to Apollo located in front of Pankli Square in Syracuse. It is the oldest temple in the Doric style in Sicily and one of the first in this style, which then became the standard for the entire Greek world. Also, works of art and sculpture, depicting the power, beauty and love of Apollo, played an important role in the men's collection spring / summer 2014 from Dolce & Gabbana.

Like the god Apollo himself, the temple dedicated to him has a complex history. However, he went through many transformations, unlike Apollo himself, who over the centuries acquired different qualities that could come from different gods. Of all its properties, it is the healing qualities of Apollo and his personification as a protector that are most known ... as well as the fact that he was the god of the sun and could control its movement! But did you know that he killed the serpent Python when he was only 4 days old? Or that he had many mistresses and lovers?

Here are 10 facts you need to know about Apollo:

1. The son of Zeus and his "mistress".
When your father is the god of all gods and goddesses, your life is unlikely to be ordinary. Apollo was born from Zeus and his "mistress" Leto. Zeus' wife Hera forbade Leto to give birth on terra firma - "solid ground", forcing her to look for a safe place to give birth to her son. Hera even kidnapped the goddess of childbirth, Ilithyia, so that Leto could not give birth. However, other gods deceived her by diverting her attention - they gave her an 8-meter amber necklace.

Summer found the floating island of Delos, whose inhabitants accepted her, and Zeus, after the birth of his son, tied Delos to the bottom of the ocean. Leto promised that Apollo would honor the place of his birth, and later the island became sacred to this god.

2. Mommy's boy... something like that
As mentioned above, at the age of four days, Apollo killed the underground snake Python, which was actually a feat in the name of love: Hera sent this dragon to kill Leto, Apollo's mother. For this "offence" Apollo was punished, but this did not stop him from defending his mother again and again. He also allied with his twin sister Artemis when Hera sent the giant Titius to kill Leto.

It was during the battle with Titius that Zeus appeared, raised the giant and threw him into Tartarus, a deep abyss used for suffering and torture. Great way to clean up arguments between wife and son, huh?

3. He had a twin sister
Not only Apollo was born on the island of Delos, but also his twin sister Artemis. She was the goddess of hunting, nature and animals, as well as the goddess of virginity and the protector of young girls and sick women. They were always very close and were killed in the name of their mother, protecting her pride and honor.

4. Chariots of fire
As we know, Apollo is the god of the sun, who could control his movement...but how in the name of all that is holy, could he do that? Telekinesis? No, no, no, fools, he simply pulled the sun across the sky in his chariot drawn by golden horses, reflecting the gold of his bow and arrows, as well as the golden sheen with which he was supposedly surrounded. These objects, including the sun, are symbols and attributes of Apollo, as are his golden curls, which drove goddesses, gods, demigods, men and women crazy.
Also because of his love of music and the muses, Apollo is often depicted with a lyre in his hand and animals following in his footsteps.

5. Free hugs for everyone
With such an attractive appearance, the whole world lay at the feet of Apollo. Although it is said that he was the only god who had no relationship with mortals, the list of his mistresses and lovers is endless. Most sources say that he had nine mistresses (Leukothea, Marpess, Castalia, Cyrene, Hecuba, Kassandra, Koronis, Creusa and Acanthus), as well as two lovers - Hyakinthus, a beautiful strong Spartan prince, and Cypress, a descendant of Hercules. But it is known that Apollo was ready to distribute his love, so they say he had 50 more mistresses and 10 lovers ... greedy fellow.

But the main love story, moreover, a sad story is the legend of his love for the nymph Daphne. Having insulted the young Eros (cupid), Apollo received from him a golden arrow, and Daphne - lead, so that his attraction and love for her remained unrequited. Pursued by Apollo, Daphne begged her father for help to turn her into a laurel tree. And Apollo looked after him for eternity, keeping him always green and blooming ... so that he could not forget her, even when she became a tree.

And Apollo himself was in the place of Daphne. Clytia loved Apollo so much that she would not move from her seat, watching him as he passed her every day. She did not move, and her feet were rooted to the ground, and her face turned into a sunflower that turned its head to always look at the sun, as she looked at the sun god. What a sad ending.

6. Genius
This god is considered a genius, because. he was born with many talents, attributes and functions. In addition to the god of the sun, Apollo is also considered the patron saint of prophecy, music, poetry, mental pursuits, healing, and also the plague. He is also considered the inventor of the lyre, the classical Greek stringed instrument. Although it is said that the more cunning and treacherous god Hermes created a lyre from the insides of a cow, which he stole from Apollo. What if Apollo passed off someone else's invention as his own? Or maybe Hermes was so good at deceiving mortals that he convinced everyone that it was he who created this musical instrument?

7. An ancient male version of Cinderella
No, no, not that he suffered from the evil sisters. It's more of a lighter version of Cinderella, because he communicated with mice... Although he didn't sing with them. However, in addition to mice, the animals sacred to Apollo also included wolves, dolphins, roe deer, swans, cicadas, falcons, crows, snakes, and griffins. Not everything is as cute and fluffy as in Disney cartoons. Animals were often depicted next to Apollo, as were the lyre and his golden bow and arrows.

8. Plague for Trojans
By the way, about the bow and arrows. Apollo was a very skilled marksman who influenced the outcome of the great Trojan War - he fired plague-infected fiery arrows straight at the Greek camp to punish them for kidnapping one of Apollo's priestesses. During this war, Achilles - the great Greek hero - was enraged by these actions. You can read about this in the famous Iliad. In the end, this led to the death of Achilles, in which Apollo took a direct part, leading a golden arrow straight to Achilles' heel ... but we are sure you are aware of this legend.

9. Revenge on Zeus
Apollo is the father of three sons - Asclepius (the god of healing), the legendary musician Orpheus and the hero Aristaeus. The first, Asclepius, was killed by Zeus' lightning for resurrecting Hippolytus, the man who was accused of rape. Apollo went berserk at his father's actions, found the Cyclopes who were making lightning bolts for his father, and killed them. It would seem that revenge on the god of all gods and goddesses is certain death, but no - Apollo was sentenced to one year of hard work as a shepherd for the Thera king Admet in Thessaly.

