Roman mythology is the body of traditional stories pertaining to ancient Rome's legendary origins and religious system, as represented in the literature and visual arts of the Romans.
The Romans usually treated their traditional narratives as histor...
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Apollo was an important Roman god of the sun, music, archery and prophecy. According to mythology and legend he had a great battle with gigantic earth serpent Python at Delphi. His victory over the Python gave him his association with prophecy via the famous oracle at Delphi. His association with medicine and healing relates to the control he was believed to have over the plague. The Ancients Romans believed that he could bring good health or ill-health including the deadly plague. He was worshipped by many for his ability to cure.
Facts about Apollo
Name: Apollo
A major deity and one of the 12 Olympian Gods
Jurisdiction: Apollo was described as being the Roman God of the sun, music, medicine and healing, archery and prophecy
Mythology: Mythical Family Tree or Relatives: He was believed to be the God of the Sun. He was the son of Jupiter and Latona. His twin sister was Diana.
Depiction / Description / Symbol: the golden lyre, the snake, laurel and hyacinth
Name of equivalent Greek God: Phoebus Apollo
July 6 to 13 the Ludi Apollinares were games held for the Roman people in honour of Apollo
Sacrifices to Apollo - During sacrifices to the Roman gods the sex of the victim had to correspond to the sex of the god to whom it was offered. White animals were given to the gods of the upper world whereas black victims to the gods of the underworld
Apollo's Oracle at Delphi
The ancient Greeks built many, many temples. They believed each temple they built should honor only one god, no matter how big or elaborate the temple. Some cities built more than one temple to honor the same god.
Apollo enjoyed having temples built in his honor. He liked the gifts. He liked the attention. Everyone knew that Apollo was the god of music. He also brought out the sun each day. He had other special powers. Apollo could see the future, not always, but sometimes. Everyone wanted to know the future. So Apollo's temples were busy places, full of people full of questions about their future. His temples were so busy, in fact, that the stream of visitors asking him questions wore him out.
Apollo decided he needed an assistant, a wise woman, an oracle. An oracle, in ancient Greece, was someone who could see the future. But Apollo did not want any old oracle to speak for him. He wanted a real one. But there weren't any real ones, not really. The oracles he had met always had vague answers.
For example, if you asked an oracle if you should plant your garden tomorrow, they might say "the frost will be gone if the gods will it." Not really helpful.
Apollo had the power to magically make someone truly see the future, just as he could. But Apollo didn't want to take the fun out of things. So Apollo set some ground rules for his oracle. He would use his magic to allow her to truly see the future. Apollo's rules stated that she had to tell the truth, but she could not be too specific. That would allow the possibility of misunderstanding. That would made it fun!
Apollo magically turned a young priestess into a real oracle. He magically built a special temple for her home. He magically told a few people here and there about his wonderful oracle.
It did not take long for the word to spread. People came from all over to ask Apollo's oracle a question. People had heard she could really see the future and could only tell the truth.
One day, a weary king came to the temple. He asked Apollo's oracle if he would win the battle. She smiled and told him a great king would win the battle. That was exactly what he had wanted to hear. He went away happy, leaving many gifts for the oracle behind him.
When he led his men into battle, they lost. The king was killed. But people still flocked to Apollo's oracle. They knew she had told the truth. She had to tell the truth. What a pity the king had not listened.
Roman gods
