Apollo, Phoebus, Musagetes: Greek pantheon of gods: Mythological encyclopedia. Who is Apollo? Where did Apollo live?

in Greek mythology, son of Zeus and Leto, brother of Artemis, Olympian god. It is of very ancient origin. The Greek language failed to reveal the origin, its name, its original meaning. It is believed that the name Apollo is of pre-Greek Asia Minor origin. This deity in ancient culture has many faces. So he is the shooter, the destroyer, the soothsayer, the creator of human and universal harmony. Summer on the island of Delos gave birth to twins: Apollo and Artemis. Apollo became powerful early. As a gentle youth, he killed the serpent Giphon in the vicinity of Delphi. He founded his oracle there - the famous Delphic Temple, on the pediment of which one of the most famous sayings in world culture was inscribed: “Know yourself.” Apollo established the Pythian Games, killed the giant Tityus, who insulted his mother, etc. As a healer, he was a protector from evil and disease, elevated to the image of the Sun in its creative and destructive capabilities. Apollo endowed the famous Cassandra with the gift of divination, but after she rejected his love, he punished her by depriving people of her divination. Apollo acts as a shepherd and guardian of flocks, founder and builder of cities, musician and patron of singers and musicians, and performs a host of other functions. His image allows us to trace the development of culture through the development of his meaningful image. Thus, the original image is closely related to the plant world. Apollo is associated with laurel, cypress, oak, olive, ivy. Then his connection with the animal world develops - he is connected with the raven, swan, wolf, ram. Gradually, the image of Apollo takes on the functions of a hunter and a shepherd, penetrates into the other world, becoming a demon of death. In mature antiquity, he becomes the god of harmony, teaches people art, and defends paternal right. The cult of Apollo is one of the most powerful and influential in Greece, and then in Rome.

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APOLLO

Son of Zeus and Leto, brother of Artemis, Olympian god. The image of A. connects heaven, earth and the underworld.

A. was born on the floating island of Asteria, which received Zeus’s beloved Leto, whom the jealous Hera forbade to set foot on solid ground. The island, which revealed the miracle of the birth of two twins - A. and Artemis, began to be called Delos (Greek “I manifest”), and the palm tree under which Summer resolved itself became sacred, like the very place of A.’s birth. He matured early, still quite as a young man he killed the serpent Python, or Delphinius, who was devastating the surroundings of Delphi.

In Delphi, on the site where the oracle of Gaia and Themis once was, A. founded his oracle. There he established the Pythian Games in his honor, received cleansing from the murder of Python in the Tempean Valley (Thessaly) and was glorified by the inhabitants of Delphi in a paean (sacred hymn). A. also struck with his arrows the giant Titius, who was trying to insult Leto, the Cyclops, who forged lightning for Zeus, and also participated in the battles of the Olympians with giants and titans. The destructive arrows of A. and Artemis bring sudden death to old people, sometimes striking without any reason.

In the Trojan War, A. the Arrowman helps the Trojans, and his arrows carry the plague to the Achaean camp for nine days; he invisibly participates in the murder of Patroclus by Hector and Achilles by Paris. Together with his sister, he is the destroyer of Niobe's children. In a musical competition, A. wins the satyr Marcia and, enraged by his insolence, rips off his skin. A. fought with Hercules, who was trying to take possession of the Delphic tripod.

Along with the destructive actions of A., there are also healing ones: he is a doctor, or Paeon, Alexikakos (“helper”), a protector from evil and disease, who stopped the plague during the Peloponnesian War. In later times, A. was identified with the sun in all the fullness of its healing and destructive functions. The epithet A. - Phoebus indicates purity, brilliance, prophecy.

A. - the soothsayer is credited with the founding of sanctuaries in Asia Minor and Italy - in Claros, Didyma, Colophon, Cumae. A. is a prophet and oracle, even thought of as the “driver of fate” - Moiraget. He endowed Cassandra with the prophetic gift, but after he was rejected by her, he made sure that her prophecies were not trusted by people. Among A.'s children there were also: the soothsayers Branchhus, Sibylla, Mops - the son of A. and the soothsayer Manto, Idmon - a participant in the Argonauts' campaign.