10. Apollo Cult of the Oracle
Unlike many other gods, Apollo had two places of worship that had a huge impact. These places are known as Delos and Delphi. The most famous was Delphi, which became the main place of worship after he killed the underground serpent. Python. Apollo is the patron of Delphi and the omniscient deity of the Delphic Oracle. It was also here that, every four years, athletes from all over the Greek world competed and tried their hand at the Pythian Games, the ancient origin of the modern Olympics. And it is here that you will find the temple to Apollo.

The pantheon of ancient Greece consisted of a huge number of supernatural beings, one way or another influencing the fate of a person, and the twelve Olympians were especially revered, including the patron of sciences and arts - the god Apollo.

Origin

According to ancient Greek myths, the parents of Apollo were the Thunderer himself and the ruler of Olympus Zeus and the Titanide Leto. Together with his sister Artemis, Apollo was born on the secluded island of Asteria, floating in the ocean. The reason for this was the jealousy of Hera, the lawful wife of Zeus. Having learned about her husband's next betrayal, the goddess forbade Leto to touch the solid ground with her feet and even sent a monster named Python to her.

The birth of Apollo and Artemis was a real miracle: the whole island was lit up with light. In memory of this, Astrea was renamed Delos (in Greek, diloo means "I am"). This place immediately became sacred, like the palm tree under which the future sun god was born. Apollo grew up very quickly and from childhood had remarkable strength. So, as a child, he killed Python, who had pursued his mother for so long.

Delphic oracle

Apollo is known as the patron saint of soothsayers. On the site where, according to legend, Python was killed, the Delphic Oracle arose - one of the most revered sanctuaries of Ancient Greece. For advice to Apollo and the keeper of the oracle - the Pythia - many famous people of antiquity turned to them. Especially famous is the prediction of the god Apollo, told by Herodotus, about King Croesus. He, fearing the growing power of the Persians, sent an ambassador to the Pythia, who asked if it was worth going to war against such an opponent. Apollo replied through the Pythia that if Croesus entered the battle with the Persians, he would crush the great kingdom. Encouraged, the king immediately attacked the enemies and suffered a crushing defeat. When, indignant, he again sent an ambassador demanding an explanation, the Pythia replied that Croesus had misinterpreted the prophecy. Apollo meant that it was the kingdom of Croesus that would be crushed.

In addition to the Delphic oracle, under the auspices of Apollo were sanctuaries in various cities of Italy and Asia Minor, for example, in Cum, Claros and Kolofna. Some of Apollo's children inherited their father's prophetic gift. The most famous and revered among them was the Sibyl.

Apollo and Cassandra

Like his father, Apollo was distinguished by love. Among his beloved were not only goddesses, but also mortal women, as well as some young men. Surprisingly, although Apollo is the god of beauty, he was often rejected by women. So, for example, it happened when he fell in love with Cassandra, the daughter of the Trojan king Priam. Wanting to charm the girl, he endowed her with the gift of divination. However, not meeting reciprocity, God severely punished her, commanding that all of Cassandra's predictions be true, but no one would believe them. And so it happened. Several times Cassandra foreshadowed the death of Troy, but everyone remained deaf to her prophecies.

Trojan War

But such a punishment for Cassandra was rather an exception to the rule. During the Trojan War, when all the gods were divided into two camps, Apollo, along with his sister Artemis, sided with the Trojans. Moreover, his role was significant. It was he who guided Hector's hand when he killed Paris, and it was he who helped Paris get into the heel - the only weak spot - Achilles. With his arrows, he once sent a plague on the Greek camp. The reason for such sympathy for the Trojans may be vague memories of the origin of this ancient god. Apollo is believed to have first begun to be worshiped precisely in Asia Minor.

Dark side

According to myths, perhaps the main activity of the gods is fun. Apollo was considered one of their most sophisticated organizers. However, even in this seemingly harmless deity, there is a dark side.

Apollo was considered the patron of sciences and arts, especially music. The lyre is one of his attributes. But there is a curious myth according to which one of the satyrs (creatures whose upper body is human and the lower one is goat) named Marsyas achieved such perfection in playing the flute that he dared to challenge Apollo to a musical duel. God accepted the challenge. His playing on the lyre delighted all the judges so much that they unanimously gave him the victory. However, this vengeful god was not enough. He ordered the unfortunate satyr to be caught and skinned alive.

Another unsightly act of Apollo was caused by such a noble feeling as sons' love. One woman named Niobe was extremely fertile and gave birth to 50 children. Proud of herself, she decided to mock Leto, reproaching her for the fact that she could only give birth to a son and a daughter. Apollo and Artemis decided to stand up for their mother in a peculiar way. Armed with bow and arrows, they shot down all the children of Niobe. Mother with grief turned to stone.

It is assumed that it was cruelty that was the main component of the image of Apollo in the archaic period. Evidence has been preserved, according to which, this god in those days was remembered as a demon of murder, death and destruction. Human sacrifices were even made in honor of Apollo.

Apollo as protector

The complexity of Greek mythology is often manifested in the fact that the same god is both a source of troubles and a pacifier and intercessor. This versatility is especially noticeable in the classical period. As follows from his nicknames (Alexikakos, Akesius, Prostatus, Epicurius, Apotropaeus, translated as "repulser of evil", "healer", "intercessor", "trustee", "repulsor", respectively), people in a difficult situation could count on the support of the sun god .

From the nymph Coronis, Apollo had a son named Asclepius. He inherited the gift of healing from his father. And although Asclepius acted as an independent god, the thought always remained in the mind of the ancient Greek that this was happening by the grace of Apollo.

