Apollon

The Hellenic god Apollon/Apollo is one of the most well-known as a god of music, poetry, healing and prophecy, but also of plague, light and archery. He is still worshiped by some modern pagans such as I, and Phoibos Apollon is a pet dedicated to the Shining God.

'Phoibos' is an epithet of Apollon's which means 'shining' or 'bright.'

Domains Music - particularly 'civilized' music Poetry and Song Healing and Disease Prophecy and Truth Archery Protection of boys Adoption The Sun and Light Order and rational thought Ritual purification Protection of herds, flocks and crops from disease Founding of new towns Establishment of civil institutions

Symbols and Animals Silver (or Gold) Bow and Arrows The Lyre Swans and Cranes Ravens, Crows and Hawks Mice Snakes Dolphins Wolves Larkspur/Iris("Hyacinth") Laurel wreath/branch Myrtle, Cypress and Palm tree Bees and Cicadas Tripod

Sun god?

Apollon was not originally associated with the sun, nor Artemis the moon. The sun was initially associated with Helios, the titan god and personification of the sun, who rode a golden chariot which brought the Sun across the skies each day. Around the 5th Century BCE during the Hellenistic period, the cult of Apollo Helios began to absorb that of Helios, and the association with the sun grew stronger. For the Romans this association took place much later, only in the 1st Century BCE.

Hellenistic period being after Alexander's conquests where there was a wave of Greek colonization and its increase in political power and cultural influence

Don't worry, 'cult' here refers to the religious rites, customs of worship and the veneration of a particular figure.

Other Epithets

• Agraeus - “Hunter”
• Sauroktonos - “Lizard-killer”
• Pythios - “Of the Python”
• Hekatos - “Worker from afar”
• Hekaergos - “Far-shooting”
• Argyrotoxus - “With Silver Bow”
• Khrysaor - “Of the Golden Arms/Sword”
• Khrusokómēs - “He Who Has Golden Hair”
• Aigletes - “The Radiant God”
• Phanaios - “Giving or bringing light”
• Lykeios - “Light”
• Helios - “Sun”
• Lukêgenês - “Light-born (Or wolf-born)”
• Intonsus - “Unshorn (Youth)”
• Theoxenios - “God of Foreigners”
• Sminthaios - “Of the mice”
• Delphinios - “Of the dolphins”

Apollon Delios

’Of Delos’

Birth Myth

Apollon and his sister Artemis were born from Leto, a goddess of motherhood, who was either married to Zeus or had a liaison with him. There are various versions of how Apollon was born:

In Homeric Hymn 3 to Apollo, the oldest extant account of this myth, the pregnant Leto wandered in search for a place to give birth to Apollo but every land she went to “greatly trembled and feared” until she came to Delos. The island of Delos agreed to be his birthplace, but worried that because of its hard rocky soil and lack of people, Apollon once born would sink the island in scorn. Delos requested that Leto swear an oath that Apollon would “build a glorious temple to be an oracle for men” on Delos first before other lands.

Leto swore the oath but labored for nine days and nine nights because Hera, in her jealousy, had kept the goddess of childbirth, Eileithyia, unaware of Leto’s situation. The other goddesses who were with Leto to witness the birth (Dione, Rhea, Ichnaea, Themis and Amphitrite) sent the messenger goddess Iris to give Eileithyia a necklace to convince her to come to Delos. Once she arrived, Apollon could be born. He was given nectar and ambrosia and then he spoke his first words: “The lyre and the curved bow shall ever be dear to me, and I will declare to men the unfailing will of Zeus.”

Later accounts such as that of Callimachus claim that it was because of Hera that Leto had such trouble finding a birthplace for Apollon. As Callimachus tells it, all the lands feared Hera’s wrath, and she even had Ares and Isis threaten any city that pregnant Leto approached to turn her away. For the island of Kos, interestingly enough, it was Apollon (still the womb) who declared that the island was destined to be the birthplace of someone else and to instead go to a tiny wandering island then called Asteria. Swans circled seven times over the island, singing seven times before Apollon was born.

You may ask “What about Artemis?” Well, the two were not always seen as twins! In those times it was common for twins in myth to be the same sex, and Apollon and Artemis were just siblings. In Bibliotheca, Artemis was indeed born on Delos and then helped Leto give birth to Apollon, but in accounts such as the Homeric Hymn 3 to Apollo, and Orphic Hymn 35 to Leto, Artemis was born in Ortygia.

Apollon, Artemis and Leto

These three were a close family, and even in art they sometimes appeared as a triad. One example of a myth involving them is the following: Niobe the queen of Thebes boasted that she was a better mother than even Leto, because she had given birth to twelve or fourteen children, half boys and half girls. This hubris angered the three gods, and Apollon and Artemis shot their arrows and killed the boys and girls respectively.

