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Apollon

ah POH lon

Απολλων

Apollonas

Απολλωνας

Apollon

The Immortal Son of Zeus and Leto
Apollon at Delphi
Apollon and Hermes
Apollon and Asklepios
Apollon and Niobe
Apollon and Herakles
Apollon at Troy
Apollon as the Envoy of Life and Death
  The Death of Phrontis
  The Death of Rhexenor
  The Death of Eurytos the Archer
  The Deaths of Otos and Ephialtes
  The Death of Meleagros
Apollon as a Favorable Sign
Apollon in The Iliad (reference)
Apollon in The Odyssey (reference)
Apollon in Other Text References
Images of Apollon

The Immortal Son of Zeus and Leto

Apollon and his sister Artemis are the immortal children of Zeus and Leto. Zeus is considered to be the father of the gods even though he was born several generations after the Immortal race was spawned by Chaos. Zeus and Leto were both children of Titans ... Leto's parents were Koios (Coeus) and Phoibe (Phoebe) ... Zeus's parents were Kronos (Cronos) and Rheia (Rhea).

Leto was the consort of Zeus ... his sister/wife Hera was not pleased when she became aware that Leto was pregnant with twins. When it came time for her children to be born, Leto traveled far and wide to find a suitable birthplace. The Nymphs of the various islands and provinces were reluctant to allow their domains to be the home of Leto's twins because they knew that Hera was angry at Zeus for his association with Leto and the Nymphs were justifiably afraid that Hera would vent her wrath on any Immortal who assisted Leto.

The goddess Delos had a rocky island in the southern Aegean Sea which Leto thought would be the perfect birthplace for Apollon. Delos was aware of the dangers she faced by helping Leto but she also knew that Leto's children would be honored by mortal and immortal alike. To protect herself, Delos made Leto swear a great oath on the river Styx that her new son would never abandon his birthplace and that he would always keep his temple on the humble island. Leto swore the oath and Apollon was soon to be born on the island of Delos.

Leto was in labor for nine days and nights before Apollon was born. His birth was attended by the goddesses Rheia (Rhea), Dione, Themis and Aphrodite (goddess of Love). Apollon was born on the seventh day of the month and that day is considered to be holy. He did not nurse at his mother's breast because he was given ambrosia and nectar which are the food and drink of the Immortals. He burst from his crib and announced his intentions to play the lyre, carry the curved bow and declare the unfailing will of Zeus to the mortals of the earth.

The island of Delos became rich and beautiful with the presence of Apollon and Leto ... the mountains bloomed with flowers and people came from all regions to make generous donations to the Shrine of Apollon. Games and dancing inspired the worshipers but the handmaidens of Apollon were the most amazing attraction on the island ... they had the ability to sing in such a way that each person heard them in his or her native tongue.

Apollon has become known by many names ... the Greeks called him Apollon, Phoibos (Phoebus), Phoibos Apollon, the Archer, the Far-Shooter, Shooter from Afar, Lord of the Silver Bow and the Far-Darter but ironically, he is most remembered by his Roman name, Apollo. We must remember that Rome was not founded until a thousand years after the Trojan War so it does seem suitable that this ancient and immortal god should be known by any name except his real name which is Apollon.

Although she was not born on Delos, Apollon's sister Artemis is considered to be his twin ... she is skillful with her silver bow and aids the people of the earth by giving comfort to the weak and unfortunate. Artemis is often called the Virgin Goddess of the Hunt or simply Goddess of the Hunt.

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Apollon at Delphi

Apollon sought to establish a shrine of prophecy and conceived a plan whereby he could build and populate a new city. Apollon did not make a hasty decision as to where his temple would be built ... he traveled the whole of Greece and Asia Minor seeking the perfect location. The place he chose was Delphi, located at the foot of Mount Parnassos (Mount Parnassus) in central southern Greece just north of the Gulf of Corinth in the district of Phokis (Phocis).