A. is a shepherd (Nomius) and guardian of the flocks. He is the founder and builder of cities, the ancestor and patron of tribes, the “father.” Sometimes these functions of A. are associated with myths about A.’s service to people, to which Zeus sends him, angry with A.’s independent disposition. Thus, after the revelation of the conspiracy of Hera, Poseidon and A. against Zeus, A. and Poseidon in the form of mortals served with the Trojan king Laomedon and they erected the walls of Troy, which they then destroyed, angry at Laomedon, who did not give them the agreed payment.

When A.’s son, the healer Asclepius, was struck by the lightning of Zeus for trying to resurrect people, A. killed the Cyclops and, as punishment, was sent to serve as a shepherd for King Admetus in Thessaly, where he increased his flocks and, together with Hercules, saved the king’s wife Alcesta from death.

A. is a musician, he received the cithara from Hermes in exchange for cows. He is the patron of singers and musicians, Musaget is the leader of the muses and severely punishes those who try to compete with him in music.

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Roman mythology

The Roman divine pantheon is extremely interesting. The culture of Ancient Rome was based on the mythology and religious traditions of the peoples of the ancient empire. The Romans borrowed the basis of their pantheon from the ancient Greeks, who had universal cultural hegemony since the birth of Rome. Having developed their mythology, accepting new gods from the conquered peoples, the Romans created their own special culture, which combined the features of all the conquered peoples. Roman law, which became the basis for modern jurisprudence, was also created under the influence of Roman mythology.

Apollo is believed to have dominion over plague, light, healing, colonists, medicine, archery, poetry, prophecy, dance, intelligence, shamans, and was the protector of herds and flocks. Apollo had famous oracles in Crete and others famous in Clarus and Branchidae. Apollo is known as the leader of the muses and the director of their choir. His attributes include: swans, wolves, dolphins, arches, laurel, cithara (or lyre) and plectrum. The sacrificial tripod is another attribute representing his prophetic powers. The Python Games were held in his honor every four years in Delphi. Odes were the name given to hymns sung to Apollo.

The most common signs of Apollo were the lyre and the bow; the tripod was dedicated to him as the god of prophecy. The swan and grasshopper symbolize music and song; the hawk, crow, raven and snake symbolize his functions as the god of prophecy. The main festivals held in honor of Apollo were Carneia, Daphnephoria, Delia, Hyacinthia, Pyanepsia, Pythia and Thargelia.

Among the Romans, belief in Apollo was adopted from the Greeks. There is a tradition that the Delphic Oracle was already consulted during the reign of Superbus Tarcinius, and in 430 BC, a temple was dedicated to Apollo on the occasion of a pestilence, and during the Second Punic War (in 212 BC), Ludi Apollinaris (Ludi Apollinares) were erected in his honor.

A new temple was also established on Palantine Hill and secular games were held there. As the god of colonization, Apollo had special power in the colonies, especially during the peak of colonization, 750-550. BC. Along with Athena, Apollo (under the name Phevos) was controversially nominated as the mascot of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Belief in Apollo was revived with the rise of Hellenismos, and the modern pagan movement.

When Hera discovered that Leto was pregnant and that Hera's husband, Zeus, was the father, she forbade Leto to give birth on "land", or the mainland, or on any island in the sea. In her wanderings, Leto found the newly created floating island of Tilos, which was neither a mainland nor an actual island, and gave birth there. The island was surrounded by swans. Subsequently, Zeus provided Tilos with a foundation in the ocean.

This island later became the sacred island of Apollo. Alternatively, Hera kidnapped Ilithia, the goddess of childbirth, to prevent Leto from giving birth. Either way, Artemis was born first and then helped with the birth of Apollo. Another version states that Artemis was born before Apollo, on the island of Ortygia, and that she helped Leto cross the sea to Tilos the next day to give birth to Apollo. Apollo was born on the 7th day of the month Thargelion according to the Delian tradition or the month Bysios according to the Delphic tradition.

In his youth, Apollo killed the vicious dragon Python, who lived in Delphi near the Castalian Spring, according to some, because Python tried to rape Leto while she was pregnant with Apollo and Artemis.

Apollo was banned from Olympus for nine years. During this time he served as a shepherd for King Admetus Pherae in Thessaly.

The source of inspiration was the nymph whom Apollo loved - this is Castalia. She escaped from it and dived into the stream at Delphi. The water from this source was sacred; it was used to clean up the Delphian temples and inspire poets.

