Apollo
	"Apollo Belvedere," by an Unknown Artist

Apollo is the god of the music, prophecy, healing and archery. He is also associated with divination. Among the Olympians, Apollo is considered the be the most powerful God short of Zeus. According to Greek legend, it is Apollo who carries the sun across the sky each day on his horse-drawn chariot.

Apollo was born of the Greek God Zeus and his lover Leto. Zeus's wife Hera sent Python to chase Leto to the ends of the Earth after the affair. Unable to find a place to deliver her twin children, she arrived on the island of Delos. Some legends state that Poseidon swept her away to this island, covering it with waves to protect her from Hera. There, she gave birth to Apollo and Artemis. Apollo later killed Python, which enraged Zeus as Python was of Gaia.

The Greek God Pan challenged Apollo to a musical contest, to determine who was to have domain over music. Pan played the flute while Apollo played the Lyre. The river God Tmolus, after hearing both play, judged Apollo the winner.The Greek city is known for its connection to Apollo. In about 650 BCE, a temple to Apollo was built there. A famous shrine called the Oracle was also to be found there. According to legend, this was a temple of Python, whom Apollo had slain. People visited this shrine from all over. Apollo foretold the future at the Oracle through his priestess, the Pythia.

A notable son of Apollo is the Greek demi-god Asclepius. Apollo sent him to study under the centaur Chiron, who taught him the arts of healing. Asclepius is seen in Greek mythology as a divinely inspired physician. He was said to be so skilled in surgery and the use of medecinal plants that he could even restore the dead to life. Hades, in fact, became alarmed and complained to Zeus. Zeus then struck Asclepius dead with a thunderbolt, fearing he would render all men immortal.

The God Apollo exists by the same name in both Greek and Roman mythology..

Genealogy: Apollo is the son of Zeus and his mistress Leto. Artemis, the Goddess of the Hunt, is his twin sister.

Symbols: The Laurel, The Crow, The Dolphin, The Lyre