The site was inhabited by the streams of Telphousa (Telphusa) and the snake-creature, Pytho ... neither wanted a city or a god as their neighbor. Telphousa tried to beguile Apollon but he eventually saw through her manipulation. The creature Pytho was known to be deadly to anyone who came near her ... Apollon shot her with an arrow and exalted over her as she lay dieing in the holy light of Helios (the Sun). From that time on, Apollon became known as The Pythian because Helios made the creature rot away. Apollon then turned his attention to Telphousa ... she had tried to mesmerize him and he punished her by causing a rockslide to cover her waters ... in the grove where she once flowed Apollon is worshiped as The Telphousian Lord signifying his domination over her.

The site of the temple had been chosen and secured ... the foundations had been laid ... now Apollon needed ministers to supervise the sacrifices and administer the temple. As he pondered this problem he became aware of a ship on the sea ... the men on the ship appeared to be goodly men from the island of Crete and Apollon at once decided that they would serve him well. In the form of a dolphin, Apollon approached the ship and leapt onto the deck ... the men on the ship were perplexed but were unable to remove the disguised god from the vessel. Apollon took control of the ship and steered it to the proximity of Delphi and ran it aground on the shore. Apollon transformed from a dolphin into a flaming star and flew from the ship to his temple at Delphi ... the sky lit up and the people in the surrounding countryside were terrified.

Apollon returned to the beached ship in the guise of a young man ... the men on the ship knew that the young man who stood before them was a god and they begged for mercy and understanding. Apollon told them his true identity and that he had brought them to that place so that they might become his ministers and serve him at his temple. The men willingly accepted his commands and went to the temple ... Apollon promised them that they would want for nothing as long as they were not idle or disobedient ... he would put the will of Zeus in their hearts so that they could advise the worshipers and the worshipers would provide the necessities of life for those who served him on the rocky folds of Mount Parnassos.

Apollon's temple at Delphi quickly became famous for the prophecies which were recited by the Pythia, i.e. the priestess/medium. Apollon would speak through the Pythia and make the will of Zeus known to worthy patrons. The Pythia would traditionally give the prophesies of the god in hexameter poetry ... the verses recited by the Pythia would usually be enigmatic, i.e. they were mysterious but not necessarily unfathomable.

The exact date of the prehistoric founding of the Oracle at Delphi is not known but references to the Oracle go back to well before the Trojan War (1250 BCE).

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Apollon and Hermes

The lives of Apollon and the schemer, Hermes, became intertwined almost immediately after Hermes's birth. Hungry for adventure, Hermes left his mother's cave and began to roam the countryside. He reached the mountains of Pieria and found the sacred grove of Apollon ... he stole fifty cattle from Apollon's herd. The clever Hermes disguised his footprints and made the cattle walk backwards so that it would look as if a they were coming instead of going.

At dawn of the next day Apollon began searching for his stolen cattle. He soon deduced that his cattle had been stolen by Hermes. Apollon went swiftly to Mount Kyllene and confronted the infant Hermes and said that he would cast him down into Tartaros (Tartarus) if he did not return the stolen cattle. Hermes found it easy to lie and declared that he knew nothing of the cattle. Apollon was not fooled and took Hermes from his crib and went to Mount Olympos (Olympus) to stand before Zeus so that Hermes could be judged.

Apollon

Zeus listened to Apollon's truthful account of the theft of the cattle but Hermes pretended innocence and said that he was only born yesterday and too young to know the ways of deceit and falsehood. Zeus laughed at the child's roguishness and commanded Hermes to take Apollon to the cattle. Hermes obeyed without hesitation and soon he and Apollon were at the place where the cattle had been hidden. Apollon was amazed that a mere infant had been able to kill two of the cattle and stretch their hides to dry in the sun. Hermes began to play the lyre he had invented and again Apollon was amazed. Apollon said that he had danced and sang with the Muses but had never heard such beautiful music or seen such a masterful musician. He promised Hermes many gifts and assured him a place of renown amongst the Immortals. Hermes accepted the blessings of Apollon and gave him the lyre as a token of his affection. With the blessing of Zeus, Apollon pronounced that Hermes would become the lord over lions, boars, dogs and all animal herds on the face of the earth. Apollon also made Hermes the messenger of Hades (lord of the Underworld) but he would not give Hermes the gift of prophecy because that gift was his alone and only he was allowed to know the will of Zeus. As a minor concession, Apollon told Hermes that there were three virgin goddesses who lived under the folds of Mount Parnassos who would flitter about and feed on yellow honey. After they had eaten the honey, they would only speak the truth and if Hermes questioned them carefully he would learn many things. He would then have the power to impart these truths to men of his choosing for their benefit. Apollon also gave Hermes a beautiful golden staff with three branches to represent wealth and affluence. The staff would protect the young god against harm and enforce the laws of righteous words and actions.