Greek mythology

Apollo, in Greek mythology, the son of Zeus and the Titanide Leto, twin brother of the virgin goddess of the hunt Artemis. He occupied one of the main places in the Greek and Roman traditions and was considered the arrow god, soothsayer, and luminous patron of the arts.

Apollo was born on the floating island of Asteria, which sheltered Zeus's beloved Leto, whom the jealous Hera forbade to set foot on solid ground. While still a child, he killed the giant serpent Python, who was devastating the surroundings of Delphi, who was the offspring of mother earth Gaia and conveyed his predictions through a crack in the rock. Having killed the monstrous Python, Apollo founded a temple on the site of the ancient oracle and established the Pythian Games.

It is known that Zeus, angry with Apollo’s independent character, twice forced him to serve people. For the murder of Python, God was sent to serve as a shepherd to King Admetus in Thessaly, where, together with Hercules, he saved the king’s wife Alcesta from certain death.

The second time, Apollo and Poseidon, as participants in a conspiracy against Zeus, served in the form of mortals with the Trojan king Laomedon. According to the myth, it was they who built the walls of Troy and then destroyed them, angry at Laomedon, who did not give them the agreed payment. Perhaps that is why in the Trojan War the arrow god helped the Trojans, and his arrows carried the plague to the Achaean camp for nine days. Apollo, who had affairs with many goddesses and mortal women, was often rejected. He was rejected by Daphne, who at her request was turned into a noble laurel (since then the head of the god has been decorated with a laurel wreath), and Cassandra.

Apollo was an excellent musician; he received the cithara from Hermes in exchange for his own cows. God was the patron of singers, was the leader of the muses, and severely punished those who tried to compete with him. Once Apollo defeated the satyr Marsyas in a musical competition. But after the competition, Apollo, enraged by the slander and insolence of Marsyas, flayed the unfortunate man alive. He struck with his arrows the giant Tityus, who was trying to insult Leto, and the Cyclops, who forged lightning for Zeus; He also took part in the battles of the Olympians with giants and titans. The cult of Apollo was widespread in Greece, and the Delphic temple with the oracle was considered the main center of his veneration. In ancient times, magnificent festivities and competitions were held in Delphi, not much inferior to the glorious Olympic Games.

The destructive arrows of Apollo and Artemis bring sudden death to the elderly, sometimes striking without any reason. In the Trojan War, Apollo the arrow helps the Trojans, and his arrows carry the plague to the Achaean camp for nine days; he invisibly participates in the murder of Patroclus by Hector and Achilles by Paris. Together with his sister, he destroys Niobe's children. In a musical competition, Apollo defeats the satyr Marsyas and, enraged by his insolence, flays him.

A later mythological tradition attributes to Apollo the qualities of a divine healer, guardian of herds, founder and builder of cities, and seer of the future. In the classical Olympic pantheon, Apollo is the patron of singers and musicians, the leader of the muses. His image becomes increasingly lighter and brighter, and his name is constantly accompanied by the epithet Phoebus (Greek phoibos, purity, shine).

Apollo enters into relationships with goddesses and mortal women, but is often rejected by them. Daphne and Cassandra did not accept Apollo’s love; Coronis and Marpessa were unfaithful to him. From Cyrene he had a son, Aristeas, from Coronis - Asclepius, from the muses Thalia and Urania - the Corybantes and the singer Linus (according to one version of the myth and Orpheus). His favorites were the young men Hyacinth and Cypress (sometimes considered as forms of Apollo).

The complex and contradictory image of Apollo is explained by the fact that Apollo was originally a pre-Greek deity, probably of Asia Minor. Its deep archaism is manifested in its close connection and even identification with the flora and fauna. Constant epithets (epiclesses) of Apollo are laurel, cypress, wolf, swan, raven, mouse. But the significance of the archaic Apollo recedes into the background compared to his significance as a solar god. The cult of Apollo in classical ancient mythology absorbs the cult of Helios and even crowds out the cult of Zeus.

We all heard legends about the Greek gods as children. Today there is an opportunity to get acquainted with one of them - Apollo.

Who is Apollo?

