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Structure
Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 25 general entries.
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 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 Apollo
| Apollo was usually depicted holding a lyre. Along with his lyre, he sometimes had with him a plectrum. What is a "plectrum?" | The Original Apollo Quiz
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Device used to strum an instrument. A plectrum is commonly referred to as a "pick" or "flat pick." I can't see fans of rock groups trading and displaying "plectrums" from their favorite guitarists, can you? "Hey, dude, let me see your plectrum." POW!
Hermes. Hermes was just a baby when he presented Apollo with the lyre in exchange for Apollo's cattle (which Hermes had stolen). According to one story, Hermes made the first lyre with a turtle shell and cow-gut strings. Erato did have a lyre, but didn't give it up to Apollo (Erato didn't give anything up to Apollo).
| Apollo's fateful pursuit of Daphne led her to transform herself in order to escape being caught by Apollo. Into what did she transform to escape Apollo's advances? | The Original Apollo Quiz
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Laurel tree. Daphne turned herself into the Laurel with the help of her father, the river god, Penaeus. Apollo was heartbroken by this and placed a ring of laurel on his head. The laurel remains a major symbol of Apollo and he is often depicted in art wearing a ring of laurel.
| Apollo became impassioned by a young boy named Cyparissus. Apollo gave him a deer as gift, but Cyparissus accidentally killed it. In his mourning, he asked Apollo to let his tears fall forever. Apollo obliged. Into what did Apollo transform the boy? | The Original Apollo Quiz
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A cyprus. The cyprus oozes sap from its bark, forming droplets. These droplets are said to be the boy's tears.
| Apollo was said to have killed the great serpent, Python. Who was considered the mother of Python? | The Original Apollo Quiz
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Gaea. Several versions of this story exist. One says that Apollo killed Python in retaliation for the serpent's pursuit of Leto when she was pregnant with the twins, Apollo and Artemis. Another goes that he killed the snake to free Delphi from its terror. In any case, because he killed Python in a sacred place, and because Python was the son of Gaea (Mother Earth), he got in big trouble over it and had to atone for his misdeed.
| The name "Apollo" has been said to mean "destroyer" or "one who destroys". What other meaning is associated with the name? | The Original Apollo Quiz
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Apple man. The persona of the Greek God, Apollo, is said to have been imported to Greece from the north of present-day Europe. Some have proposed he came from the Celts, as his name might be derived from the Celtic word for apple, "abel". I'm surprised he is not also the God of School Teachers...
| In one famous story, Apollo seduced Hecuba and bore him a son named Troilius. Troilius was eventually killed. Who killed him? | The Original Apollo Quiz
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Achilles. Hecuba was a Trojan queen who was reported to have had fifty children. It was she who bore the famous hero, Paris, whose abduction of Helen caused the Trojan War. Hecuba had Troilius by Apollo and it was prophesied that the city of Troy would not fall during the Trojan War if Troilius reached 25 years of age. Achilles ambushed and killed Troilius and Troy was eventually defeated. Priam was Hecuba's huband and King of Troy.
Perseus slew many people and monsters, but he didn't do in Troilius.
| As mentioned earlier, Apollo was referred to by many names. What was the most common alternate name to which he was referred? | The Original Apollo Quiz
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Phoebus Apollo. Two versions:
1. The name "Phoebus" refers to Apollo's association with Phoebe, daughter of Uranus and Gaea. Phoebe was his grandmother.
2. The name "Phoebus" means "radiant" or "beaming" and refers to his association with the sun or light.
"You can call me 'Ray' or you can call me 'Jay'..."
Delos. One version of the story relates that the jealous Hera, hearing of Leto's pregnancy with Zeus' children, put a curse on Leto saying she may not give birth on land or in the sea (some versions have the birth forbidden both on land and on an island at sea). Delos was a floating island, thus not qualifying as either land proper or sea (or not being a true island). Other versions relate that Python pursued Leto, who eventually made it to Delos. The island was unchained and floated away, thus outrunning the pursuing Python.