Such a change in the image required the correction of ancient legends. The Greeks admitted that Apollo killed Python, even if it was for good intentions. But such deeds were no longer associated with the radiant god of the sun and beauty. It is from here that disagreements arise in the history of the emergence of the Delphic oracle. According to some legends, it really arose at the site of the death of Python, while others argue that the sanctuary existed before, and Apollo appeared there to receive cleansing from the murder. When such a service was rendered to him, the god took the oracle under his protection.

Apollo in service

Obviously, the most ancient features of the image of Apollo were not immediately outlived and with difficulty. At least his willfulness remained unchanged. Zeus, wanting to humble the rebellious son or punish him for another trick, often deprived Apollo of his divine power and, as a mere mortal, sent him to serve some earthly king. Apollo obeyed, but in such cases he preferred to be hired as a shepherd.

Once he was at the court of the king of the already mentioned Troy Laomedont. He regularly served during the agreed period, and at the end of it demanded payment of a salary. Laomedont, not suspecting who he was dealing with, drove the shepherd out and promised him in pursuit that if he did not lag behind, then he, the king of Troy, would order him to cut off his ears and sell him into slavery. Zeus turned out to be fairer than Laomedont, and returned all his strength to Apollo, who had served his sentence. The vengeful god was not slow to pay off the Trojan king: he sent an epidemic of plague to Troy.

In another case, Apollo was more fortunate. When he was hired as a shepherd to Admit, the king of Thessaly, he, being a quick-witted man, realized that the young man standing in front of him was too beautiful to be a mere mortal. Admit gave up his throne to the failed shepherd. Apollo refused, explaining his situation. Upon returning to Olympus, God did not forget to repay the Thessalian king with good for good. His state became the richest, and farmers harvested twice a year.

Attributes of Apollo

Among the many surviving Greek statues of Apollo can be recognized by several items that he always carries with him. In particular, such was the laurel wreath. According to legend, Apollo fell in love with the nymph Daphne, but for some reason she disliked him so much that she preferred to turn into a laurel tree.

Other frequent attributes of the ancient Greek god Apollo are a bow and arrows, sending not only a plague, but also giving the light of knowledge, as well as a lyre and a chariot. In addition, the palm tree under which he was born, the swan, the wolf and the dolphin were associated with the cult of this god.

Appearance

The listed animals are clearly remnants of the totemic beliefs of the ancient Greeks. In the archaic period, Apollo could be depicted as one of these beings. With the final design of the Olympic pantheon, the attractive appearance of Apollo becomes part of the canon. The gods of Greece were the bearers of some ideal traits that every mortal should aspire to, and Apollo is no exception in this regard. He appeared as a handsome, beardless young man with lush golden curls and a manly figure.

Among other deities

Vengefulness and malice, according to the myths, Apollo showed only in relation to mortals or lower spirits like the satyr Marsyas. In relationships with other Olympians, he appears as a calm and reasonable deity. Having killed many heroes in the Trojan War, Apollo categorically refuses to fight with other Greek gods.

Apollo did not show the usual vindictiveness when Hermes decided to play a trick on him. When Apollo worked as a shepherd for another offense, Hermes tricked him into stealing a whole flock from him. The sun god managed to find the loss, but Hermes so enchanted him with his playing on the lyre that Apollo left the animals to him in exchange for this instrument.

Veneration of Apollo

In the Delphic oracle, which became the center of the worship of Apollo, regular Pythian games were held. On them, the participants competed in strength, agility and endurance. However, the main temple to the glory of the sun god was still located on Delos - the place of his birth. Only minor remains of the huge temple have survived to this day, but even those, such as the Terrace of the Lions, amaze the imagination. The ruins of the monumental sanctuary in Corinth have also been preserved, which even the Romans could not completely destroy.

A special temple to Apollo was erected in the Peloponnese. It is designed in such a way that it rotates along with the Earth around its axis in the rhythm and direction of the North Star. Thanks to this, the sanctuary can be used as a compass, since it is oriented exactly from north to south.

Apollo Apollo

(Apollo, Απόλλων). Deity of the sun, son of Zeus and Leto (Latona), twin brother of the goddess Artemis. Apollo was also considered the god of music and arts, the god of divination and the patron of herds and cattle. He takes an active part in the foundation of cities and their management and punishes criminals, which is why he is depicted with a bow and arrows. The famous oracle of Apollo was at Delphi. The god Pan and the satyr Marsyas competed with Apollo in the art of music, but were defeated by him. As the god of the sun, Apollo is often called Helios. The veneration of Apollo passed to the Romans from the Greeks, and in Rome he was worshiped mainly as a deity that saves from pestilence (Apollo Medicus). The Delphic oracle of Apollo was famous throughout the ancient world.

(Source: "A Brief Dictionary of Mythology and Antiquities." M. Korsh. St. Petersburg, edition of A. S. Suvorin, 1894.)

