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Greek God of Sun: Apollo

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Submitted By linsay1992
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The Twelve Olympian gods wouldn’t be complete without Apollo, god of the sun, music, poetry, healing, prophecy, archery, disease (mostly death-dealing plagues), purification, and a defender of all herds and flocks. His many symbols are the chariot, the kithara/lyre (a gift he received from Hermes), the laurel tree, and mice, ones who are suppose to help him with his prophecies. He is the son of Zeus and Letos, along with his twin sister, Artemis. In art, he is portrayed as being a very attractive and beardless man with golden, curly hair. He is frequently shown holding a lyre or a bow. I chose to do this project on him because one of my favorite songs talks about the infamous story behind Apollo and Daphne. I’m very curious about this Greek god and the myth as well. After being born on the Island of Delos in Asia Minor, Apollo traveled to Delphi. He was originally there to pick laurels, but little did he know that the place was already inhabited by Gaea and her son, Pythia. This is the beginning of the well-known myth, Delphi: Oracle of Apollo… When Apollo found out that Pythia lived in Delphi, he instantly slay him, for Apollo thought that Pythia had raped Letos when she was pregnant with him and Artemis. Even though it wasn’t proven whether that was really true, Apollo was still severely punished because Pythia was the son of Gaea, Mother Earth. Therefore, Apollo was forced to do eight, long years of menial tasks. Despite this, he later claimed Delphi as his own and ironically, named the oracle there Pythia, in honor of the one he killed. Today, a festival known as the Serpteria is performed yearly, depicting the slaying of Pythia. Apollo also created the Pythian Games later on, which became later known as the Olympic Games. I consider this story as one that can give us an important theme, it tells me never to jump to conclusions unless I have proof,

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