Phoebus army with a plague and lead

Phoebus Apollo is one of the twelve Olympians and among the most importantGreek gods. Often described as the epitome of youth and beauty, Apollo is thegod of music, oracles, archery, plague, medicine and the sun.

His unrivalledbeauty and various talents make him one of the most loved of all Greek gods. Apollo is the son of Zeus and the Titan Leto. Zeus’ wife Hera had banned Letofrom giving birth on land so Apollo and his twin sister Artemis were born onthe then recently formed island of Delos. Apollo is said to have immediatelygrown to man upon his first taste of ambrosia. The objects traditionallyassociated with the god are a silver bow (symbolic of his skills in archery) and agolden lyre given to Apollo by the god Hermes which symbolises his ability inmusic.

With his powers, Apollo bestows upon men good health and fortune butis known to bring illness and plague upon those who have displease him. Apollois an oracular god and serves as the intermediary between gods and men-prophesising through Pythia at the oracle of Delphi Apollo rides his chariotevery day to push the Sun so as to bring light to the world. It is said that after his birth, Apollo transformed into a dolphin and went off forPytho where a great serpent named Python not only guarded the place but alsospoke the oracle’s prophecies. Python was slain by Apollo with a single arrow, who then took the oracle for himself. The name of the place was changed toDelphi as Apollo had changed into a dolphin in order to reach it.

Another veryfamous myth involving Apollo was his involvement in the Trojan War. It is saidthat Apollo infected the Greek army with a plague and lead the entire Trojanarmy in an attack which destroyed the Achaean defensive walls. He is also saidto have guided Paris’ arrow to the heel of Achilles, killing the seeminglyinvincible Achaean hero.

Apollo is one the few gods that the Romans kept the same. In Romanmythology however, he is mostly known as the god of healing and prophecy, whereas the Greeks mainly worshiped him as the god of light. Many those whostudy Greek mythology believe that Apollo’s original role may have been asprotector of herdsmen and shepherds. He is often pictured holding a lyre, andshepherds were known to play music to pass their idle hours. Apollo’sidentification as god of music, archery, and medicine came after his oracle wasestablished at Delphi. Only much later did he become known as the Sun God.