Apollo ☀️
Welcome to the page of Apollo!
God of:
Music, Poetry, Prophecy, Medicine, Knowledge, Boyhood, Plague, Purification, Civilization, Archery, The Sun
Other Names:
Phoebus
Festival:
- Boedromia: Athenian festival celebrated on the 7th of Boedromiōn (Sept/Oct) to honor Apollo Boedromios (the helper in distress). The festival gave thanks to Apollo for helping the Athenians during times of war.
- Noumenia: Celebrated on the first day of the month which was also the new moon according to the ancient Greek Calendar. Offerings were given to Apollo Noumenios (he of the new moon) as well other deities in hopes to keep or be granted their favor throughout the new month
- Pythian Games: Various athletic and music competitions were held to commemorate Apollo’s defeat of the python and the establishment of the Temple of Delphi
- Pyanopsia: Believed ****to be established by Theseus to thank Apollo for assisting with his victory over the Minotaur. The festival is held on the 7th day of Pyanopsion (Oct/Nov) where a bean stew and an olive branch bound with wool and hung with various fruits were given as offerings
- Gymnopaedia: A Spartan festival that honored primarily Apollo but Artemis and Leto as well. Generations of naked Spartan men participated in war dancing and choral singing. It was said that Gymnopaedia was a festival that the Spartans took more seriously than any other.
- Hyacinthia: A Spartan festival that honored both Apollo and his lover Hyacinthus, who was a Spartan prince and tragically died when he was accidentally hit by a discus. The festival lasted for 3 days where the Spartans mourned the death of their hero, rejoiced his rebirth, and celebrated the glory of Apollo.
- Karneia: A Spartan festival held in honor of Apollo where 5 boys were chosen from each tribe to chase after a man adorned with garlands. Catching him brought good fortune while not catching him brought misfortune. During the time of the festival all military operations were suspended which has lead to many legendary moments in history such as the Spartans declining to aid the Athenians at the Battle of Marathon.
Sacred Day:
- 7th of every month. It was sacred to Apollo because according to myth, he was born on the 7th day of the month, Thargelion. The number seven held special significance in Apollo's worship - there were seven strings on his lyre, and the seventh day of each month became associated with his festivals and rituals. At Delphi, Apollo was said to give oracles on the seventh day of certain months.
Epithets:
- Phoebus: The shining, pure, bright
- Paean: The healing
- Boedromios: The helper in distress
- Alexikakos: The averter of evil
- Agyieus: Protector of public places
- Agraeus: The hunter
- Aegletes: The radiant god
- Loxias: The prophet/The interpreter of Zeus
- Phyxius: The god who protects fugitives
- Lykios: Of the wolves
- Theoxenios: God of foreigners
Married to:
Nobody. Forever a bachelor, whoring his way around, never to be tied down.
Children:
Hella. Notable Children: Asclepius & Orpheus
Apollo´s background:
His father is Zeus, King of the Gods, and his mother is Leto, a Titan.
In her quest for sanctuary, Leto found herself pursued by the vengeful Hera, who sought to thwart her labor. Hera unleashed the fearsome python upon Leto, causing towns to close their doors in dread of the goddess's wrath. At last, Leto sought refuge on the island of Delos, where she could give birth in peace. According to the lore, it was Artemis who emerged first, aiding in the arrival of her twin, Apollo. Though born of the same celestial essence, the twins graced the world on different days; it is whispered that Artemis arrived under the shroud of night on the 6th, while Apollo heralded the dawn of the 7th. Thus, the threads of fate entwined them, linking Artemis to the gentle glow of the moon and Apollo to the vibrant rays of the sun.
Famously known for:
- ¨For being a BRILLIANT & BEAUTIFUL bitch¨ - Hermes ✌️
How to worship (intro level)
- Invite him into your study sessions
- Create playlists
- Learn Divination
- Take care of yourself (he´s got BIG daddy energy which means you MUST take care of yourself)
- Sit out in the sun
- Read & write poetry
- Just read in general, open a book bro
Apollo Deep Dive Episode TBD
Sip of the Day
- The Niobe Incident: One of the most famous examples of their cooperation in vengeance. When Niobe boasted about having more children than their mother Leto, Apollo and Artemis worked together to slay all of Niobe's children - Apollo killing the sons and Artemis the daughters
- The Orion Conflict: Some versions of the myth suggest Apollo tricked Artemis into killing Orion, her hunting companion and possible love interest, by challenging her to hit a distant "target" in the sea (which was actually Orion swimming)
- The Pythia: Contrary to popular belief, the Pythia (Apollo’s Oracle at Delphi) were typically women over 50.
- Divine Prophecy Fun Fact: In myth, its believed that Apollo can give the gift of prophecy through his saliva
- Divine Knowledge vs. Wisdom: While Athena has become the main occupier of the academics because of her role as the god of wisdom, Apollo is actually the god of knowledge!
- Delphi's Dual Guardianship: It was believed that Apollo left Delphi during the winter months to travel to Hyperborea. Dionysus took over in his absence.
- The Most Greek God: Apollo is often referred to as “the most Greek” of all the Greek deities.
- The Divine Teachers of Chiron: Some myths claim that Apollo and Artemis taught the centaur Chiron many of the skills he would later be known for such as medicine and hunting.
- Divine Duplicity: Double Paternity: Apollo and Hermes laid with the mortal Chione on the same night and she later gave birth to twins, one fathered by Apollo and the other Hermes.
- A Divine Bachelor's Tale: Apollo's Vows of Singlehood: While Apollo remains unmarried it was said he sought the hands of both Hestia and Persephone. It was also believed he loved all 9 Muses but since he could not marry all of them he vowed to remain unwed.
& Something to Chew On
- “While the world saw my encounter with Apollo as further proof of my strange mind, I saw that the day he had come to me in the temple was like a lightning bolt shattering the center of my life, the cracks in the earth spiraling from it in every direction. I knew that the madness within me had not been building to that moment, but rather that the echoes of his devastation had rung back through my years as well as forward. Such was the power of Apollo: he could shatter my existence from beginning to end.” - Elektra by Jennifer Saint
- “All who were wise feared the god Apollo’s wrath, silent as sunlight, deadly as plague.” - Circe by Madeline Miller
- "Apollo is the god who sits in the centre, on the navel of the earth, and he is the interpreter of religion for all mankind.¨ - Plato's Republic (427B)
- “Classical Greek historians claim the most popular Olympian deities were Apollo, Athena, Zeus, and Dionysus” - She Who Hunts by Carla Ionescu PhD