When Apollon leaves his shrine in Pytho and travels to Mount Olympos, the other gods and goddesses gather to hear the beautiful music he plays on the lyre which Hermes gave him ... he sings with the Muses of the unending gifts the Immortals enjoy and the mortal plight of the people who must endure the pains of illness and the failings of old age. Hebe (goddess of Youth), the Graces, the Seasons, Harmonia and Aphrodite join hands and dance ... the goddess Artemis, tall and enviable, sings to her brother's irresistible melodies.

When Hermes and Apollon saw how Hephaistos (Hephaestus) had trapped his wife Aphrodite (goddess of Love) and her secret lover, Ares (the god of War), in the embrace of love and displayed them for all the Immortals to see, Apollon asked Hermes how he would feel if he were trapped in such an embarrassing position. The light hearted Hermes replied that he would suffer thrice the bindings if only he could share the bed of Aphrodite the golden.

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Apollon and Asklepios

Asklepios (Asclepius) was the son of Apollon and a mortal woman named, Koronis (Coronis).

Asklepios was the greatest healer in the ancient world and the father of two Greek soldiers and healers who fought in the Trojan War: Machaon and Podaleirios.

His reputation was so widespread that he was revered as the god of medicine and healing. Several shrines were established in honor of Asklepios including one at Athens and another at the city of Epidauros. Patients would sleep in the temple of Asklepios and they would either be cured during the night or they would have dreams which would indicate the correct treatment for their ailments. Some people were healed with calming incantations, some were given potions and others were cured with surgery.

Koronis lived in Lakereia on the banks of Lake Boibias in Thessaly. Apollon took her as his lover and she became pregnant. Koronis thought she could deceive Apollon and have an illicit affair with a man named Ischys without Apollon's knowledge but, even though Apollon was at his shrine at Pytho, his all-seeing abilities allowed him to perceive the young woman's impious behavior. Before the goddess of childbirth, Eileithyia, could bring Koronis to term, Apollon's sister, Artemis, killed the pregnant woman with a shower of golden arrows while she slept. Koronis was not the only one to die in the hail of arrows. Many of Koronis's neighbors were also killed in the conflagration. When Koronis's relatives placed her on the funeral pyre and lit the flames, Apollon could not endure to have his offspring killed for the mother's irreverent deeds. Apollon swooped down to the pyre, parted the flames, and rescued Asklepios from his dead mother's body and entrusted the infant to the Centaur, Cheiron (Chiron), so that he might learn the art of healing.

Asklepios became a man of great renown and pilgrims came from all over Greece to find cures for their ailments and wounds. But Asklepios became too enamored with his own abilities and finally committed an act of selfishness which angered Zeus beyond redemption. Instead of continuing to use his god-given abilities with gracious humility, Asklepios accepted gold as a payment for restoring a dead man to life. Zeus struck down Asklepios and the man he had resurrected with a flash of lightning and thus ended the life of the greatest healer of the ancient Greek world.

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Apollon and Niobe

Apollon's mother Leto was insulted by a woman named Niobe who had once been her friend. Niobe likened herself to Leto and bragged that she had twelve children and Leto only had two. To avenge the insult against their mother, Apollon killed Niobe's six sons and Artemis killed her six daughters.

Apollon and Niobe

Apollon and Artemis killing the children of Niobe.

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Apollon and Herakles

Herakles (Heracles) encountered Apollon and Artemis while he was completing his Third Labor, the capturing of the Keryneian Hind. At the command of his cousin Eurystheus, Herakles was required to capture a deer with golden horns and return the sacred beast to Mycenae. The Keryneian Hind was sacred to Artemis and was named after a Peloponnesian river. Herakles spent a year searching for the elusive deer before he was able to capture it.