(Άπόλλων), in Greek mythology, the son Zeus And Summer, Brother Artemis, the Olympic god, who included in his classical image the archaic and chthonic features of pre-Greek and Asia Minor development (hence the variety of his functions - both destructive and beneficent, the combination of dark and bright sides in him). The data of the Greek language do not allow revealing the etymology of the name A., which indicates the non-Indo-European origin of the image. Attempts by ancient authors (for example, Plato) to unravel the meaning of the name A. are not subject to scientific discussion, although they tend to combine into one inseparable whole a number of functions of A. (Plat. Crat. 404 e-406 a): arrowhead, destroyer, soothsayer, guardian of cosmic and human harmony. The image of A. unites heaven, earth and the underworld.
A. was born on the floating island of Asteria, who adopted Zeus's beloved Leto, whom she is jealous of. Hera forbidden to enter the solid ground. The island, which revealed the miracle of the birth of two twins - A. and Artemis, became known after that as Delos (Greek δηλόω, “I manifest”), and the palm tree, under which Leto was resolved, became sacred, like the very birthplace of A. (Callim. Hymn IV 55-274; Hymn No. I 30-178). A. matured early and killed a snake while still quite young Python, or Delphinius, who devastated the environs of Delphi. In Delphi, on the site where once was the oracle of Gaia and Themis, A. founded his oracle. In the same place, he established the Pythian Games in his honor, received purification from the murder of Python in the Tempe Valley (Thessaly), and was glorified by the inhabitants of Delphi in a paean (sacred hymn) (Hymn. Hom. II 127-366). A. also struck the giant with his arrows titia, who tried to offend Leto (Hyg. Fab. 55; Apollod. I 4, 1), Cyclops, who forged lightning to Zeus (Apollod. Ill Yu, 4), and also participated in the battles of the Olympians with giants(I 6, 2) and titans(Hyg. Fab. 150). The destructive arrows of A. and Artemis bring sudden death to old people (Hom. Od XV 403-411), sometimes they strike without any reason (III 279 next; VII 64 next). In the Trojan War, A. the archer helps the Trojans, and his arrows carry the plague to the Achaean camp for nine days (Hom. P. I 43-53), he invisibly participates in the murder of Patroclus hectare(XVI 789-795) and Achilles Paris(Prod. Chrest., p. 106). Together with his sister, he is the destroyer of children. Niobe(Ovid. Met. VI 146-312). In a musical competition, A. wins satire Marcia and, enraged by his insolence, flays his skin (Myth. Vat. I 125; II 115). A. fought with Hercules trying to master the Delphic tripod (Paus. Ill 21,8; VIII 37, 1; X 13, 7).
Along with the destructive actions of A., healing ones are also inherent (Eur. Andr. 880); he is a doctor (Aristoph. Av. 584) or Peon (Eur. Alc. 92; Soph. O. V. 154), Alexikakos ("helper"), protector from evil and disease, who stopped the plague during the Peloponnesian War (Raus. I 3, 4). In later times, A. was identified with the sun (Macrob. Sat. I 17) in the fullness of its healing and destructive functions. The epithet A. - Phoebus (φοίβος) indicates purity, brilliance, divination (Etym. Magn. v. (φοιάςω; Eur. Nes. 827). The combination in the image of A. of rational clarity and dark elemental forces is confirmed by the closest ties of A. and Dionysus , although these are antagonist deities: one is predominantly the god of a bright beginning, the other is the god of dark and blind ecstasy, but after the 7th century BC the images of these gods began to converge in Delphi, they both had orgies on Parnassus (Paus. X 32, 7), A. himself was often revered as Dionysus (Himer. XXI 8), bore the epithets of Dionysus - ivy and Bacchius (Aeschyl. frg. 341), participants in the festival in honor of A. adorned themselves with ivy (as at the Dionysian festivals).
A. the soothsayer is credited with the foundation of sanctuaries in Asia Minor and Italy - in Claros, Didyma, Kolofon. Cumach (Strab. XVI 1, 5; Paus. VII 3.1-3; Verg. Aen. VI 42-101). A. - a prophet and an oracle, is even thought of as the "driver of fate" - Moiraget (Pans. X 24,4-5). He endowed the prophetic gift cassandra, but after being rejected by her, he made her prophecies not trusted by people (Apollod. Ill 12, 5). Among the children of A. were also: soothsayers Braih, sybil(Serv. Verg. Aen. VI 321), Pug - son of A. and soothsayer manto, Idmon - a member of the campaign of the Argonauts (Apoll. Rhod. I 139-145; 75 next).
A. - a shepherd (Nomi) (Theocr. XXV 21) and a guardian of the flocks (Hom. H. II 763-767; Hymn. Hom. Ill 71). He is the founder and builder of cities, the ancestor and patron of tribes, "father" (Plat. Euthyd. 302 d; Himer. X 4; Macrob. Sat. I 17, 42). Sometimes these functions of A. are associated with myths about A. serving people, to which Zeus sends him, enraged by A.’s independent disposition. So, the scholiast to the text of Homer (Hom. Il. Poseidon and A. against Zeus (according to the Iliad, instead of A., Athena participated in it) A. and Poseidon, in the form of mortals, served with the Trojan king Laomedont and erected the walls of Troy, which they then destroyed, being angry with Laomedont, who did not give them the stipulated payment (Apollod. II 5, 9). When the son of A. is a healer Asclepius for trying to resurrect people, he was struck by Zeus's lightning, A. interrupted the Cyclopes and, as a punishment, was sent to serve as a shepherd to the king hell meth to Thessaly, where he multiplied his flocks (III 10, 4) and, together with Hercules, saved the king's wife Alcesta from death (Eur. Alc. 1-71; 220-225).
A. is a musician; he received a kithara from Hermes in exchange for cows (Hymn. Hom. Ill 418-456). He is the patron of singers and musicians, Musaget is the driver of the muses (III 450-452) and severely punishes those who try to compete with him in music.
The variety of functions of A. is most fully represented in the late anonymous hymn A. (Hymn. Orph. Abel. p. 285) and the speech of the Neoplatonist Julian "To King Helios". A. enters into relations with goddesses and mortal women, but is often rejected. He was rejected daphne, turned at her request into a laurel (Ovid. Met. I 452-567), Cassandra (Serv. Verg. Aen. II 247). He was unfaithful Coronis(Hyg. Fab. 202) and Marpessa(Apollod. I 7, 8). From Cyrene, he had a son, Aristaeus, from Coronis - Asclepius, from the muses Thalia and Urania - corybants and singers Lina And Orpheus(I 3,2-4). The boys were his favorites. Hyakinth(Ovid. Met. X 161-219) and Cypress(X 106-142), considered as hypostases of A.
The image of A. reflected the originality of Greek mythology in its historical development. Archaic agriculture is characterized by the presence of vegetative functions and its closeness to agriculture and pastoralism. He is Daphnius, i.e., laurel, “prophesying from the laurel” (Hymn. Hom. II 215), “loving the laurel tree” Daphne. His epithet is Drimas, "oak" (Lycophr. 522); A. is associated with cypress (Ovid. Met. X 106), palm (Callim. Hymn. II 4), olive (Paus. VIII 23, 4), ivy (Aeschyl. frg. 341), and other plants. The zoomorphism of A. is manifested in its connection and even complete identification with the raven, swan, mouse, wolf, and ram. In the form of a raven, A. indicated where the city should be founded (Callim. Hymn. II 65-68), he is Kykn (“swan”), who put Hercules to flight (Pind. 01. X 20); he is Sminthey ("mouse") (Hom. P. I 39), but he is a savior from mice (Strab. XIII 1, 48). A. Carney is associated with Karn - the demon of fertility (Paus. III 13, 4). The Lycian epithet (“wolf”) points to A. as a guardian from wolves (Paus. II 19, 3) and as a wolf (X 14, 7). The matriarchal features of A. are reflected in his mother's name - Letoid; he does not have a middle name, but he constantly bears the name of Leto, who gave birth to him (Hymn. Hom. Ill 253; Paus. I 44, 10). At a later stage of the archaic, A. was a hunter and a shepherd (Hom. Il. II 763-767; XXI 448-449). The interpenetration of life and death, characteristic of primitive thinking, did not escape A.; at this late stage of the archaic, he is a demon of death, murder, even those consecrated by the ritual of human sacrifice, but he is also a healer, averter of misfortunes: his nicknames are Alexikakos (“repulser of evil”), Apotropaeus (“repudiator”), Prostat (“protector”) , Akesy ("healer"). Pean or Peon ("solver of diseases"), Epicurius ("trustee").
At the stage of Olympian or heroic mythology, in this gloomy deity, with his power over life and death, a certain stable beginning stands out, from which a strong harmonious personality of the great god of the era of patriarchy grows. He helps people, teaches them wisdom and arts, builds cities for them, protects them from enemies, and together with Athena acts as a defender of paternal rights. Its zoomorphic and vegetative features become only rudimentary attributes. He is no longer a laurel, but he loves Daphne, who has become a laurel tree. He is not a cypress and a hyacinth, but loves the beautiful youths Cypress and Hyacinthus. He is not a mouse or a wolf, but the lord of mice and the killer of the wolf. If once Python defeated A. and in Delphi they showed the grave of A. (Porphyr. Vit. Pyth. 16), now he is the killer of the chthonic Python. However, having killed Python, this luminous god must atone for the earth that gave birth to Python, and receive purification through a descent into another world - Hades, where he at the same time acquires new strength (Plut. De def. or. 21). This is an obvious chthonic rudiment in the mythology of the luminous A. Once a demon close to Gaia (earth), directly receiving wisdom from her (Eur. Iphig. T. 1234-1282), now he is the “prophet of Zeus” (Aeschyl. Eum. 19), and shaping the will of the supreme god at Delphi (Soph. O. R. 151). A. stops civil strife and gives strength to the people (Theogn. 773-782). Herodotus (VIII 36) confidingly tells about the help of A. to the Greeks in the war with the Persians (VIII 36), and his military power is sometimes identified with natural phenomena: A. the sun sends arrows-rays to enemies.
The archaic roots of A. are also associated with its pre-Greek Asia Minor origin, confirmed by the fact that in the Trojan War A. protects the Trojans and is especially revered in Troas (Chris, Killa, Tenedos) and Troy itself (Hom. P. V 446). From the era of the colonization of Asia Minor by the Greeks (from the 7th century BC), A. firmly entered the Olympic pantheon of gods, while taking from other gods the gift of divination (from Gaia), patronage of music (from Hermes), inspired riot and ecstasy (from Dionysus); But the impressiveness and formidability of A. is fully combined with the grace, refinement and beauty of the young A., as he is portrayed by the authors of the Hellenistic period (cf. Callim. Hymn. II and Apoll. Rhod. 674-685). This classical A. is the god of the heroic time, which the Greeks always opposed to the previous chthonic period, when a person was too weak to fight the mighty forces of nature and could not yet be a hero. The two greatest heroes Hercules and Theseus were associated with the mythology of A. If, according to some myths, A. and Hercules fight each other for the Delphic tripod (Apollod. II 6, 2; Hyg. Fab. 32), then in others they found a city (Paus. Ill 21, 8) and even together they receive cleansing after the murder, being in servitude. Under the patronage of A. Theseus kills the Minotaur (Plut. Thes. 18) and streamlines the laws in Athens, and Orpheus pacifies the elemental forces of nature (Apoll. Rhod. I 495-518). On the basis of the mythology of A. arose the myth of Hyperboreans and their country, where, under the sign of A.'s mercy, morality and the arts flourished (Pind. Pyth. X 29-47; Himer. XIV 10; Herodot. IV 32-34).
The cult of A. was widespread in Greece, temples with oracles of A. existed on Delos, in Didyma, Claros, Abah, in the Peloponnese and in other places, but the main center of worship of A. was the Delphic temple with the oracle of A., where she sat on a tripod priestess A. - Pythia gave predictions. The ambiguous nature of the predictions, which allowed the broadest interpretation, allowed the Delphic college of priests to influence the entire Greek politics. In Delphi, festivities were held in honor of A. (theophany, theoxenia, Pythian games; the latter were introduced in honor of A.'s victory over Python; in their splendor and popularity, they were second only to the Olympic Games). All months of the year, except for the three winter ones, were dedicated to A in Delphi. Temple A. on Delos was the religious and political center of the Delian Union of Greek policies, it kept the treasury of the union and held meetings of its members. A. acquired the significance of the organizer-organizer not only in the socio-political life of Greece, but also in the field of morality, art and religion. In the classical period, A. was understood primarily as the god of art and artistic inspiration; like Artemis, Pallas Athena and other deities A. evolved in the direction of harmony, orderliness and plastic perfection.
From the Greek colonies in Italy, the cult of A. penetrated into Rome, where this god occupied one of the first places in religion and mythology; Emperor Augustus declared A. his patron and established centuries-old games in honor of him, the temple of A. near the Palatine was one of the richest in Rome.
Lit.: Losev A. F., Olympic mythology in its socio-historical development, “Scientific notes of the Moscow State Pedagogical Institute. V. I. Lenin”, 1953, v. 72, c. 3, p. 163-186; his, Antique mythology in its historical development, M., 1957, p. 267-590 [a study of the entire mythology of A. and the image of A. in ancient literature, indicating sources]; Nietzsche, F., The Birth of Tragedy, Poln. coll. cit., [trans. from German], vol. 1, M., 1912; Kerenyi K, ApolIon, W., 1937; Miller R. D., The origin and original nature of Apollo, Phil. 1939; Junger F. G., Griechische Götter. Apollon, Pan, Dionysos, Fr./M., 1943; Pteiff K. A. Apollo. Die Wandlung seines Bildes in der griechischen Kunst, Fr./M., 1943; Amandry P., La mantique apollinlenne a Delphes, P., 1950; Groningen B. A. v., Apollo, Haarlem, 1956.
A. F. Losev.