Apollo(or another name Phoebus, which means “radiant”) is a God in Greek mythology: a golden-haired god with a silver bow, who is the keeper of herds, light (after all, sunlight was symbolized by his golden arrows), the god of science and art, the healer god , head and patron of muses.

Apollo was also a harbinger of the future, the patron of roads, travelers and sailors. In Greek mythology, he personified the Sun (and his twin sister Artemis the Moon).

Apollo is the son of Zeus and the nymph Leto, the brother of Artemis, the Olympian god, who combined the classical image of archaic and chthonic figures of the pre-Greek and Asia Minor periods of development (this explains the variety of his functions - both destructive and charitable, as well as the combination in Apollo of dark and bright sides).

Apollo was born on a floating island called Asteria, on which Zeus and the nymph Leto met secretly, whom Zeus's jealous wife Hera forbade to set foot on solid ground. The island on which two divine twins were born, Apollo and Artemis, later became known as Delos, and the palm tree under which Leto gave birth became sacred, like the very birthplace of the god Apollo.

Apollo had many talents. He became famous as the founder and builder of cities, the ancestor and patron of tribes. He is a good musician. The golden-haired Apollo received his cithara from the god Hermes in exchange for cows. The son of Zeus is considered the patron saint of singers and musicians, for which he received the nickname Musaget. He severely punishes those who try to compete with him in music. And he generously rewards those who worship him.

Apollo (Phoebus, (Musagetes as leader of the muses)),in Greek mythology - one of the main and oldest gods, initially considered the guardian of herds, later he became the god of light, the patron of immigrants, and then the predictor of the future and the god of poetry, music and all the arts. Apollo was born on the island of Delos, where his mother Latona (Leto) ended up by accident, persecuted by the goddess Heroes for daring to love Hera’s husband, the thunderer Zeus. When the golden-haired Apollo was born, the gloomy rocks of the island of Delos were transformed, nature rejoiced, streams of bright light flooded the rocks, the valley and the sea. Young Apollo rushed across the sky with a cithara in his hands, with a silver bow over his shoulders. Those who sang a hymn in his honor taught mortals in the name of Apollo:“know yourself”, “avoid excesses”, “the best is in moderation”. Apollo more readily resorted to the cithara than to the bow. But sometimes he had to use a bow, so he punished the excessively proud Niobe, but the most terrible thing was his trial over the formidable Python, who persecuted his mother even before his birth. Python, a creature of darkness, settled in a deep and dark gorge near Delphi. When he crawled out of the gorge, all living things trembled with fear. When Apollo approached Python, his body, covered with scales, wriggled, his open mouth was ready to swallow the brave man, but then the string of a silver bow rang and many golden arrows pierced Python’s mighty body.
Apollo celebrated his victory over the monster by founding a sanctuary and an oracle in Delphi to prophesy the will of his father Zeus, and in honor of Apollo himself, the first temple in Greece was built according to the design of Apollo himself: miraculous bees brought a sample molded from wax and it hovered in the air for a long time, until people understood the idea: the main beauty was to be created by slender columns with beautiful capitals in the Corinthian style. Thousands of people from all over Ancient Greece flocked to Delphi, to the foot of Mount Parnassus, the habitat of Apollo and the Muses, to ask God about their future and the future of the city-states located in Hellas. The priestess, the Pythia, as she was called by the name of the snake Python, whose remains were smoldering in the gorge, entered the inner part of the temple of Apollo, she sat on a tripod and fell into oblivion from gas vapors that escaped from the crevice of the rock located under the temple. The priest approached the gate, behind which there was a Pythia, and conveyed the question of the next pilgrim. The words barely reached her consciousness. She answered in abrupt, incoherent phrases. The priest listened to them, wrote them down, giving them coherence, and announced them to the questioner.

