Apollo is revered as the Greek God of prophecy, sun, poetry, light, healing, truth, and music. He is one of the most well-known gods in Greek mythology. He is the son of Leto and Zeus and has been gifted with great athleticism.
He has a twin sister, Artemis, known as the Goddess of hunt and moon. Like the different gods and goddesses, Knowing who was apollo in Greek Mythology requires you to understand his several symbolisms.
Usually, the meaning will be associated with Apollo’s significant accomplishments and notable actions during a particular situation.
Who was Apollo in Greek Mythology: Symbolism and Portrayal of Apollo?
The bow and arrow used by Apollo to defeat Python, a serpent monster who used to live close to Delphi, represents victory. This place has been considered the core of the Earth.
Due to Hera’s jealousy of the infidelity of Zeus, she sent Python to chase away Leto. At that time, Leto was pregnant with Artemis and Apollo, which led to the delay in their birth.
After reaching the ripe age, he returned to Delphi, defeated Python, and established his shrine there. Consequently, the bow and arrow used by Apollo during the Trojan War made people refer to him as the God of Plague. Here are more things related to this Greek deity.
The Lyre
Per riding a flaming golden chariot every morning that signals the coming of the daylight. In the evening, his twin sister Artemis will have her own chariot to ride to bring darkness to Earth.
Laurel Branch
Apollo’s laurel branch represents his love and devotion to Daphne, a demigod. Sadly, Daphne was given the curse of hatred of lust, and love. This was Eros’ revenge against Apollo after claiming that he was a better archer.
Daphne eventually grew sick of Apollo, so she begged Peneus for help. Peneus transformed Daphne into a laurel tree to escape Apollo.
Laurel Wreath
This symbolizes Apollo’s honor. It was used during the early Olympi
Apollo’s Love Affairs
Known for possessing an unbelievable physical beauty, Apollo is loved by both humans and Gods, men and women. More often, they will be receiving the same love from him. Unfortunately, most of these love affairs did not end up as expected. Here are some of them.
Coronis
Coronis is one of the ill-fated romantic affairs of Apollo. She was already bearing the child of Apollo when she fell in love with Ischys.
The white crow then relayed the bad news to Apollo. He was so infuriated that he burned the white feathers of the white crow turning it to black and ordering Artemis to slay her.
Marpessa
It took a while before Apollo fell in love again, this time with Marpessa. Unfortunately, she already has a lover, Idas, who went a mile to get her. He even risked his own life just to abduct her.
In front of Apollo, Idas remained firm and resolute, even going as far as threatening Apollo to attack him. Zeus intervened and prevented the clash and allowed Marpessa a chance to choose.
She decided to choose Idas not because she didn’t love Apollo but because she believed that Apollo would not love her as much once she grew old.
Cassandra
Apollo tried to seduce Cassandra by bestowing her the power of divination or prophecy. Unfortunately, the Trojan Princess decided to back out afterward.
Apollo was not allowed to recall any blessings that had already been gifted. Nonetheless, Apollo was not called God for nothing. He took away her power of persuasion. Since then, no one believed her, even her prophecies.
Daphne
Daphne may have been the most renowned love interest of Apollo. She was a nymph who swore to Artemis that she would remain untainted forever.
Due to the persistence of Apollo in pursuing her, she sought the help of her father, Peneus, who transformed her into something else.
Apollo was about to embrace Daphne when she was turned into a Laurel tree. Apollo then swore that she would love Daphne for eternity. The laurel wreath that he wears is a symbol of his tragic love.
Cyparissus
Like his famous female lover, Cyparissus was turned into a plant. Apparently, he accidentally killed a deer gifted to him by Apollo.
He then pleaded with Apollo to curse him for being forever sorrowful. Apollo, though unwillingly, transformed him into Cyprus Tree.
Hyacinthus
His romantic story about Hyacinthus is even more tragic. He is known as the favorite of God Apollo, and he loved him back. However, Hyacinthus also had another admirer- Zephyrus, the West Wind.
When the lovers were practicing on the field, he was so jealous that he made the discus diverge and mortally wound Hyacinthus on the head.
Nonetheless, Apollo ensured that Hades would not take everything away from him. With his spilled blood, a flower sprouted bearing the same name.
Interesting Facts About Apollo
If you have been fascinated by the Gods and deities of mythologies, you will understand that each of the Gods is remarkable in their unique way. Apollo is equally interesting due to some facts associated with him.
Apollo is Bisexual
According to the mythology, Apollo has no qualms about having a female or male lover. He was depicted as what we call these days as bisexuals.
We’ve mentioned some tragic love stories above that proved that gender is not an issue to this God. He pursued Daphne, a demigod who captured his heart after being struck by Cupid’s arrow.
He also has his share of male lovers, with Hyacinthus being the most popular of them. He was a spartan prince known for his remarkable beauty.
He Is Known as Gods of Several Things
Apollo is a God of almost everything that even historians became confused about. Apart from what we mentioned here, He is also the God of plague, art, and archery.
It is interesting to note that the original God of the Sun would be Helios, but it seems that everyone has already forgotten about him. Apollo is well-known for his music among all his blessings and gifts.
According to stories, he has participated in several musical competitions. While he may be a God, he couldn’t stand being a loser in these contests.
For instance, he transformed the ears of King Midas into the ears of a donkey for choosing Pan over him. He also cheated in a contest against Marsyas. After being deemed his equal, he flayed the unlucky satyr alive.
Apollo has Been Stripped of Immortality Twice
The first time that Apollo was stripped of his immortal powers was when Zeus killed his son, Asclepius. His son is known for being a powerful healer, even defying fate and bringing the dead Hippolytus back to life.
Apollo killed Cyclopes, who created the weapon as an act of revenge. Zeus was infuriated that he sent Apollo to the Earth as a mortal being.
The second time was when he and Poseidon plotted to overthrow Zeus. They were both sent to the mortal realm to work years of arduous labor. They even helped in building the walls of Troy.
Apollo Loves Animals but Loves Music More
Apollo has a dolphin, raven, and wolf as his sacred animals. However, he is better known for being the God of Cowherds. He rears the sacred cows, regarded as the finest cattle in the realm.
There was a time when Hermes stole 50 of his cattle as a joke; he was planning to kill him, but what stopped him was the invention of Hermes, a lyre. He was so fascinated with the musical instrument that he decided to exchange the whole herd for it.
Conclusion
Who was Apollo in Greek Mythology? Apollo is a multifaceted god and one of the most adored Greek mythology Gods. He has been depicted in various art forms as the well-endowed naked God.
He has an athletic build and is beardless. He is often portrayed wearing a laurel wreath and holding a lyre or a bow and arrow. While he may have different immortal powers, he is best known for his prophecies.
He also can heal people and bring disease and illness. Based on the legends, his expertise in using bow and arrow makes him deadly on the battlefield.
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