Apollo, the god of the Sun- the eleventh Olympian
Apollo: the god of the Sun, archery, poetry, light, knowledge, oracles, prophecies and healing. It is said that Artemis helped her mother, Leto, give birth to Apollo. Artemis was born a day before Apollo, and so she had to act as a mid-wife to her mother. Four days after his birth, Apollo had his first victory after facing and subduing the great Python. He did in order to protect his mother, who was too weak to do anything. Hera having failed to kill, Leto in the first try, decided to send Tityos. At Hera’s command, Tityos went to Leto and almost raped her, had it not been for the timely intervention of Artemis and Apollo. Zeus, taking pity at the plight of his two children, decided to intervene in this drama. He captured Tityos and threw him down to the depths of Tartarus, where he was nailed with a stake. Every day, vultures would come and
eat his liver. This plight is some-what similar to that of Prometheus.
Homer said this about Tityos:
Saw Tityos too, Son of the mighty Goddess Earth—sprawling there
On the ground, spread over nine acres—two vultures
Hunched on either side of him, digging into his liver,
Beaking deep in the blood-sac, and he with his frantic hands
Could never beat them off, for he had once dragged off
The famous consort of Zeus in all her glory,
Leto, threading her way toward Pytho’s Ridge
Over the lovely dancing-rings of Panopeus
Apollo was gifted the lyre by Hermes. Ever since then, the lyre has become his symbol. His other symbol is the oracle at Delphi.
eat his liver. This plight is some-what similar to that of Prometheus.
Homer said this about Tityos:
Saw Tityos too, Son of the mighty Goddess Earth—sprawling there
On the ground, spread over nine acres—two vultures
Hunched on either side of him, digging into his liver,
Beaking deep in the blood-sac, and he with his frantic hands
Could never beat them off, for he had once dragged off
The famous consort of Zeus in all her glory,
Leto, threading her way toward Pytho’s Ridge
Over the lovely dancing-rings of Panopeus
Apollo was gifted the lyre by Hermes. Ever since then, the lyre has become his symbol. His other symbol is the oracle at Delphi.