Among the ancient sculptural images of A.: “A. from Boeotia” (8th century BC), “A. Teneisky" (1st half of the 6th century BC), "A. Ptoios" from Thebes (6th century BC), "Apollo from Vei" (c. 500 BC). According to Roman copies, “A. Parnopios" by Phidias ("A. Kasselsky", "A. Tibersky", etc.), statues of Praxiteles "A. Saurokton "(about 20 copies), Leohara ("A. Belvedere"), Kanah ("A. from Piombino"), a statue of ser. 5th c. BC e. (“A. from Pompeii”), sculptural group “A. Kifared ”Filiska and others. In the relief of the western pediment of the temple of Zeus at Olympia (5th century BC), A. is the central figure. Episodes of the myth about A. are reflected in Greek vase painting: scenes of the battle for the Delphic tripod, the abduction of the herds of Admetus by Hermes, revenge on Tityas, the death of the children of Niobe. A. often portrayed as the leader of the muses.
In the visual arts of the Middle Ages, A. appears in a book miniature as a pagan god with attributes - a bow and arrows, sometimes with a lyre (in scenes with muses or graces) and as the personification of the sun.
After the con. 15th c. was found A. Belvedere ”, A. began to be perceived as the embodiment of the ideal of male beauty, as the personification of everything bright and noble. Particularly popular in painting were the scenes "Parnassus" (A. Mantegna, Raphael, F. Primaticcio, N. Poussin) and "A. and muses” (L. Lotto, Giulio Romano, J. Tintoretto, N. Poussin, K. Lorrain, A. R. Mengs and others). A. was often depicted driving a solar chariot (frescoes by B. Peruzzi and G. Reni, paintings by Giulio Romane, Domenichino, J. B. Tiepolo, and others) and with Artemis (A. Dürer, L. Cranach the Elder, and others). Plots related to the myths about Daphne and Marsyas, as well as plots: “A. guarding the flocks of Admet” (F. Bassano, Domenichino, C. Lorrain, etc.), “A., Neptune and Laomedon build the walls of Troy "(Domenichino, S. Rosa and others), "A. kills Python” (Domenichino, P. P. Rubens, E. Delacroix). The most significant works of European plastic art of the 16th-17th centuries. - "A." J. Sansovino and "A. and Daphne" L. Bernini, new time - "A." O. Rodin.
Among the musical works on the plots of the myth are the cantata by J. S. Bach “The Competition between A. and Pan”, the singspiel by W. A. ​​Mozart “A. and Hyacinth”, K.V. Gluck’s opera “A.’s Feasts”, I. Stravinsky’s ballet “A. Musaget".

