Apollo: Looking for Love in all the Wrong Places
Considered the “…the most Greek of all the gods” (Hamilton 25), Apollo is the god of the sun, healing, music, poetry, prophecy, plague, archery, and truth. This makes him a powerful god amongst the Olympians and leads to extensive praise from mortals. This kind of importance puts Apollo at the center of countless myths where his power and prestige shine through. Fathered by Zeus, and born to Leto, Daughter of Coeus and Phoebe, Apollo and his sister Artemis came into existence on the floating island of Delos. Facing the wrath of Hera, Leto wandered the world in search of a suitable place to give birth. While walking past Delphi, Leto encountered Python, a dragon-serpent sent by Hera. Apollo’s …show more content…
Leto was however still not safe and was pursued by Hera across the sea to Lycia. There Leto asked the local peasants for a drink of water but was rejected. Angered, the mother of Apollo turned the village people into croaking frogs (Freeman 37). Upon her return to the mainland, Leto was confronted by a giant named Tityus near the mountains of Delphi. When he attempted to rape the goddess, Apollo and Artemis intervened and defended their mother. The giant was later punished by Zeus in the underworld. He was stacked to the ground and had vultures peck at his intestines till the end of eternity (Freeman 37). One account states that at just four days old Apollo traveled to Delphi to establish his oracle (Freeman 37) while another states that he was taken to Hyperboreans by the swan chariot for a year prior to that (Grimal 49). One myth sees Apollo on a journey to seek out the perfect location when he encounters a nymph named Telpusa. To protect her sacred spring, Telpusa lied and told Apollo to go to the base of Mount Parnassus where it is more peaceful and quiet. Much later once the young god found out of her lie, he dried up her spring (Freeman 37). Once at Delphi, he was confronted by the Python which had been ravaging the surrounding countryside. He shot the creature with his bow, killing it and giving himself the title “Pythian”. This marked a special celebration called the Pythian Games which honored Apollo. He then proceeded to build his temple but found that men were needed to serve at the temple. Spotting a ship in the distance, he turned himself into a dolphin and jumped onboard. The wind then directed the ship toward the base of Mount Parnassus where Apollo revealed his true form and told the sailors that they have been chosen to become priests and prophets at his temple (Freeman 38). A woman was then selected to become the first
Considered the “…the most Greek of all the gods” (Hamilton 25), Apollo is the god of the sun, healing, music, poetry, prophecy, plague, archery, and truth. This makes him a powerful god amongst the Olympians and leads to extensive praise from mortals. This kind of importance puts Apollo at the center of countless myths where his power and prestige shine through. Fathered by Zeus, and born to Leto, Daughter of Coeus and Phoebe, Apollo and his sister Artemis came into existence on the floating island of Delos. Facing the wrath of Hera, Leto wandered the world in search of a suitable place to give birth. While walking past Delphi, Leto encountered Python, a dragon-serpent sent by Hera. Apollo’s …show more content…
Leto was however still not safe and was pursued by Hera across the sea to Lycia. There Leto asked the local peasants for a drink of water but was rejected. Angered, the mother of Apollo turned the village people into croaking frogs (Freeman 37). Upon her return to the mainland, Leto was confronted by a giant named Tityus near the mountains of Delphi. When he attempted to rape the goddess, Apollo and Artemis intervened and defended their mother. The giant was later punished by Zeus in the underworld. He was stacked to the ground and had vultures peck at his intestines till the end of eternity (Freeman 37). One account states that at just four days old Apollo traveled to Delphi to establish his oracle (Freeman 37) while another states that he was taken to Hyperboreans by the swan chariot for a year prior to that (Grimal 49). One myth sees Apollo on a journey to seek out the perfect location when he encounters a nymph named Telpusa. To protect her sacred spring, Telpusa lied and told Apollo to go to the base of Mount Parnassus where it is more peaceful and quiet. Much later once the young god found out of her lie, he dried up her spring (Freeman 37). Once at Delphi, he was confronted by the Python which had been ravaging the surrounding countryside. He shot the creature with his bow, killing it and giving himself the title “Pythian”. This marked a special celebration called the Pythian Games which honored Apollo. He then proceeded to build his temple but found that men were needed to serve at the temple. Spotting a ship in the distance, he turned himself into a dolphin and jumped onboard. The wind then directed the ship toward the base of Mount Parnassus where Apollo revealed his true form and told the sailors that they have been chosen to become priests and prophets at his temple (Freeman 38). A woman was then selected to become the first