Apollo

**Apollo**

Apollo is one of the most significant deities in Greek and Roman mythology, often associated with a variety of domains including music, prophecy, healing, archery, and light. As the son of Zeus and Leto, and the twin brother of Artemis, Apollo holds a prominent place among the Olympian gods. His worship was widespread across the ancient world, with his most famous cult center being the Oracle of Delphi, where the priestess Pythia would deliver his prophecies. Apollo is also closely connected with the arts, particularly music, and was known for playing the lyre, a gift he received from Hermes in exchange for some stolen cattle.

Apollo's mythology includes numerous stories of his unrequited loves, both male and female. He pursued the nymph Daphne, who transformed into a laurel tree to escape him; this tree became sacred to him, and laurel wreaths were used to honor victors in various Greek contests. He also mourned the accidental death of his lover Hyacinthus, who was killed by a discus thrown off course by the jealous West Wind, Zephyrus. From Hyacinthus’s blood sprang the flower that bears his name. Another of Apollo’s tragic lovers was Cyparissus, who transformed into a cypress tree after accidentally killing a sacred stag gifted by Apollo.

Apart from his romantic escapades, Apollo is known for his vengeful acts. He punished Niobe by killing her seven sons (while his sister Artemis killed her seven daughters) after Niobe boasted of being superior to Leto. He also flayed the satyr Marsyas alive for daring to challenge him in a music contest. In addition, Apollo was involved in the Trojan War, siding with the Trojans and sending a plague to the Greek camp when Agamemnon offended him by refusing to return Chryseis, the daughter of one of his priests.

Apollo is sometimes identified with the sun god Helios, particularly in later Roman mythology, where he was called Phoebus Apollo, symbolizing his association with light and purity. His various epithets, such as Smintheus (related to mice and plagues) and Pythius (from slaying the serpent Python at Delphi), reflect the diverse aspects of his character.

### Common Clues Across Questions

1. **Oracle of Delphi**: Apollo is strongly associated with the Oracle of Delphi, where he gave prophecies through the priestess Pythia.

2. **Pursuit of Daphne**: Apollo famously chased the nymph Daphne, who was transformed into a laurel tree to escape him, making the laurel tree sacred to Apollo.

3. **Music and Lyre**: Apollo is known for his musical abilities and often depicted with a lyre, which he received from Hermes.

4. **Slaying of Python**: Apollo killed the serpent Python, establishing his authority over Delphi and earning him the title Pythius.

5. **Tragic Lovers (Hyacinthus and Cyparissus)**: Apollo’s male lovers, Hyacinthus and Cyparissus, met tragic fates, with Hyacinthus turned into a hyacinth flower and Cyparissus into a cypress tree.

6. **Twin of Artemis**: Apollo is the twin brother of Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, and together they avenged insults to their mother, Leto, as in the case of Niobe.

7. **Association with Plague**: Apollo’s epithet Smintheus is linked to plagues, and he sent a plague to the Greeks in the Iliad when Agamemnon refused to release Chryseis.

### Related Quizbowl Facts

Fill in the blanks with key terms related to Apollo:

1. Apollo is closely associated with the Oracle at ___1___, where he spoke through the priestess Pythia.

2. In his pursuit of the nymph ___2___, she transformed into a laurel tree to escape him.

3. Apollo received the ___3___, a musical instrument, from Hermes.

4. Apollo earned the title ___4___ after he killed the serpent Python at Delphi.

5. Apollo mourned his lover ___5___, who was killed by a discus thrown off course by Zephyrus.

6. The ___6___ tree was sacred to Apollo after Cyparissus was transformed into it out of grief.

7. As the son of Zeus and Leto, Apollo is the twin brother of ___7___.

#### Answer Key for Practice

1. Delphi

2. Daphne

3. Lyre

4. Pythius

5. Hyacinthus

6. Cypress

7. Artemis

Here are the clues, references, or plot lines used more than once across the questions:

1. **Hyacinthus** - 24 times: Mentioned as a lover of Apollo, accidentally killed by a discus blown off course by the jealous Zephyrus.

2. **Python** - 21 times: Apollo slays the Python and establishes the Oracle of Delphi at the site.

3. **Niobe** - 20 times: Apollo and Artemis kill the children of Niobe after she insults their mother, Leto.

4. **Daphne** - 18 times: Apollo pursues the nymph Daphne, who is transformed into a laurel tree to escape him.

5. **Marsyas** - 16 times: Apollo flays the satyr Marsyas after defeating him in a music contest.

6. **Asclepius** - 15 times: Son of Apollo, renowned healer who was struck down by Zeus after reviving Hippolytus.

7. **Admetus** - 12 times: Apollo serves as a slave to King Admetus as punishment for killing the Cyclopes in revenge for Asclepius's death. This story stems from the sequence of events involving Apollo’s son, Asclepius, the god of medicine, who was killed by Zeus for resurrecting the dead, which was seen as an offense against the natural order. Enraged by the loss of his son, Apollo retaliated by killing the Cyclopes, the skilled giants who forged Zeus’s thunderbolts. As punishment for this act, Zeus compelled Apollo to serve as a mortal for one year under King Admetus.

8. **Coronis** - 10 times: Coronis, lover of Apollo and mother of Asclepius, cheats on him, leading Apollo to curse the crow.

9. **Cyparissus** - 9 times: Cyparissus, a lover of Apollo, is transformed into a cypress tree after accidentally killing Apollo’s pet stag.

10. **Cassandra** - 8 times: Apollo curses Cassandra so that no one believes her prophecies after she rejects him.

11. **Oracle of Delphi** - 8 times: Apollo establishes the Oracle of Delphi after killing the Python.

12. **Smintheus** - 5 times: Apollo’s epithet “Smintheus” possibly referring to his association with mice.

13. **Aristaeus** - 4 times: Son of Apollo with Cyrene, known as a minor god associated with beekeeping.

14. **Tityos** - 4 times: Apollo kills Tityos, a giant who attempted to assault Leto.

15. **Clytie** - 3 times: Apollo rejects the advances of the nymph Clytie, who eventually turns into a sunflower.

16. **Troilus** - 2 times: Apollo is sometimes said to be the father of Troilus with Hecuba.

These references, ordered by frequency, show recurring themes and storylines in the mythology surrounding Apollo.