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Greek mythology
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Greek mythology has been very important to the Greeks since almost 2,500 years ago, and one of the most important gods in Greek mythology has the title of Apollo. He is the son of Zeus and Leto, and the father of Asclepius. Believe it or not, Apollo is also said to have a twin sister named Artemis. This god is known to be the god of sun, prophecy, divination, music, poetry, disease, and healing as well. Apollo is described as being a beardless, handsome youth with very long hair, and is known as one of the most handsome gods. There are many sources that back this fact up. Therefore, Apollo is an important part of Greek mythology because of his beautiful talents (but bad temper), amazing stories, and the objects that symbolize him. In the first place, Apollo is a very talented musician and is very creative. However, he also has quite a temper about him and tends to do things that could possibly end up bad. For example, “Apollo, playing his lyre, decisively defeated the god, Pan, who was playing his pipes. The only listener who dissented was Midos, who protested the results of the contest. As punishment for marrying his otherwise perfect …show more content…
In fact, Apollo has many things that are sacred to him and that describe him and who he really is. For example, “Sunday is a sacred day to Apollo” (Michael). Also, in the previous paragraph, it declared the story of Apollo’s love for Daphne. When Daphne fled, Apollo turned her into a Laurel tree so she could be made into a wreath for his head. This is why the Laurel branch is so sacred to him. Also, in paragraph 2, it states how Apollo defeated the god, Pan, by playing his lyre. This is yet another story that results in a sacred object. The Lyre is very sacred to Apollo and his Greek mythological story. Lastly, “Yellow, Orange, and Gold are the colors that are sacred to Apollo” (Michael). This is thought to be because he is the god of the
“Apollo is considered the god of music, prophecy, oracles, healing, plague and disease, song, poetry, archery, and the protection of the young. He is always depicted as a handsome young male with long flowing hair, with his bow and his lyre in hand. His Mother and Father are Zeus and Leto. (Leto is a female titan.) Apollo has a twin sister named Artemis. She is the goddess of hunting, wilderness, and wild animals. Apollo was not only a very skilled musician he was also very skilled with his Silver bow.” (1)
Apollo is a very important and powerful god. He is the god of music, poetry, art, oracles, archery, plague, medicine, sun, light, and knowledge. His valuable abilities granted him a seat in Mount Olympus with 11 other powerful deities. He is the ideal of Kouros: beardless and an athletic youth. His gift of prophecies and oracles were given to him due to the fact that he is unable to speak a lie. (Weaver)
Spartan religion was interpreted to support the military state. The religious connection to the military can be first seen in the Greek Gods the Spartiates emphasised and worshipped. The principal Spartan Gods were Apollo, Artemis, Athena, Discouri and Zeus. Apollo, Artemis and Athena more explicitly demonstrate the militaristic nature of Sparta with the three Gods associated with victory, wisdom, and skill in battle. Even Gods that were not usually known for battle were given militaristic traits, like the statue of the Armed Aphrodite [Goddess of love] in Thornax. The principal God however would have been Apollo who was also a master archer and an athlete and was seen as the model youth and a guardian of young men. His twin sister, Artemis, was the guardian of young women. The worship of Apollo and Artemis and their high status reflects the military value of Spartan society in training the youth for future defence. Such devotion to Apollo and Artemis can be seen in the Sanctuary of Apollo at Amyclae where coins in the likeness of Apollo were found and at the Temple of Artemis Orthia where votive offerings were found and it was known to be a centre for blood sacrifices.
Hermes is the son of Zeus and Maia, daughter of Atlas. In literature, he was connected to the protection of cattle and sheep as well as vegetation. He is also the messenger of the gods, transporter of the dead, protector of travelers and a god of dreams. Hermes was a patron of music and the god of eloquence. He was described as graceful and swift in motion, having worn winged sandals. He also had wings on his hat and on his magic wand. He became Zeus's Messenger. He is described as the shrewdest and most cunning of all the Gods. He is connected to treasure and good luck. His bird was the vulture and the dog as his animal. His sacred number was four.
