Apollo

This article is about the Greek god. For other uses see Apollo (disambiguation)

---

Apollo, in Greek mythology, is the god of truth, the arts, archery, plague, divination and a few other things. Apollo is son of Zeus and Leto, and the twin of Artemis (goddess of the hunt). In later times he became equated with Helios, god of the sun, and by proxy his sister was equated with Selene, goddess of the moon. He is now primarily known as the god of the sun. The name Phoebus, Greek for "shining one", was also used in this context.

Apollo was known for having sexual relationships with men and women. Hyacinth was one of his male lovers. When Hyacinth died, Apollo created the flower from his blood. One of his other liasions was with Acantha, the spirit of the acanthus tree. Upon his death, he was transformed into a sun-loving herb by his lover, and his bereaved sister, Acanthis, was turned into a thistle finch by the other gods.

Apollo was, at one point, banned from Olympus for nine years. During this time he servd as shephard for King Admetus of Pherae in Thessaly. Since Admetus was good to Apollo, the god promised him that when it came time for King Admetus to die, another would be allowed to take his place instead. Admetus then fell in love with Alcestis. Her father, though, King Pelias would only give permission if Admetus rode a chariot pulled by lions and boars and other wild animals. Apollo helped Admetus accomplish this and the pair wed. When it did indeed come time for Admetus to die, Alcestis agreed to die for him. Heracles intervened and both of the pair were allowed to live.

Apollo popularly (e.g., in literary criticism) represents harmony, order, and reason--characteristics contrasted by those of Dionysus, god of wine, who popularly represents emotion and chaos. The contrast between the roles of these gods is reflected in the adjectives Apollonian and Dionysian. However, Greeks thought of the two qualities as complementary: the two gods are brothers, and when Apollo at winter left for Hyperborea would leave the Delphi Oracle to Dionysus.