While returning the hind to Eurystheus, Herakles encountered Apollon and Artemis. They demanded the return of the sacred creature but Herakles successfully argued the justice of his quest and was allowed to complete his Labor with the blessings of Apollon and Artemis.

Artemis, Herakles and Apollon

Artemis, Herakles and Apollon with the Keryneian Hind.

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Apollon at Troy

Apollon played a significant role in the Trojan War. He was clearly on the side of the Trojans and aided Prince Hector in many ways. In the tenth year of the war, Apollon came to the defense of one of his priests and nearly destroyed the Achaean (Achaian) Greek encampment.

The Greeks would regularly go on raids to pillage the nearby cities and islands to maintain their supplies of food and slaves. When they raided the island of Lemnos, they took a young girl named Chryseis as a slave. Chryseis was awarded to the Greek commander, Agamemnon. The Greeks did not realize that Chryseis was the daughter of Apollon's priest, Chryses. When Chryses went to Agamemnon to beg for the return of his daughter, he was treated with insulting disrespect. Agamemnon went so far as to threaten to beat Chryses for daring to ask for his daughter.

Chryses prayed to Apollon for justice and his prayers were heard. Apollon stood offshore and rained arrows on the Greek encampment. Agamemnon called an assembly of the Greek commanders and soldiers because he did not understand why their camp was under attack by one of the Immortals. The seer Kalchas (Calchas) knew the answer and told Agamemnon that if the young girl was not returned to her father, Apollon would utterly destroy them. Agamemnon believed Kalchas and made immediate arrangements for the girl to be returned to her father accompanied by elaborate sacrifices to Apollon. Odysseus was assigned the task of returning the girl and supervising the sacrifice. Apollon was pleased and gave Odysseus a favorable wind so that he could sail swiftly from Lemnos to Troy.

Another Trojan who received the protection of Apollon was Aineias (Aeneas). Aineias was the son of Aphrodite and with Apollon and Aphrodite both protecting him it is no wonder that he was one of the few Trojan allies to survive the war. When the Greek soldier Diomedes attacked Aineias, Apollon stepped in and stood between Aineias and Diomedes. With incredible bravado, Diomedes tried to charge past Apollon and attack Aineias. Apollon brushed Diomedes aside and warned him to retreat. Demonstrating more sense than bravado, Diomedes backed away from Aineias.

The goddess Athene (Athena) was on the side of the Greeks but that did not stop her from cooperating with Apollon to stop the continued bloodshed. The two Immortals devised a plan where Prince Hector would be allowed to fight one of the Greeks in one-on-one combat. The winner of the fight would decided the fate of the war. Hector was delighted with the idea and promised to strip the armor from whichever Greek soldier he defeated and dedicate it at the Temple of Apollon inside the walls of Troy. Since Achilles was not willing to help the Greeks because of his dispute with Agamemnon, Telamonian Aias (Ajax) was chosen to fight Hector. Apollon and Athene took the forms of vultures and perched in an oak tree to watch the fight. Aias was a powerful man and soon beat Hector to the ground. Hector was wounded severely before Apollon swooped down to save him. After removing Hector from the battlefield, Apollon took up the shield of Zeus and drove the Greeks back to their encampment. Hector was seriously wounded and at the brink of death when Apollon breathed life back into his body.

When Hector was revived and ready to return to the fighting, Apollon shrouded himself in a mist and marched in front of Hector until they reached the fence and ditch the Greeks had built to protect their ships. With Apollon brushing aside the Greek defenses, the protective wall was breached. The situation was becoming critical for the Greeks but Achilles would still not fight because of his argument with Agamemnon. Achilles's companion Patroklos (Patroclus) donned Achilles's armor and charged into the Trojans. The Greeks thought Achilles was back in the fighting and regained their courage ... the Trojans also thought Achilles was back in the fighting and began to retreat.

