Greek God Apollo

Definition: Usually portrayed as handsome and youthful, Apollo is the god of prophecy, music, and healing. Sometimes Apollo is called the sun god, as well, although originally Apollo was god of light and the sun was the province of the god Helios, the god honored by one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world, the Colossus of Rhodes.

The Greek god Apollo is the brother of Artemis (huntress and sometimes thought of as the moon goddess), and the son of Zeus and Leda.

Apollo is associated with the prophecies coming from the Delphic oracle and the laurel, since when he pursued Daphne she was turned into a laurel tree to escape from him.

Apollo had few children and many romances. The healing god Asclepius was one of these children. Because of his gifts, Asclepius not only could, but did bring mortals back to life. Zeus was horrified and so stopped him by killing him.

In Euripides' play Alcestis, Apollo has been forced by Zeus to labor as punishment for his grief-stricken misbehavior when Zeus killed Asclepius.

The Romans did not have a noticeably different version of the name Apollo.

Gods and Goddesses Index

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