(Source: "Myths of the peoples of the world".)

(Phoebus) - the golden-haired god of the sun, art, the god-healer, the leader and patron of the muses (Musaget), the patron of sciences and arts, the predictor of the future, the guardian of herds, roads, travelers and sailors. Son of Leto and Zeus, twin brother of Artemis. Father of Aristaeus (from the nymph Cyrene), Lapith, Femonoi, Orpheus and Lina (from the muse Calliope), Asclepius (from Coronida), Miletus, Pit. He brought natural death to men. At the same time, he was a god - an arrowhead, sending death and disease. See Apollo.

// Giovanni Battista TIEPOLO: Apollo and Diana // Odilon REDON: Apollo's chariot // Odilon REDON: Apollo's chariot // John LILI: Apollo's Song // Theophile de VIO: Apollo // Giambattista MARINO: "Why, tell me, O Daphne. .." // John Keats: Ode to Apollo // John Keats: Apollo to the Graces // Apollon Nikolaevich MAIKOV: "The Muse, the Goddess of Olympus, presented two sonorous flutes..." // Jose Maria de EREDIA: Marsyas // N. A. Kuhn: APOLLO // N.A. Kuhn: THE BIRTH OF APOLLO // N.A. Kun: THE FIGHT OF APOLLO WITH PYTHON AND THE FOUNDATION OF THE DELPHI ORACLE // N.А. Kuhn: DAFNE // N.A. Kuhn: APOLLO AT ADMETUS // N.A. Kuhn: APOLLO AND THE MUSES // N.A. Kun: SONS OF ALOEA // N.A. Kun: MARSIY // N.A. Kuhn: ASCLEPIUS (ESCULAP) // N.A. Kuhn: THE CONTEST OF PAN WITH APOLLO // N.A. Coon: HYACINTH

(Source: "Myths of Ancient Greece. Dictionary Reference." EdwART, 2009.)

in Greek mythology, the son of Zeus and Latona. God of the sun and light, harmony and beauty, patron of the arts, defender of law and order, god of the gift of foresight.

(Source: Dictionary of Spirits and Gods of Norse, Egyptian, Greek, Irish, Japanese, Maya and Aztec Mythologies.)

Bronze.
Around 475 BC e.
Paris.
Louvre.

Statue of Vulca from the pediment of the temple at Veii.
About 500 BC e.
Rome.
Villa Giulia Museum.