Apollon gave what protection he could to the retreating Trojans but the appearance of Patroklos in Achilles's armor was devastating to the Trojan moral. Apollon stood before Patroklos and warned him to withdraw and told him that it was not his destiny to breach the walls of Troy. Patroklos ignored the warning ... he was obsessed with his own prowess and did not realize that he was on a headlong charge towards death. Apollon went to Hector in the guise of a man named Asios (Asius) and encouraged Hector to fight Patroklos ... Apollon put valor in Hector's breast and urged him forward. When Patroklos finally confronted Hector, his fate became sealed. Apollon clouded himself in a mist and struck Patroklos in the back knocking the protective corselet from his armor. Hector stepped in to deliver the killing blow and stripped away Achilles's armor.

Another casualty of the fighting was a son of Zeus named Sarpedon. Although Sarpedon was loved by Zeus, it was necessary for him to die. One of the primary reasons for the protracted war at Troy was to rid the earth of the race of demigods ... Sarpedon was a demigod. Zeus called Apollon to his side and told him to go to the battlefield to retrieve Sarpedon's body and return it to his home in Lykia (Licya) because Zeus wanted Sarpedon to have a funeral worthy of a hero. Apollon cleaned Sarpedon's body of the blood and gore and returned him to his native land.

Apollon had been the constant protector of Hector throughout the Trojan War but when the time came for Hector to die, Apollon could not subvert the will of Zeus. After Hector killed Patroklos his death was inevitable. Patroklos had been Achilles's closest companion and after Patroklos's death Achilles swore an oath to kill Hector. Achilles plunged into the Trojan defenses and slaughtered his way to where Hector stood outside the city gates. Apollon urged Hector to stand and fight knowing full well that Hector was fated to die. When Achilles finally reached Hector, Apollon turned away and left Hector to the mercy of Athene ... of course, she had none. Achilles killed Hector with unimaginable viciousness ... in spite of the betrayal and brutality, Prince Hector died with honor.

When the fighting at Troy reached its peak, Zeus told the Immortals that they could enter the fray on whichever side they wished. Up until then, the Immortals were restricted by Zeus and could only influence the fighting rather than participate in the fighting ... the difference was subtle and infractions were inevitable but it was necessary to keep the war going for ten years in order to kill as many heroes and demigods as possible. At one point, Apollon encountered his uncle Poseidon (lord of the Sea) on the battlefield. Poseidon was roaring through the Trojan defenses living up to his title Earth-Shaker ... his presence was unmistakable. Apollon had once bragged that he would fight Poseidon if necessary but when the two gods stood face to face, Apollon decided that it would be best not to fight with his uncle. Apollon's sister Artemis chided her brother for not wanting to fight Poseidon but it was only in jest ... she would never encourage Apollon to do something which would certainly do him harm.

The Trojan War was almost over but Apollon still had a major role to play before the war could end and the walls of Troy could be toppled. Achilles was one of the demigods slated to die at Troy but Zeus decided that he should have a glorious death which would give honor to his mother Thetis and make the name Achilles immortal. The Greeks used the ruse of the Trojan Horse to gain access to the city and once the Greeks were inside the walls of Troy, they were unstoppable. Zeus would not allow a mortal man to kill Achilles so Apollon was given the task. With the aid of Prince Alexandros (Paris), Apollon killed Achilles. The exact circumstances of Achilles's death were not recorded in the ancient texts but later, perhaps legendary, accounts of his death say that he was killed at the Trojan Temple of Apollon with an arrow in the heel ... Achilles supposedly bled to death from the wound. Other accounts imply that it was Prince Alexandros and not Apollon who shot the arrow which killed Achilles. I suggest that we simply accept the oldest accounts and assume that it was Apollon who killed Achilles. The slaying of Achilles was the last noble deed of the Trojan War because the slaughter and destruction which followed were the opposite of glorious and noble.