Apollon Patroos/Patir: The Best Dad Ever

Apollon had little luck with love (to put it lightly) but he did have a number of offspring and was a pretty good dad. Not only to his own children but to those he adopted as well, and his shared festival with Artemis in Athens, the Thargelia, was when adopted children could be officially registered into the family.

Aristaios was the son of Apollon and Kyrene, and the mortal-born god of beekeeping and honey, cheese making, olive oil manufacturing, and hunting. Other than supporting him in a competition against Dionysus, Apollon took the time to come and personally arm him before a war.

“And as he came in haste, Apollon his father left the prophetic laurel and armed him with his own hands, gave his son a bow, and fitted his arm with a curiously wrought shield, and fastened the hollow quiver by a strap over the shoulder to hang down his back.”

Apollon is shown to clearly care for his children as he ensures that they are cared for and is often depicted as getting unusually (for the time) emotional at their deaths, even attempting to avenge them. For example, after Zeus killed Asklepios with a thunderbolt, a furious Apollon killed the Kyklopses who had made the thunderbolt. He wept at the deaths of Orpheus and Linus, sent plagues to avenge Linus and Carnus, and wanted to avenge two/three of his sons whom Achilles had killed.

”The Keltoi (Celts), however, have another tale about these amber drops that are carried down the current [of the river Eridanos of Northern Europe]. They say they are the many tears that Apollon shed for his son Asklepios (Asclepius) when he visited the sacred people of the North. He was banished from the bright sky by his father Zeus, whom he blamed for having killed this son of his, who was borne by the Lady Koronis (Coronis) in splendid Lakereia (Laceria) at the mouth of the Amyros (Amyrus).” - Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica

Apollon's Lovers

Apollon has a very long list of lovers, both men and women, divine, semi-divine and mortal. This included some of the Muses, Hyakinthos, Daphne, Kassandra (The prophetess), Koronis (Mother of Asklepios), and Adonis. Apollon was often invoked to bless homosexual unions and was considered a patron god of homosexuality, where in modern times he is often considered bisexual or pansexual.

Hyakinthos

According to myth and particularly in Ovid's Metamorphoses, Hyakinthos was a Spartan prince who was Apollon's lover, and whom Apollon taught the skills of the bow, lyre and prophesy. Apollon even left his duties at Delphi to spend time with Hyakinthos, "forgetting himself" as Ovid puts it.

One day they were taking turns to throw the discus, and Apollon threw it so hard that it cleaved the clouds. When the discus came back to earth, Hyakinthos became so excited that he ran out unthinkingly to grab it, and the discus bounced off the earth and struck him in the head. Apollon ran up and caught him and tried to heal the wound with healing herbs, but was unable to, and Hyakinthos died in his arms.

Apollon wept over his lover's death and wished to become mortal so that he could join his lover, but since he is immortal and cannot do so, he promised to always remember him through his music and song. Apollon created a new flower from Hyakinthos' blood, "in form a lily, save that a lily wears a silver hue, this richest purple. And, not yet content, Phoebus (who had wrought the work of grace) inscribed upon the flower his lament, AI AI, AI AI, and still the petals show the letters written there in words of woe." Hyacinth was eventually resurrected by Apollo and given divine immortality (Apotheosis).

Hyakinthos' death and rebirth are celebrated in the three-day long major holiday called Hyacinthia.

Another version states that it was because of Zephyrus, the West Wind, that the discus hit him, because Zephyrus was angry that Hyakinthos had chosen Apollon over him.

The modern hyacinth flower is not actually the same flower as described, and modern scholars think it may in fact be the larkspur (above image) or iris!

Apollon Musagetes

’Leader of the Muses’

The Muses

The Mousai (Muses) were Apollon's retinue of goddesses of music, song, dance and knowledge. They were considered the source of inspiration to musicians and poets. They were later given specific names and areas of expertise:

• Thaleia of comedy
• Melpomene of tragedy
• Kalliope of epic poetry
• Erat of erotic poetry
• Euterpe of lyric poetry
• Terpsikhore of choral song and dance
• Polymnia of religious hymns
• Ourania of astronomy
• Kleio of history

Apollon Thearios

'Of the Oracle'

Apollon was described as the only immortal who could know the mind of his father Zeus and thus give prophecies (Zeus had oracles in Dodona and even Siwa in Egypt). When young Hermes asked Apollon for the gift of divination, Apollon replied, "But as for sooth-saying, noble, heaven-born child, of which you ask, it is not lawful for you to learn it, nor for any other of the deathless gods: only the mind of Zeus knows that. I am pledged and have vowed and sworn a strong oath that no other of the eternal gods save I should know the wise-hearted counsel of Zeus."