Fragment of painting of a red-figure amphora.
End of the 6th century BC e.
London.
British museum.

Apollo Saurocton (killing a lizard).
Roman copy.
From a Greek original by Praxiteles (c. 340 BC).
Marble.
Paris.
Louvre.

Roman copy.
From a Greek bronze original by Leocharus (350330 BC).
Marble.
Rome.
Vatican Museums.

Marble.
Around 460 BC e.
Olympia.
Museum.

Bronze.
Around 460 BC e.
London.
British museum.

Painting by P. Perugino.
1480s.
Paris.
Louvre.

Apollo is the god of many things and one of the most important characters in Greek mythology. He was the god of poetry, art, archery, plague, the sun, light, knowledge, and music.

Apollo was born on an island called Delos and had cousin by name Artemis.

Apollo was wise, and the myths describe it as cheerful god. He could get jealous when provoked, believed in the power of the law, and wanted to be happy and peaceful.

It's safe to say that Apollo was the favorite god of mythology. The legends about him were adapted by the Romans, where he proved to be a favorite among the deities.

Origin

Although Apollo eventually became one of the most revered gods in Greek mythology, its origin can be traced outside of Greece. History shows that cults in Asia were the first to worship Apollo, and they suggest that his first role was actually the protector of the shepherds.

However, the Greeks were not the last to worship Apollo. After being conquered by the Romans, most of the Greek gods were adapted by them. Their names have been changed. Apollo had the same name in Greek and Roman mythology, but his parents were Jupiter and Leto, and his twin sister was named Diana.

Legends and stories

There are a lot of myths around Apollo, and they all have big adventure elements. Some of the legends from Greek mythology are described below.

The Roman versions are almost identical except for the names and places.

Birth of Apollo

One of the most popular stories about Apollo is the story of his birth. Apollo's mother, Leto, was the goddess of motherhood. She seduced Zeus and became pregnant with twins.

But Hera, the wife of the chief god, was enraged by this and made sure that Leto could not find a place for childbirth. Hera even withheld her daughter, the goddess of childbirth, Eilithia, from helping Leto.

Zeus felt terrible from pain and suffering. Leto searched all over Greece until she found a small island known as Business with.

She suffered for nine days and nine nights with terrible pain. On the tenth day she went to a small lake and leaned against a palm tree. She loosened her belt and gave birth to Artemis, who became the Greek deity of the hunt. But Artemis got a new role and helped her mother in the birth of her brother Apollo, which replaced Eilithia.

god of music

There is a myth that tells why Apollo became known as god of music. It begins with a description of a Python who lived on a mountain.

The creature waded through the earth and left a foul smell behind wherever it went, and killed everyone it met on the way. Apollo was just born, but only four days made him strong and capable.

He was given silver bow with golden arrows from the blacksmith Hephaestus. Apollo wanted take revenge Python for everything he did to the Greeks, including chasing his mother when she was pregnant.

Apollo went to the Python's cave. When he entered it, he met a monster who was already furious. He lunged at the god and tried to grab him, but Apollo was faster.

He shot at the Python and pierced his forehead. The python screamed so loudly in pain that all of Greece heard about it. He did everything he could to save himself, but the injury turned out to be deadly.

Apollo was delighted with the salvation of the Greeks. He reached for his lyre and played victory song for everyone to hear. The performance was so perfect that it earned Apollo the title of god of music.

After completing the song, the boy took the body of his victim and buried it on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. In addition, he built the oracle of Delphi which became the most famous in the country.

Despite the fact that Apollo got rid of the terrible Python, his actions were considered a crime under the laws of Mount Olympus. Zeus punished the god by ordering him to create Pythian Games at Delphi.

There were athletic and musical competitions, and Apollo himself took part in some of them. After that, the games were held every four years as a tribute to the memory of Apollo.

Family

Versions of the Apollo family are slightly different in Roman and Greek mythologies.

In the Roman version, his parents are Jupiter and Leto, and his twin sister is named Diana, unlike Artemis in the Greek version. Roman mythology claims that Asclepius, Orpheus, Troll and Aristea were the children of the god.

Apollo never married, but had many mistresses.

Appearance

There are only a few descriptions of Apollo in the literature, but they all describe him in the best possible way. In artistic representations, he appears as young man, which is different from most other male gods. Apollo does not wear a beard and is usually shown with crown of laurel leaves on the head.

Symbolism

There are many symbols associated with Apollo, including the bow and arrow, the lyre and the serpent, all in homage to his battle with the python. He is also associated with many signs related to his headgear. They are rays of light, wreaths and laurel branches.

God Apollo

Prophetic gift of Apollo. None of the immortals can compare in beauty with Apollo! He is forever young - a tall, slender, golden-haired god; his penetrating clear eyes see everything that happens on earth and what is destined to happen in the future. [None of the gods, as the Greeks thought, knew the future better than him, so the inhabitants of Hellas built many temples of Apollo with oracles - special places where anyone could receive a prediction. The most revered was the oracle in the sacred city of Apollo - Delphi. Here is what was said about its foundation.]

Apollo and Python. When Apollo grew up and gained strength, he decided to take revenge on the snake Python for his mother. Finding him on the spurs of Mount Parnassus, the golden-bowed Apollo threw his sparkling arrows at him. Fleeing from the formidable god, Python took to flight. Apollo pursued him to the most sacred of Delphi, where Python tried to elude him in the sanctuary of Mother Earth. However, the formidable god also entered there and slew his enemy to death right at the edge of the sacred cleft. Of course, it was not necessary to kill the snake in the sanctuary - it was a religious crime, and its filth had to be cleansed. Apollo was cleansed on the island of Crete, and then returned to Delphi. [To atone for the guilt of Apollo in the desecration of the sanctuary, the Pythian Games were established here, in which all free Hellenes participated.] And in the temple, Apollo, having learned from Pan the art of predicting the future, founded an oracle.

Terpsichore. Roman
copy from Greek
original

Pythia priestess.