Apollon

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Apollon as the Envoy of Life and Death

The Death of Phrontis

After the fall of the city of Troy, Apollon continued his assaults on the Achaeans (Achaians) as they traveled back to their homes. When the ships of Menelaos (Menelaus) and Odysseus reached the Cape of Athens (holy Sunium), Apollon killed Phrontis, the renowned steersman. Menelaos and his crew were forced by custom to halt their journey and give their worthy companion the last rites suitable for a warrior of his caliber. This delay was the first step in allowing the murderer of Agamemnon to go unpunished for seven long years. It's implied that the sacrifice of many thigh bones allowed Aigisthos (Aegisthus) and Klytemnestra (Clytemnestra), the cowardly murderer and Agamemnon's despicable wife, to get away with their heinous crime. The 'good' news is that Menelaos's delayed homecoming allowed Orestes (Agamemnon's son) to bring pitiless justice down on the head of Aigisthos.

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The Death of Rhexenor

A race of mortals was being shaped and nurtured by the Immortals to play an important role in future events, i.e. to give sanctuary to Jason and Medeia (Medea) after they had stolen the Golden Fleece and to rescue Odysseus and return him to his home. The leader of this race was descended from Poseidon (lord of the Sea) and Giants, his name was Nausithoos, lord of the Phaiakians (Phaeacians). Nausithoos had two male children, Alkinoos (Alcinous) and Rhexenor. Rhexenor was married and Alkinoos was not. Apollon killed Rhexenor (with a shower of painless arrows) and Alkinoos married his widow. This was all very fortunate for Odysseus when he was washed ashore in the land of the Phaiakians. Alkinoos and his beloved wife Arete, were sympathetic to poor Odysseus. He knelt before them in cloths he had been given and begged for a fast ship to take him to his homeland. The deadly arrows of Apollon brought love and peace to the Phaiakians and their king and queen.

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The Death of Eurytos the Archer

After being given sanctuary by king Alkinoos (Alcinous) and his beloved wife, Arete, Odysseus was asked to join the competitive sports with the Phaiakian men ... he took up the polished bow and said that his skills were as good as any mortal man but he would never compare himself to heroes like Herakles (Heracles) or Eurytos. Odysseus goes on to say that Eurytos did not live to enjoy his property and fame because he challenged Apollon in archery. Apollon killed him for the insult.

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The Deaths of Otos (Otus) and Ephialtes

Apollon was asked to intervene when the two monstrous sons of Poseidon (lord of the Sea) and Iphimedeia threatened to attack the Immortals on Mount Olympos (Olympus). These boisterous youths, Otos (Otus) and Ephialtes, were the tallest men ever to walk the earth. They were almost as handsome as the famous hunter, Orion, but they were too loud and too proud for the Immortals to tolerate. They threatened to uproot mountains and pile them up against Mount Olympos and then climb into the precincts of the Immortals. Zeus believed they could, when grown to full stature, fulfill their threat if they were not stopped. Zeus sent Apollon to kill the dangerous youths before they were old enough to do any harm.

The Death of Meleagros

Meleagros was the Prince of Kalydon (Calydon) just prior to the Trojan War. When Meleagros was born, an oracle informed his mother Althaia that her new son would die as soon as the wood in the hearth was burned away. Wishing to save her son, Althaia extinguished the fire and preserved the unburned wood.

Kalydon was the scene of one of the most important events in ancient Greek history, the Kalydonian Hunt (Calydonian Hunt). Meleagros's father, King Oineus, insulted Artemis by neglecting to offer the goddess the first-fruits of the harvest. Artemis vented her rage on King Oineus, Meleagros and the people of Kalydon. When Artemis sent a savage boar to ravage the orchards of Kalydon, Meleagros assembled a company of brave warriors to hunt and kill the boar. After killing the boar, Meleagros awarded the hide of the boar to the huntress Atalanta because she had been the first to wound the beast. Althaia's brother(s) tried to take the boar hide away from Atalanta and Meleagros killed him (them). Meleagros's mother Althaia went into a simmering rage and when she felt the time was right, took the wood she had hidden at Meleagros's birth and burned it. Apollon killed Meleagros in accordance with the oracle.

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Apollon as Favorable Sign

There are times when the approval of the Immortals is very important to individual and groups. Apollon usually revealed his will through the Oracle at Delphi but there were times when he would show his intentions through signs and personal encounters.

