Greek Mythology: Apollo

Those who read Greek Mythology know how flirtatious Zeus is. Naturally, Zeus and Hera are married, but Zeus is always with other women. Another day, Hera learns that Zeus cheated on her and Leto was pregnant. On top of that, it makes it impossible for Leto to conceive or give birth to any soil. Moreover, Zeus turns Leto into a quail so that he can give birth. Leto then decides to give birth on Delos’s island because there is no land Hera blocked, but water and sand. Besides, due to the constant waves and wind, it does not have a specific place on the map. After Letos gives birth, the island is called Delos and becomes a permanent island. She gives birth to twin children, Apollo and Artemis (Artemis’s name is Diana in Latin). As we mentioned earlier, Apollo has hair shimmering like the sun. Artemis also has white skin and black hair. While Apollo is like the Sun, Artemis is like the Moon. After learning Apollo and Artemis were born, Hera sends wild snakes to them. Starting to run away from the snake with his children, Leto goes to a waterfront. However, the villagers living there do not allow them to drink water, and Leto turns them into frogs.

In time, Apollo and Artemis grow up. Zeus sends them arrows and bows made by Hephaestus (god of fire and metal). Thanks to these bows and arrows, they improve themselves. Artemis wants to avenge the snake sent to the Apollo family while devoting himself to hunting. Apollo shoots an arrow into the snake’s eye, then its heart, and finally its mouth. Thus, he avenged the snake. (Sumerian Mythology and the Concept of God)

Everyone who knows Greek mythology has heard of Apollo somehow. Apollo (Greek: Απόλλων) is the god of music, sun, and poetry, as well as the twin sister of Artemis. When Apollo is mentioned, the crown made of lyre, bow, and laurel leaves comes to mind. Well, of Apollo’s bay leaves.

Apollo and Defne

First, when we look at the mythological background, it is necessary to tell the myth of Defne (Peneus and Gaia’s daughter) and Apollo. After killing the dragon that was said to be indestructible, Apollo began to trust himself. After seeing Cupid (or Eros) dealing with this post-victory bow and arrow, he claims that he is more talented than him and can defeat him. Unable to resist Apollo’s boasting, Eros shoots an arrow into Apollo’s heart, and the beautiful Defne (she is the water/forest fairy) appears before Apollo. Apollo falls in love with Defne (Greek: Δάφνη) under the influence of the arrow. Defne, the daughter of Peneus, is not at all affected by him because Eros fired an arrow into Defne’s heart to hate Apollo. He tried to escape from Apollo and wanted his father to turn him into a tree just as Apollo would capture Defne. The laurel turns into a laurel tree before Apollo catches it and remains a tree forever. Apollo also makes a crown from the leaves of Defne and always wears it. The laurel wreath has been used as a symbol of victory ever since. She even gets stuck with graduate students. (How Would You Die If You Were A Greek Hero)

Hyacinthus and Apollo

Hyacinthus is a Spartan and charming prince in Greek mythology. Hyacinthus is loved by both the god Apollo and Zephyrus (its name means the west wind). However, Hyacinthus chooses Apollo. Apollo teaches him everything he knows. Zephyrus is jealous of all this. One day, Apollo invites Hycanthus to a race and asks him to throw a disc. First, Apollo throws the disc, but when the disc that he threw falls to the ground as Zeyphrus changes its direction, it leaps to Hyacinthus’ face. Hyacinthus everyone likes dying there, and their blood spills on the floor. Flowers are formed from the blood of Hyacinthus spilled on the ground. These flowers are the hyacinth flower, also known as Hyacinth.

Author : Pınar Becken

Translate : Arda Sahin

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