Apollon's Oracles

Apollon's oracles were often consulted for guidance from people of all classes. Apollon's temple at Delphi (also known as Pytho) is not the only oracular shrine of Apollon's, but is the most famous. The Pythia was the high priestess here who gave prophecies from Apollon, seated on the tripod that was his sacred symbol. Originally a young virgin (unmarried woman) and after a reform, a woman no younger than fifty, the Pythia was perhaps one of the most powerful women in Greece. There are many attempts today to scientifically explain how the Pythia was able to give prophecies, most notably the claim of the cause being due to hallucinogenic gases rising up from a chasm in the ground (which should have affected all attendants in the room and not just the Pythia if this were the case), but there are still many debates on this.

Divination Methods

Seemingly the most common divination method was that of ecstatic divination, known also as mania or madness. This was going into an altered state of consciousness due to being controlled by the god for whom they gave prophecies. 'Spirit possession' would be an accurate term to use, but of course has negative associations due to Christianity and much of horror media (largely informed by Christianity). This was not some wild frenzied madness as you might imagine from the words used, but from ancient accounts and art, the Pythia is depicted as calm and composed while being inhabited by the god.

Apollon Iastros

'The Physician'

Healing

Apollon was associated with healing and medicine, but also plague. Yet this was actually a lesser domain of his, compared to music and divination. There was less difference in those times between war and disease, both of which Apollon could be called on to help with, thus he was known as the Helper, the "Averter of Evil". From the fifth century BCE onwards it was Apollon's son Asklepios, who trained with the centaur Chiron, who became the main patron deity of health and medicine.

Other Epithets

• Akestor - “Healing / Averter of evil”
• Alexikakos - “Healing / Averter of evil”
• Akestios - “Healer”
• Loimios - “Deliverer from Plague”
• Paruopios - “Expeller of locusts”
• Paian - “Healer”
• Boedromios - “The Helper in Distress / Rescuer”
• Epikourios - “Helper”

In Modern Paganism

Apollon is a very popular deity worshiped by some modern pagans, most often in his healing or music aspects. As he is a popular god for use in retellings and pop culture, he is one of the most well known even now, though unfortunately he has lately been done dirty by a certain webcomic which has led to many people assuming that that character and his actions reflect the actual myths and character of the god, and harassing modern pagans who worship him.

Associations

Colors: Yellows and golds, Orange, Sky Blue, White

Tarot Cards: The Sun, King of Cups, The Emperor, The Hierophant, King of Wands, Ace of Swords, Knight of Cups, The Chariot, The Star

Offerings

Mineral Offerings can be: Citrine, Tiger's Eye, Tiger Iron, Amber, Bumblebee Jasper, Orange or Yellow Calcite, Sunstone, Sodalite, Lapis Lazuli, Hematite, Malachite, Rainbow Fluorite, Tourmaline

Herbal/Plant Offerings can be: Hyacinth, Larkspur, Iris, Bay Laurel, Sunflowers, Honeysuckle, Calendula/Marigold, Dandelions, Cypress, Star Anise, Lily of the Valley, Buttercups, Rosemary, Succulents

Food and Drink Offerings can be: Honey, Citrus fruits, Bread, Olive oil, Milk, Wine (diluted), Fruit, Baked goods, Mac ‘n cheese, Crackers, Cheese, Caramel, Chocolate, Coffee, Vanilla/Lemon cake, Orange juice/soda, Sweet tea, Green tea, Potato products, Chicken, Pineapple, Apples

Scents: Frankincense, White Sandalwood & Cedar, Butterscotch, Orange, Some woody scents

Other Offerings can be: Art, Poetry, Depictions of Artemis, Leto or his children, Depictions of his lovers, A dedicated playlist, A dedicated mood or Pinterest board, Shed snake skin, Cicada shells, Sun imagery, Dedicated divination tools

Devotional acts:

• Making or learning music, singing, playing an instrument
• Any kind of divination, such as tarot or tea leaf reading
• Learning first aid, Focusing on your health, Making lifestyle changes for your health
• Archery or learning archery skills
• Donating to LGBTQ+ organizations
• Writing poetry
• Beekeeping

Profile code and text by

Ellyrium

Background Image

By perditionxroad

Other Images

Bow Image in 'Intro' - Newell Convers Wyeth - source

Red Figure Image in Family' - Attributed as Recalls the Bowdoin-Eye Painter (Public Domain) - source

Apollo and Kalliope - Attributed to the Calliope Painter (Public Domain) - source

Larkspur - Ivonne Wierink - source

The Pythia - John Collier (Public Domain)

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In dedication to Apollon, who brightens my life with song and aids me in my learning