Apollon and Telemachos

After the Trojan War had been over for ten years (circa 1240 BCE), Odysseus had not returned to his island home of Ithaka (Ithaca). Odysseus's son Telemachos (Telemachus) was in dire need of guidance because he did not know whether his father was dead or alive. The goddess Athene tried to guide Telemachos but her intervention was usually, but not always, subtle.

The home of Odysseus had been invaded by a group of suitors seeking to marry Odysseus's wife Penelope and the excesses of the suitors had become a curse on Telemachos and his mother. There were many people in Ithaka who were dismissive of Telemachos because he was young but there were others who recognized the potential greatness of the young man ... after all, he was the son of the resourceful and dynamic Odysseus.

At a meeting of the men of Ithaka, Apollon sent a message to the assembled men to demonstrate his divine protection of Telemachos. A falcon flew overhead and snatched a pigeon out of the air ... the falcon proceeded to rip the pigeon to pieces and shower the men below with feathers and blood.

The entire assembly witnessed the event and a companion of Telemachos named Theoklymenos (Theoclymenus) proclaimed that it was a favorable sign sent from Apollon to show the men of Ithaka what would happen to the insolent suitors who were abusing the hospitality of Odysseus's son and wife.

Apollon and the Argonauts

A generation before the Trojan War, Jason led a group of the greatest heroes in ancient Greece on the Quest for the Golden Fleece. The men who accompanied Jason to the remote land of Kolchis (Colchis) to retrieve the Golden Fleece became known as the Argonauts.

Before leaving on the Quest for the Golden Fleece, Jason consulted the Oracle at Delphi and was told that he would accomplish his mission. He was given three tripods which Apollon intended for Jason to use to insure his safety and success.

Although the goddesses Athene (Athena) and Hera were the primary protectors of the Argonauts, Jason never failed to give thanks and homage to Apollon. He built altars to Apollon Embasius (Apollon, the god of embarkation) and Apollon Ecbasian and Ecbasius (Apollon, god of disembarkation) to show his respect. When the beleaguered Argonauts were on the island of Thynias, they saw Apollon arrive on the island from the sky. The Argonauts were so humbled by the vision of the god, they built an altar and renamed the island The Sacred Isle of Apollon of the Dawn.

Apollon honored and blessed the Argonauts in many ways but perhaps the most dramatic was when the Argonauts were trying to sail from the island of Crete to the Greek mainland. A very dense fog surrounded their ship and even blotted out the stars in the sky. Jason prayed to Phoibos to save them. Apollon heard Jason's sincere plea and created a beacon in the foggy murk to lead the Argonauts to a nearby island. The Argonauts built an altar to Apollon the Gleamer and named the island Anaphe, The Isle of Revealing.

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Apollon was taken into the Roman pantheon as Apollo, god of the Sun.

Apollon

Apollon in The Iliad

(listed by book and line)

The line numbers listed here correspond fairly well with the Lattimore and Murray/Wyatt translations of The Iliad. Other translations (Fitzgerald, Fagles et al) do not correspond as well but, with a small amount of effort, you should be able to find the reference you need regardless of the translation you use.

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Apollon in The Odyssey

(listed by book and line)

The line numbers listed here correspond fairly well with the Lattimore and Murray/Dimock translations of The Odyssey. Other translations (Fitzgerald, Fagles et al) do not correspond as well but, with a small amount of effort, you should be able to find the reference you need regardless of the translation you use.

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Other Text References

Works and Days

Theogony

Catalogues of Women and Eoiae

Fragments of Unknown Position

Doubtful Fragments

The Shield of Herakles

The Great Eoiae

The Melampodia

The Epigoni

The Aethiopis

The Telegony

The Margites

The Contest of Homer and Hesiod

Hymn to Delian Apollon III

Hymn to Pythian Apollon

Hymn to Hermes IV

Hymn to Aphrodite V

Hymn to Dionysos VII

Hymn to Artemis IX

Hymn to Artemis XXVII

Hymn to Asklepios

Hymn to Histia XXIV

Hymn to the Muses and Apollon XXV

Pindar

The Argonautika

The Histories

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