~MYTHOLOGY of APOLLO~

*God of Music

who played beautiful music in Olympus with his golden lyre~

*The Healer

who taught men the art of healing~

*God of Prophecy

his oracle at Delphi was the most famous in the world~k

*Teacher of the Muses

as they were usually accompanying him and the Graces on their strolls and loved singing and dancing on laurel leaves, while Apollo was playing the lyre~

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Apollo was the son of Zeus and Leto, twin brother of Artemis (Diana), was one of the most prominent figures on Mount Olympus. His mythology is just as dynamic in Roman culture as it was in Greek. He was the god of prophecy, song, music, agriculture, arts & healing. His sacred tree was the laurel; his sacred animals the dolphin and bull. Those in distress looked to Apollo for help in fending off evil, or punishing the wicked or arrogant. Homer described him admirably as the "dread shining one".

BIRTH: In order to hide from Hera (Zeus' first wife), Zeus changed himself and Leto into quail. Not fooled, Hera put a curse on Leto, by telling her she was pregnant and that she wouldn't be able to give birth anywhere the sun shone. Hera sent a python to chase Leto so she wouldn't find a proper birthing place. Zeus came to the rescue by sending Leto to a small, rocky island called Delos, where Apollo was born.

POWERS: As god of prophecy, Apollo was channeled through the mouth of priestess who was in a trance. Then, temple priests would interpret her mysterious answers. Apollo's advice, through several Oracles, was regularly sought by ambassadors of Greek and Roman origin, proof of Apollo's rightfully earned place as one of "the" gods of ancient mythology.

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