Apollo

"Golden-haired Apollo, protector of our streets and public places. We honor you who bade the Great Battos build our city walls beneath the hole in the sky"

―Inscription on an Egyptian statue of Apollo, c. 1st century BCE

Statue of Apollo 1st century BCE Egypt

Apollo is the ancient Greek and Roman god of music, sunlight, poetry, art, and knowledge. He is the son of Zeus and Leto, and the twin brother of Artemis/Diana; Apollo is the father of Asklepios, the god of healing, and thus the grandfather of Hygieia. He is also regarded as one of the Twelve Gods, the major deities of the Greek pantheon.

Epithets

Like other gods of the Greek pantheon, Apollo was given various epithets, with each of them identifying Apollo with various aspects of Greek culture and folklore, including:

• Apollo Epikourios, worshiped as the helper.
• Apollo Karneios, worshiped by Spartans as the god of flocks and herds.
• Apollo Korythos, worshiped for his healing abilities.
• Apollo Patroos, worshiped by Athenians for being the father of Ion, the eponymous ancestor of the Ionians, from which Athenians were descended from.
• Apollo Pythaios, worshipped as the patron deity of Delphi.

Biography

According to Greek myths, Apollo and his sister were born on Mount Kynthos on the island of Delos. Due to this, Delos was regarded as the island of Apollo. After growing up, Apollo slew the mighty snake Python near the Sanctuary of Delphi in Phokis. Following the slaying of the Python, the Titan Themis passed the role of the possessor of the Oracle of Delphi onto Apollo, having received it from her own mother, Gaia.

Influence

Ancient Greece

Following the death of Python within a temple, its skeleton was left there as a reminder, and the occupation of Pythia was born. During the Peloponnesian War in the 5th century BCE, the Spartan misthios Kassandra explored the area. Apollo came to be regarded as the "divine protector" of the island of Keos, though he was worshipped throughout the Greek world in various roles.

Libya

"The people honor the shining one, son of Leto, brother of Artemis, bringer of the sun, Delos' fair Hunter, God of the Lyre, Apollo. It is for him that this city is founded. In his name, in his great and worthy shadow, in his grace, in his light."

―A note in Ptolemaic Egypt, c. 1st century BCE

When the Greeks founded the colony of Cyrenaica in Africa, they brought the worship of Apollo along, building a temple complex in the city of Cyrene. By the 1st century BCE, Apollo was still widely worshipped by ancient Greeks, who regarded him as the patron god of the city. An oracle of Apollo was also based in Cyrenaica, with its sanctuary located in the Green Mountains region.

Renaissance

During the Renaissance, the Villa Auditore in Monteriggioni had a statuette featuring Apollo. It was paired with one of his sister Diana.

Behind the scenes

The statuette in Assassin's Creed II is based on Apollo Belvedere. The statue of Apollo seen widely in Assassin's Creed: Origins is based on Apollo of Cyrene, a 2nd century BCE Roman marble statue discovered in Cyrene, while the mural depicting him with a bow in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey is based on a painting on an amphora from Late Classical period, depicting the Battle of the Giants and Gods.

Gallery

A statuette of Diana beside Apollo in Monteriggioni

Statue of Apollo in Olympia

Statue of Apollo fighting the Python

Apollo Sanctuary in Kos

Apollo depicted in a mural in 5th century BCE Greece, with Artemis on his left

Apollo (far right) amongst the Greek pantheon

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed II (statue only)
• Assassin's Creed: Syndicate (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Origins (statue only)
• Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt
• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (artwork only)
  • The Lost Tales of Greece (mentioned only)
• Echoes of History (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Nexus VR (mentioned in Database entry only)