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Apollo
Apollo was one of 12 major Olympian deities. He was the son of Zeus and Leto. Apollo had one twin sister named Artemis. Apollo was born on the island of Delos. He is known as "the most Greek of all the Gods" (Hamilton, p. 30). His real name is Phoebus Apollo. Phoebus means "brilliant" or "shining." Apollo’s tree is the laurel and his sacred creatures are the dolphin and the crow. Apollo has many powers and many titles. He is known as a master musician because he plays the golden lyre (a small harp-like musical instrument known in ancient Greece). Also, he is the lord of the silver bow. When he plays these instruments he always delights the Gods of Olympus. Apollo is also known as the Archer God because he can shoot the farthest of the Gods, and the healer God for he was the first to teach men of the healing art. There are two major titles given to Apollo, the God of Light and the God of Truth. He is know as the God of Light because he is one "in whom there is no darkness" (Hamilton, p. 30). He is called the God of Truth because "no false word ever comes out of his lips" (Hamilton, p.30). A lot of the time he is called the Sun-God, but the real Sun-God is Helios. Finally, he is known as a beautiful figure in Greek poetry. For example, the following poem was written about Apollo. O Phoebus, from you throne of truth; From your dwelling place at the heart of the world, You speak to me. By Zeus’s decree no lie comes there, No shadow to darken the word of truth. Zeus sealed by an everlasting right Apollo’s honor, that all may trust With unshaken faith when he speaks. Apollo had many subjects that interested him. He enjoyed medicine and law. In terms of characteristics, he showed courage and wisdom and symbolized manly youth and beauty. He was also interested in other living creatures. For example, the laurel wreath made from his laurel tree, the palm tree, the wolf, the hawk, and the fawn all were associated with him. Apollo is given credit for the tripod (which is a three-legged stool), the omphalos (which is a bee-hive shaped stone at Delphi, designating the spot that represents the center of Earth), the lyre, the bow and arrow, and his oracle (at Delphi) which plays an important part in Greek mythology. His oracle is at the center of the world, so many people come to it from foreign countries, as well as Greece. This shrine revealed the answers to the questions asked by anxious seekers for Truth. Bibliography Encyclopedia Britannica. Volume 1. Apollo. Britannica (1991). pg. 484. Hamilton, Edith. Mythology. Little, Brown and Company. Boston (1942). pgs. 29-31, 411-413, 426-427. Hamilton, Edith. Mythology, Timeless Tales of Gods and Heros. New American Library. New York (1940). pgs. 30-31, 114-115. Kenn, Raymond. Apollo. Collier’s Encyclopedia. Volume 2. MacMillan Education Company. New York (1991). pg. 347. MIDAS AND HIS ASSES’ EARS Midas was the King of Phrygia. He was chosen as one of the umpires in the musical contest between Apollo and Pan. Pan could play very pleasing tunes on his pipes of reed, but when Apollo played his silver lyre there was "no sound on Earth or in the heavens that could equal his melody." Nevertheless, although the umpire, the mountain god Tmolus, chose Apollo as the winner, Midas, honestly preferred Pan. Of course, this was stupidity on his part. He should have known that it was dangerous to side against Apollo with Pan who was less powerful. As a result, Apollo punished Midas by giving him asses’ ears. Apollo said "that he was merely giving to ears so dull and dense the proper shape." Midas hid his ears under his cap especially made for that purpose, but the servant who cut his hair could see them. The servant swore a solemn oath never to tell, but one night he went and dug a hole in a field and said softly, "King Midas has asses’ ears." Then he felt relieved and filled the hole up. In the spring the reeds grew , and when blown by the wind they whispered those buried words. The people learned the truth of what had happened to the King. The myth tells us that when gods are contestants the only safe course is to side with the strongest (Hamilton, pg. 411-412).
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