In addition to the oracle, the Greeks were attracted to bright and joyful services to God. A huge number of hymns were composed and performed by kifareds (playing the cithara) and choirs of boys and young men. A beautiful laurel grove grew around the temple, which was liked by pilgrims. Apollo and those Greeks who won in singing anthems and in the Olympic Games were decorated with a laurel wreath, because the beautiful Daphne, whom Apollo fell in love with, turned into a laurel. He was also glorified by his own famous children: Asclepius - with the art of healing and Orpheus - with wonderful singing. On the island of Delos, the birthplace of Apollo, festivals were held once every four years, in which representatives of all the cities of Hellas participated. Wars and executions were not permitted during these festivities. Apollo was given
honors not only the Greeks, but also the Romans. A temple named after him was built in Rome and gymnastic and artistic competitions were established, centuries-old games held in Rome once every 100 years, which lasted 3 days and 3 nights. Homer wrote a beautiful hymn to Apollo:

Phoebus! The swan sings to you with the splashing of its wings,
From the whirlpools of the Peneus, flying up to the high shore.
Also the sweet-tongued singer with the polyphonic lyre
You are always the first and the last to sing, lord.
Rejoice much! May my song incline you to mercy!

Apollo loved his mother very much and protected her not only from physical assault, but also from insults and insults: he cruelly punished Niobe, who dared to mock Leto. Apollo and Zeus greatly valued and respected each other, and only twice did Apollo incur the wrath of his father, the king of gods and men. The first time was when all the gods of Olympus with the exception of Hestia, taught by Hera, decided to overthrow Zeus and tried to capture him.
Thetis prevented this: she sent Boreas to help Zeus, while Apollo and Poseidon were in the service of King Laomedon, for whom they were building the walls of Troy.
The second time Zeus and Apollo had a dispute over Asclepius, the son of Apollo, the god of healing, who was worshiped in the ancient city of Epidarus, and who was burned by the lightning of Zeus because he dared to revive several dead people and return them from the kingdom of gloomy Hades. Apollo took revenge by killing the Cyclopes, but his father punished him by forcing him to serve Admetus, the king of Thessaly. Apollo was forced to submit: he tended the fat herds belonging to King Admetus for nine whole years. But Apollo was a careless shepherd, so the newborn Hermes managed to kidnap fifty heifers.
Although Apollo did not want to marry, he often fell in love, and sometimes his love was unhappy. His feelings towards the nymph Daphne and the Trojan princess Cassandra remained unrequited, Coronis cheated on him with a mortal, although she gave birth to a son, Asclepius, even Marpessa abandoned Apollo for Idos. He enjoyed much greater success with the nymph Siren and the Muses, who were associated with his cult. No less famous are his connections with men: Hyacinth and Cypress.
Although the powers attributed to Apollo are very diverse, in fact, they had a direct connection. Apollo was the most controversial, but at the same time the most striking image of ancient Greek mythology. As you may have noticed, he was a god who punished evil, and all unexpected deaths were attributed to his arrows, but he was also the patron of medicine. He had the ability to predict the future, and also patronized the arts, especially singing and music, in which he was associated with the Muses: Marsyas, who dared to doubt the superiority of Apollo, was severely punished for his pride.
The god Apollo also patronized the founding of cities and protected the social foundations of society. In the Greek world, he was the embodiment of common sense and his image was significantly different from the images of other gods, who embodied passion or animal instincts.

Lord of the sun, patron of musicians, talented predictor, healer, brave hero, father of many children - the Greek Apollo includes many images. The eternally young and ambitious god honestly won his own place on Olympus. The favorite of women and brave men, he ranks second in the pantheon of divine rulers.

History of creation

According to modern researchers, the image of Apollo did not originate in Greece. Myths and legends about the radiant god came to the country from Asia Minor. The unusual name of the deity confirms the theory.

The meaning of the name of God has become a mystery not only for modern scientists, but also for the philosophers of Ancient Greece. put forward the version that “Apollo” is translated as “assembly”. The theory has no basis, since the name is not mentioned anywhere in such a context.

The second proof of the theory that Apollo was borrowed from Asia is the combination of contradictory functions in one person. Apollo appears before people as both a positive character and a punishing god. Such an image is not typical for the mythology of Ancient Greece. In any case, the golden-haired god took pride of place on Olympus, second in greatness only to his own father.

The cult of Apollo began its march from the island of Delos and gradually captured the entire country, including the Italian colonies of Greece. From there the power of the sun god spread to Rome. But, despite the huge territory of influence, it was Delos and the city of Delphi that became the center of service to the deity. On the territory of the latter, the Greeks built the Delphic Temple, where an oracle sat, whose interpretation of dreams revealed the secrets of the future.

