Who Is Apollo: An Epic Hero?

NASA had put out the Apollo program from 1961-1972, with its main goal to put a man on the moon and return him safely to earth. The Apollo program was named after the Greek God, after the Mercury mission, but who was Apollo the God? Was Apollo that important that NASA deemed him fit enough to be a set of space missions? In fact, he was. Apollo was the God of more than eight different things, he has a very strong background, and he took part in many myths.
Imagine being good looking and a master of many artistries. This was the reality for Apollo. He was considered the ideal figure. He was beardless with a youthful appearance. Apollo was a very complex yet important God. Apollo is the God of many things including: music, poetry, art, oracles, …show more content…
When Apollo was only four days old, he killed the dragon. He was gifted his bow and arrows at birth by Hephaestus, and had already learned how to use them. “Apollo went to mount Parnassus, and there killed the dragon Python, who had pursued his mother during her wanderings, before she reached Delos” (Apollo (Apollon)). Once he killed the dragon, he learned the art of oracles and prophecies and begun to tell people their futures in the Temple of Delphi. He was worshipped highly by both the Gods and the people, because he always told the truth when giving prophecies. Another myth of Apollo has to do with Apollo and Daphne. “When Apollo saw Daphne for the first time, he got struck by the arrows of Eros and madly fell in love with her” (Greek God Apollo Myths). However, Daphne did not like Apollo and therefore tried to escape. Apollo did not give up though. Daphne ended up asking Gaea to make her disappear from the earth to escape Apollo. When Gaea granted her wish and Daphne disappeared, a Laurel tree grew in that spot. This tree became very significant to Apollo and he began to wear the leaves of the laurel tree in his hair. These are only two of many myths that Apollo takes part in, but they both are very significant to his