Apollo is often referred to as the prince of Greek Mythology. As the god of archery, prophecy, plague and the arts, he is an important figure and relates to many factors in Greek life.
Apollo’s most important place of worship was Delphi. Delphi was said to be the mythological centre of the earth and the site of the omphalos, the ancient navel stone that Zeus used to trick Cronos (Hesiod Theogony 488-494). Apollo became the founder of the settlement when he slew the serpent Python that terrorized the area (Apollodorus, Library 1.4). The city, originally known as Python, took its name from two sources. It was either named after the monster that resided there, or from the Greek pythe, meaning ‘rot’, as “the might of the swift sun made the monster[Python] …show more content…
Though each of Apollo’s timai are important to Greek culture, prophecy plays a very important role. Apollo’s association with prophecy can be traced directly to his birth. Almost immediately after exciting his mother’s womb, the young god of light leapt up and exclaimed "Mine be the dear lyre and bended bow, and I will utter to men the unerring counsel of Zeus.” (Homeric Hymns, Apollo 115-181) The first words out of Apollo’s mouth declare his desire to act a voice for the counsel of the gods. Throughout antiquity, there were other prayers to Apollo which were met with a prophetic vision. The ancient Greeks would pray to Apollo for guidance and prophetic wisdom on how to deal with their daily struggles. The Greeks may have reached out to Apollo for his help with plagues that tormented them, as this was another area of his expertise. In fact, the opening lines of Homer’s Iliad describe Apollo raining a terrible plague down onto the Achaean army–“Incensed at the king he swept a fatal plague through the army - men were dying and all because Agamemnon spurned Apollo's priest.”(1.9-12) Additionally, Apollo has a son Asclepios, a great healer who possessed the power to raise the dead (Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.26.3-2.27.4). Asclepios’ ability to raise the dead further cements Apollo’s connection with plague and healing. Apollo’s relationship with plague is further demonstrated in the story of Laomedon. When the king of Troy refused to pay Apollo for the walls he had helped build, he sent a deadly plague down to wreak havoc on the city. (Apollodorus, Library 2.4.8-2.7.7) The plague eventually ceased when Laomedon offered sacrifice to a sea monster that was terrorizing Troy (Hyginus, Stories 89 Laomedon). This story is by the Roman author, Hyginus, and describes the Roman version of Apollo. However, there is no significant difference between Apollo and his
Apollo’s most important place of worship was Delphi. Delphi was said to be the mythological centre of the earth and the site of the omphalos, the ancient navel stone that Zeus used to trick Cronos (Hesiod Theogony 488-494). Apollo became the founder of the settlement when he slew the serpent Python that terrorized the area (Apollodorus, Library 1.4). The city, originally known as Python, took its name from two sources. It was either named after the monster that resided there, or from the Greek pythe, meaning ‘rot’, as “the might of the swift sun made the monster[Python] …show more content…
Though each of Apollo’s timai are important to Greek culture, prophecy plays a very important role. Apollo’s association with prophecy can be traced directly to his birth. Almost immediately after exciting his mother’s womb, the young god of light leapt up and exclaimed "Mine be the dear lyre and bended bow, and I will utter to men the unerring counsel of Zeus.” (Homeric Hymns, Apollo 115-181) The first words out of Apollo’s mouth declare his desire to act a voice for the counsel of the gods. Throughout antiquity, there were other prayers to Apollo which were met with a prophetic vision. The ancient Greeks would pray to Apollo for guidance and prophetic wisdom on how to deal with their daily struggles. The Greeks may have reached out to Apollo for his help with plagues that tormented them, as this was another area of his expertise. In fact, the opening lines of Homer’s Iliad describe Apollo raining a terrible plague down onto the Achaean army–“Incensed at the king he swept a fatal plague through the army - men were dying and all because Agamemnon spurned Apollo's priest.”(1.9-12) Additionally, Apollo has a son Asclepios, a great healer who possessed the power to raise the dead (Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.26.3-2.27.4). Asclepios’ ability to raise the dead further cements Apollo’s connection with plague and healing. Apollo’s relationship with plague is further demonstrated in the story of Laomedon. When the king of Troy refused to pay Apollo for the walls he had helped build, he sent a deadly plague down to wreak havoc on the city. (Apollodorus, Library 2.4.8-2.7.7) The plague eventually ceased when Laomedon offered sacrifice to a sea monster that was terrorizing Troy (Hyginus, Stories 89 Laomedon). This story is by the Roman author, Hyginus, and describes the Roman version of Apollo. However, there is no significant difference between Apollo and his