The Greek Gods

Apollo (also known as Phoebus Apollo), was one of the Greek gods of Greek mythology. Apollo was the Greek god of prophesy, music, and healing. Apollo intervened into human affairs just like the other gods and goddesses did. They ruled the universe and every one of them had certain tasks to perform. Apollo was the god who brought about the great demise of the mighty Achilles. Achilles was the best fighter in the Trojan War. He defeated the Trojan captain, Hector in a single combat. Apollo helped Hector’s brother, Paris, kill Achilles with an arrow. The myths say that when someone died suddenly, they were struck down by one of Apollo’s arrows.

According to Greek mythology, Apollo started the Trojan War when he caused arrows to rain down on the Greek camp. Whether this is the only story written or not about the beginning of the war is not known for sure. There are many different versions of some of the Greek myths and also about who were the children of whom. The Greeks needed an answer as to how the universe was created so they made up stories as to how they felt it all came about. This is how all of the myths came about. The Greeks then worshiped these gods and goddesses and made sacrifices to them.

Apollo was also the god of music and is seen many time playing the lyre. It seems that he was given this instrument by Hermes in compensation for stealing cattle. It is reported that Apollo did invent the lute, although he was best known as playing the lyre. It is said that Apollo won several musical contests when he played the lyre. He competed with Pan, who played the Shepherd’s pipe. However, King Midas claimed that he preferred the shepherd’s pipe and it made Apollo mad so he turned the king’s ears into those of an ass.

Apollo had a sister named Artemis (or Diana), and she was the virgin goddess of the hunt and also the goddess of childbirth. She could bring sudden death with her arrows. The parents of Apollo and Artemis was Zeus and Leto. One version of the story is that Artemis was born first and then helped Leto give birth to Apollo. Niobe, the queen of Thebes once said that she was better than Leto because she gave birth to more children than Leto did. Apollo and Artemis were very mad about this insult to their mother so they killed all or most of her children with their arrows. They then changed the weeping Niobe into stone where she continued to weep.

There are other interesting stories about Apollo and you can find them online or in the libraries.