Zeus needs no introduction, as the Greek mythological god of the sky his name and tales are known throughout the world. Born from Cronus his father and Rhea his mother Zeus was the sixth son of the two. After Cronus ate his first five children Rhea gathered the strength to save her next child which was Zeus. Rhea tricked Cronus in to eating a stone by rapping it up in a swaddle of cloths instead of her new born; she sent her child to the island of Crete to Mt. Dikte where he was raised by a goatee. As Zeus matured to a young adult he became strong and made his father Cronus throw his siblings up. His five sibling concluded of Demeter, Hestia, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon. The siblings shared rule of the world; the most known gods are Zeus whom made himself ruler of the sky, Poseidon who was given the sea and Hades was handed the Underworld. As the sky god Zeus acquired powers, responsibilities, and other perks; powers that included his weapons the lightning bolt, and the power to morph into man and animal, his reasonability to look over man enabled him to observe people in time of war and in their most personal of times. As a sky god Zeus was expected enrich the mortal chain; that lead him to have many loves and affairs.
Greek mythology is something that everyone knows of, not only because it is so interesting, but because of the many gods and goddesses. One of the most well known goddesses being Goddess Athena who portrayed so many good characteristics. Although Goddess Athena is best known for wisdom, military skill, and crafts, she is also known for her mythological influence on the modern day world and her acts of heroism.
The. Harris, Stephen L., and Gloria Platzner. Homeric Hymn to Hermes. Classical Mythology: Images and Insights. Sixth ed. of the book.
Through all of these events, Apollo experiences things he has never experienced before because he is now mortal. For example, he is amazed when he bleeds. He is also stunned to have feelings of sadness and guilt. The lives of his children now mean more to him as mortality makes him aware of the others around him. It makes him a more caring, mature person.
Rutherford, Ian. “Pindar on the Birth of Apollo” The Classical Quarterly 38.1 (1998):65-66. Cambridge University Press. Web. 5 May 2014.
On the island of Tucsonia in the southern Aegean Sea, numerous ancient Greek pilgrims and other observers come together in this little island to celebrate Apollo and his significance to the mortal world. Apollo the sun god was the son of Zeus and Leto, and the twin brother of Artemis. He was known for being the most “Greek” of all gods and was known for his young physical attributes. Apollo was also the god of sailors, colonizers, and prophecy. Although he had such important tasks as a god, his remarkable skills for music, predominantly identified with the lyre, was also acknowledged. One of Apollo’s most important daily tasks was to harness his four-horse chariot across the sky in order to move the sun. Thus, the festivities begin during the
Greek mythology has many different traditions and the culture was very influential to Today’s Society. We see many examples in modern culture that are a result of Greek culture, such as the Olympics in honor of Zeus. Mythology had many traditions and each god has a specific job and relates to modern day. Greek mythology is the time of crazy creatures and heroic tales of gods. The gods were basically in charge and looked up to as celebrities are today. One god in particular, Zeus, was considered to be the boss over all others and he and a mortal woman had a son named, Hercules. Hercules was most known for his strength, as well as his success in completing the almost impossible 12 tasks given to him by the ever powerful Apollo. He completed the tasks with the help of Hermes and Athena. He served as a sense of protection for the people, without him many people would have died. Although Hercules in Todays culture is portrayed as a strong, fearless hero, he was also a troubled, anger-driven person which sometimes came back to haunt him.
People idolized these beings and built stunning life-like sculptures of them. Zeus was the most important of all the Greek gods and also king of Mount Olympus. He became a king after overthrowing his father, who was a titan and feared that his children would become more powerful than him. He is very well known for being deceiving, and a trickster.
He is said to have been the god to teach mortals the art of medicine. Apollo is an amazing character in Greek mythology, but his family is also well known as well. Apollo was the standard model for male beauty. He was a beardless, muscular man with a perfect figure. Apollo is often found carrying a lyre, a type of harp, or a bow and arrow, which was his signature weapon.
So this moment in the poem is where Apollo would give Cassandra the gift of prophecy, a power she did not
It is the source of primal instincts. " The Dionysian with its primal pleasure-experienced even in pain- is the common womb of music and tragic myth.the Apollon is the realm of dreams and ideal forms."("The Birth of Tragedy" Nietzsche, 1871) The Apollonian is the humanized aspect of reality, civilization. harmony, and balance of the soul. It follows order, form, status, peace, moderation, permanence.