In ancient Greek mythology Apollo was the god of prophecy, music, healing, and light. Apollo was also considered a sun god by later Greeks. People viewed him as a speaker of truth and a master musician. Because of his many important roles, Apollo was greatly loved by the Greeks. He was one of the 12 gods who were believed to live on Mount Olympus, and he was later worshipped by the Romans. The laurel tree, the dolphin, and the crow were sacred to Apollo.

Origins

Apollo was the son of Zeus, the chief god, and Leto, a Titan. He was also the twin brother of Artemis, the goddess of hunting.

Stories about Apollo

One of the earliest deeds of young Apollo was the slaying of the deadly Python, a giant snake that lived in the hills near Delphi, in central Greece. No human dared approach the monster. Apollo came down from Mount Olympus and, after a hard fight, killed Python using his silver bow and golden arrows. Apollo was hailed as the “god of the silver bow.”

At the site near where Apollo killed Python stood the famous Temple of Apollo. People traveled great distances to visit the shrine. There they would speak to Apollo's priestess and hear an oracle, or prediction of their future, that they believed came from Apollo. The priestess of Apollo also told people what to do to make up for their misbehavior.

Apollo himself had to make up for his misbehavior. After killing the Cyclopes, the makers of Zeus's thunderbolts, Apollo was punished by Zeus. He was sent to work as a slave for one year. Given the job of shepherd, Apollo protected the flocks from wolves. Shepherds were known to play music while working in the fields. This may be one reason why Apollo came to be associated with song and poetry.

According to legend, Apollo received a lyre (a kind of stringed instrument) from the messenger god Hermes, who gave it to him to avoid being punished for stealing Apollo's oxen. Apollo loved the gift and became skilled at playing it. With his music, Apollo charmed the gods at banquets and feasts on Mount Olympus.

Apollo in art

Apollo was a favorite subject of artists. Ancient sculptors showed him as a handsome figure with flowing hair, crowned with a wreath of laurel or ivy and holding his bow or lyre. The most famous statue of him is in the Vatican Museum in Rome, Italy. Called the Apollo Belvedere, it is a Roman copy of an original Greek bronze sculpture.