Delphi was the sanctuary of Apollo. Lemnos was the island to which Hephaestus was brought after being cast off Olympus. Crete is a popular tourist destination and home to many a baby.
Marsyas. One version states that Marsyas, the satyr, found a flute that had been discarded by Athena (she gave up trying to play it). Marsyas boasted he could play music better than Apollo and challenged him to a contest. The contest ended in a draw. To break the stalemate, Apollo announced that they should turn their instruments upside-down and sing. Since one cannot play a flute upside-down nor sing while playing it, Apollo won the contest. As punishment, Apollo flayed Marsyas, tearing all flesh from his bones. "Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, flayin' alive, flayin' alive..."
| As he is to many gods and goddesses, Zeus is the father of Apollo. Apollo does not have the same mother as many of the gods and goddesses Zeus fathered. Who was Apollo's mother? | Apollo, God of Light
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Leto. Leto is the daughter of the Titans Coeus and Phoebe. Leto also mothered Artemis, Apollo's twin.
| Apollo's mother had a very difficult time finding a place to receive her so that she could give birth. Why was it that no village, island, or city would allow her to stay? | Apollo, God of Light
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They feared the jeolousy of Hera. Hera was a very jealous goddess, and would no doubt be very angry when she found out that her husband fathered a child with another goddess. The people would fear that they would be punished for allowing this child to be born within their walls.
| After being refused entry to all previous places in Greece she had visited, where was Apollo's mother finally able to birth him? | Apollo, God of Light
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The island of Delos. It was her promise that Apollo would lend eternal glory to the island, which enticed the inhabitants to let her stay.
| For nine days, Apollo's mother was in a most painful labor. The only person who could help birth him was the goddess of childbirth, Eileithyia. Why did Eileithyia not come to help? | Apollo, God of Light
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Hera ringed her with golden clouds. The golden clouds made it so Eileithyia could not see or hear. Luckily Iris came to Eileithyia secretly and persuaded her to come birth Apollo, who was born as soon as Eileithyia set foot on the island.
| One of Apollo's first decisions was to set up an oracle, a place where the mortals would go to know the will of Zeus, Apollo's father. Where was it that Apollo decided to place the oracle? | Apollo, God of Light
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Delphi. Of course, Delphi is only the name of the present day location of this oracle. At the time there was no city. The location was at Mt. Parnassus, the home of Pytho, a huge snake protecting the area. Apollo slew the beast and was able to place his oracle there.
| The first priests of the oracle were a crew of Cretans on a ship not bound for Apollo's oracle. Where was this ship heading, before finding the oracle? | Apollo, God of Light
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Pylos. Apollo was gazing over the sea when he saw this ship. He transformed to a dolphin and leapt onto the deck. The ship then changed course on its own and headed toward the Gulf of Crisa, just below Delphi. Upon their arrival, Apollo changed back, revealed himself, then lead these Cretans to his temple.
| Like most gods, if not all, Apollo was not known as simply the god of light. By what other name was he known? | Apollo, God of Light
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God of harmony. Worship of Apollo was closely bound up with prophesy, the art which throws light on the will of the gods. As the god of harmony, this art was linked with the art of music.
| At drinking parties on Olympus, Apollo would often accompany the muses on his instrument. Which instrument did Apollo play? | Apollo, God of Light
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Lyre. Apollo would play, the muses would sing, and the young goddesses would lead the dance. Leto and Zeus were very proud of Apollo, whose music glowed with grace and beauty.
| We've learned Apollo was known as the god of light, and the god of harmony. By what name was he also known, before the "god of..." title? In other words, what name would often come before "Apollo"? | Apollo, God of Light
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Pythian Apollo. When Apollo decided on a place for his oracle, he slew a large snake who would devour any man or beast who may cross its path. The snake was called a Pytho, and Apollo adopted the name of Pythian Apollo for ridding the area of this snake.
The Laurel tree. Apollo's first love was the daughter of the river Peneus, Daphne. He wanted to make her his own, thought she wished to remain pure and so ran away from him. Daphne called upon her father who changed her into a tree, a Laurel tree. Apollo would often wear these leaves in his hair, and decorated his instrument with these leaves.
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