Biography and image

The Greek god was born on the shores of the island of Delos. At the same time as the boy, a twin sister was born. Children are the fruit of the love of Zeus the Thunderer and the Titanide Leto (in another version of Latona). The woman had to wander through the sky and water, since Hera, the official wife of Zeus, forbade the Titanide to set foot on solid ground.

Like all children of Zeus, Apollo quickly grew up and matured. The gods of Olympus, proud and pleased with the replenishment, presented gifts to the young deity and his sister. The most memorable gift was a silver bow and golden arrows. With the help of this weapon, Apollo will accomplish many feats.

The description of the appearance of the eternally young deity is peculiar. Unlike most heroes of Greece, Apollo did not wear a beard, preferring to reveal his face to the world around him. The metaphor "golden-haired", often used in relation to God, suggests that Apollo is blond.

A young man of average height and average build moves quickly and silently around the world, easily catching up with his athletic sister. There is no mention of the god's daunting beauty, but the number of love victories suggests that Apollo exudes magnetism and charm.

However, in the life of God there was also unhappy love. Daphne, the myth of which perfectly characterizes the youth of Apollo, became the victim of an unpleasant story. The young god, confident in his own abilities, ridiculed Eros (the god of love), for which he received a love arrow in his heart. And the arrow of disgust flew straight into the heart of the nymph Daphne.

Apollo in love rushed after the girl, who decided to hide from a persistent admirer. The sun god did not retreat, so the nymph’s father, who saw his daughter’s torment, turned Daphne into a laurel tree. The young man decorated his own clothes and quiver for arrows with laurel foliage.

The young man spends his time free from exploits and worries playing music. Apollo's favorite instrument was the cithara. The young god is proud of his own successes in music and often patronizes talented musicians. What Apollo does not tolerate is bragging.

The merry satyr Marsyas, who picked up a flute, once challenged the young god to a competition. The man underestimated the talent of the son of Zeus. Marsyas lost the competition, and the proud and wayward Apollo, as punishment for his insolence, tore the skin off the satyr.

The young god gets bored on Olympus, so Apollo often comes down to earth to chat with friends. One day a friendly meeting ended in death. The son of Zeus and Hyacinth, the son of the local king, launched a metal disk into the sky. Apollo miscalculated his strength, and the shell hit Hyacinth in the head. God's favorite died, Apollo could not save his friend. A flower bloomed at the site of the tragedy. Now every spring the hyacinth plant opens a bud, reminiscent of the friendship of God and man.

A distinctive characteristic of Apollo is his all-consuming love for his mother and sister. For the sake of the well-being of close women, the hero goes against his formidable father. Soon after his birth, Apollo kills Python, the powerful serpent pursuing Leto. For an uncoordinated act of revenge, Zeus overthrows the sun god, and Apollo must serve as a shepherd for eight years to make amends.

The second time Apollo stands up for his mother is when Leto is insulted by Queen Niobe. The friends argued which of them was more fertile. To defend their mother's honor, Apollo and Artemis shot all of Niobe's children.

Despite frequent skirmishes, Apollo retained the title of his father's favorite. This arrangement oppresses Hera, the wife of the Lord of Olympus. The goddess makes every effort to harm Apollo. However, the sun god only chuckles at the stepmother’s tricks.

The deity has a serious responsibility - Apollo, with a chariot drawn by four horses, rides across the sky, illuminating the Earth. Often the golden-haired god is accompanied on his journey by nymphs and muses.

The matured Apollo often starts affairs. Unlike his father, the man appears before his lovers in his true form. The exceptions were Antenora (who took the form of a dog) and Dryope (who came twice in the form of a snake and a turtle). Despite his impressive love life, Apollo never married. Moreover, often the beloved of God were not faithful to the man.

But Apollo is overprotective of his own sons. Among the sons of God are Asclepius. The latter greatly angered his grandfather, for which he was killed by Zeus. Insulted Apollo, in revenge, killed the Cyclops, who created magic lightning for the Lord of Olympus.

• argued that Apollo is the personification of order and light, and represents the opposite qualities in mythology. The God of Wine encourages followers to break the rules imposed by the son of Zeus.
• Apollo has good physical fitness. The young man easily defeated the god of war Ares in a fist fight.
• The writer presented his own vision of the character. In the book "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" the reader meets the modern reckless son of Zeus.