He gave answers to the questioners here through the Pythian priestess. She sat on a special tripod over a crevice from which vapors rose, and inhaled them. Having come into a state of frenzy, she began to shout out fragmentary incoherent words, which were carefully recorded by the Delphic priests. Then, from these words, a poetic answer was compiled and given to the questioner. In the entire history of the Delphic oracle, not a single incorrect prediction is known! Of course, this is explained not so much by the prophetic gift of the Pythia, but by the dexterity of the priests. All the answers given to the question were compiled in such a way that several opposite interpretations could be given. For example, the Lydian king Croesus, who asked whether to start a war against the Persians, was told that by starting it, he would destroy the great kingdom. At the same time, of course, it was not specified which kingdom was meant. Croesus will win the Persians - so the prediction came true; the Persians of Croesus will win - it means that he misunderstood the prediction: he was promised that he would destroy the great kingdom, but not Persian, but his own.

Apollo and the Muses. Parnassus. The rays of the sun are like the golden arrows of Apollo's quiver, radiance spreads wherever he appears. Therefore, they also call him Phoebus, that is, radiant, clear. He is a wonderful musician, enchanting everyone with the sounds of his cithara. Therefore, they also call him Kifared. On earth, Apollo is the inspirer of the arts. He is always accompanied by the daughters of Zeus, the goddess-muse. There are nine of them, and each patronizes its own art or science. Melpomene - tragedies, Terpsichore - dances, Clio - the science of history, Urania - astronomy, Erato - love songs, Polyhymnia - solemn poetry, Calliope - knowledge and poetry, setting out heroic events, Euterpe - lyric poetry, Thalia - comedy. Since Apollo leads their choir, he was given the name Musaget ("Leader of the Muses"). The favorite place of Apollo and the Muses is Mount Parnassus. On the slopes of this mountain, the famous Castal spring beat - a source of inspiration for poets and in general for all people who are engaged in musical arts.

Apollo is the destroyer and healer. In the hands of Apollo is a bow, with arrows from which he strikes all his enemies. These arrows bring pestilence, epidemics, death to dozens of people, and therefore Apollo was called Apollo the Destroyer. But, by sending diseases, Apollo can heal them, which is why he was also called Apollo the Healer.

Asclepius. Roman
copy from Greek
original

Asclepius and his offspring. The son of Apollo was Asclepius, the most skillful of doctors, who cured any illness and injury and even tried to disrupt the world order, intending to resurrect the dead. Of course, the gods could not allow this, and Zev incinerated Asclepius with his lightning. However, then, having heeded the pleas of Apollo, the Thunderer resurrected the doctor and took him to Olympus. So Apollo's son Asclepius became the god of healing. The sons of Asclepius became skilled healers, and from them came the family of Asclepiad doctors on earth; his daughter Hygiea became the goddess - the giver of health [we still use her name in the word "hygiene"], and Panacea (Panacea) sent people healing from all pains. Apollo, the father of Asclepius and a healer of diseases, was called by many honorary nicknames, including Alexikakis (“Repulser of Evil”), Prostat (“Intercessor”), Pean (“Resolver of Diseases”, “Help in Need”).

Apollo is the patron saint of farmers and shepherds. Apollo is one of the most powerful gods, so when he enters the assembly of the gods on Olympus, everyone respectfully and even with some fear stand before him. However, in addition to all the listed functions and epithets, Apollo had some others, not so high. He was also honored as a farmer, calling Sminfey ("Mouse"), as he protects grain from mice; the shepherds called him Apollo Lyceum ("Wolf"), as he guards the flocks from wolves. So it turned out that, under different names, Apollo was considered by most people in Greece to be their patrons.

Apollo and Hyakinth. Apollo is the most beautiful of the gods, but there are things in which he is unlucky, and these are love affairs. Most often, the good attitude of God turned into a tragedy for the one who experienced it for himself. Apollo’s friend was the beautiful young man Hyakinth, but the god of the west wind Zephyr (who himself wanted to be friends with the young man and therefore envied Apollo) made it so that Apollo accidentally hit him with a disk, in throwing which he competed with Hyakinth, and killed him. From the blood of the young man, a flower arose that immortalized his name in human memory - hyacinth.

Apollo playing
on cithara

Apollo and Daphne. Apollo's love for the beautiful nymph Daphne also ended sadly. Aphrodite has a son - a cheerful, fast, playful, treacherous boy Eros. He flies on golden wings over the world, over lands and seas; in his hands is a small golden bow. No one is protected from the arrows of the naughty Eros, they can even hit the Thunderer Zeus. Without pain, arrows pierce the hearts, and the flame of love flares up in them. These arrows do not always bring joy and happiness - they often bring suffering, the torments of love and even death. People suffer, gods suffer too.

Once the golden-haired Apollo laughed at the little bow of Eros; the boy was offended and sent two arrows: one, arousing love, into the heart of Apollo, and the other, killing love, into the heart of the nymph Daphne.

Apollo met a beautiful nymph and fell in love with her. But as soon as Daphne saw the golden-haired god, she set off to run with the speed of the wind. “Stop, beautiful nymph! Apollo called out to her. “Why are you running from me like a sheep chased by a wolf?” After all, I'm not your enemy! Look, you hurt your legs on thorny grass. Don't run so fast, because love makes me race in your footsteps! But Daphne ran faster and faster.

When they began to leave her strength and she realized that the god in love was about to overtake her, Daphne prayed to her father, the river god Peneus: “Help me, father! Take away this image from me - it causes only suffering to me! As soon as she said this, her body became numb, the bark covered it, her hair turned into foliage, and her hands into branches. Daphne became a laurel. For a long time, the saddened Apollo stood next to the tree, for a long time he heard the beating of Daphne's heart under the tree bark, and finally he said: “Let your greenery never wither, oh, laurel! Stay forever green!” Fulfilled as the great god said. And since then, Apollo himself has worn a laurel wreath and adorned the lyre and quiver with arrows with laurel greens.