beautiful myths of ancient Greece and its pagan religion had a tremendous influence on the development of world culture.Among the twelve immortal deities seated on Olympus, one of the most revered and beloved among the people was and remains the god Apollo.In his honor were erected magnificent temples and sculptures were created.It seemed the whole embodied the immortal beauty, reigning in music and poetry.Sun-golden-haired god of this day is for us the personification of youth, intelligence, talent and grace.
Apollo - god of the sun
top of the Greek pantheon and owned the mighty thundering Zeus, but it is the second after the Apollo - his beloved son.The ancient Greeks considered him the god of the sun and the arts, among which the main role play music.He patronizes sun-boy and soothsaying, and the art of archery.He was both the legislator and the Punisher, a defender of the shepherds and the law.The patron of medicine, Apollo at the same time could nasylat disease.In Roman mythology, as in Greek, he was called the god Apollo, but also Phoebus, which means "shining", "bright", "clean".
Apollo - the god of Greece - often depicted as walking or standing beardless handsome young man with golden hair fluttering in the wind, and crowned laurel.In his hands he holds his unchanging attributes - lyre and bow, the figure of his strong and courageous.The symbol of Apollo - the sun.
Birth beautiful god
According to mythology, the god Apollo was the son of Zeus and Leto Titanides (she was the daughter of titanium).Before the next god was born, Leto had wandered to escape the wrath of the goddess Hera - the legitimate wife of Zeus.Mother of Apollo never been able to find shelter.It was only when it was time to give birth already, it sheltered the deserted island of Delos.Painful labors lasted nine long days and nights.Vengeful not allowed Eileithyia Hera - the goddess of fertility - provide summer help.
Finally the divine infant was born.It happened on the seventh day of the month, under a palm tree.That is why the number seven later became sacred, and to the ancient palm grown on Delos, in ancient times, sought by many pilgrims coming to worship the birthplace of Apollo.
Apollo and Artemis
But the ancient Greek god Apollo was born not one, but with a twin sister - Artemis, which is known to us as the goddess of the hunt.Brother and sister were skilled archers.Bow and arrow Apollo - gold and weapons of Artemis - silver.The girl was born first.And, according to Homer, it was she who taught later his brother archery.
both twins always hit the target without a miss, the death of their arrows was easy and painless.Brother and sister had the uncanny ability to completely disappear from view (woman dissolved among the forest trees, and the boy was removed in Hyperborea).Both were honored for their high purity.
Unhappy love
It sounds strange, but the radiant god Apollo was not happy in love.Although it is partly to blame himself.There was no need to laugh at Eros, saying that lack accuracy at archery.In retaliation, the scoffers Apollo god of love struck gold heart arrow, another arrow (hid love) Eros released in the heart of the nymph Daphne.
Apollo, intoxicated with his love, began to pursue her, but Daphne in horror rushed to the river god - his father.And that turned into a laurel tree daughter.Even then inconsolable love boys failed.From now on, the laurel was his sacred tree and wreath made from its leaves, ever graced the head of god.
This amorous misadventures of Apollo is not over.One day, he was captivated by the beauty Cassandra - the daughter of Priam (king of Troy) and Hecuba.Apollo gave the gift of soothsaying girl, but made her promise that in return she gave him her love.Cassandra lied to God, and he avenged it, make it so that people do not believe in her predictions, considering the mad prophetess.Unhappy girl during the Trojan War struggled to warn residents about the dangers of Troy, which they are threatened, but they did not believe her.And Troy was captured by the enemy.
son of Apollo
Holy revered god of medicine, Asclepius people (Aesculapius in the Roman version) is considered to be the son of Apollo.Born of a mortal, he was then the gift of immortality for his unmatched ability to heal people.Asclepius was brought up by the wise centaur Chiron, who taught him is healing.But very soon the student has surpassed his mentor.
son of Apollo was so talented doctor, he could even raise the dead people.The gods were angry at him for it.After all, resurrecting mortals Asclepius violated the law established by the gods of Olympus.Zeus struck him with his lightning.The Greek god Apollo got even for the death of the son that killed the Cyclopes, which, according to legend, forged thunderbolts (thunder and lightning, which Zeus metal).However, Asclepius was pardoned and returned from the dead by the will of Moir (goddesses of fate).He was granted immortality and the title of the god of healing and medicine.
God musician
Apollo - god of the sun - we always associated with these strings attributes: the bow and the lyre.One of them enables it to produce elaborate arrows at a target, and the other - to create beautiful music.Interestingly, the Greeks believed that between these two arts there relationship.Indeed, in both cases, there is a flight to some purpose.Song also flies directly to people's hearts and souls as an arrow to the target.
Music Apollo pure and clear, like himself.This master of melodies appreciates the transparency and purity of the sound of music.His musical art lifts the human spirit, gives people spiritual enlightenment and is the antithesis of the music of Dionysus, which carries the ecstasy, violence and passion.
on Mount Parnassus
According to legend, when the ground spring comes, the Greek god Apollo goes on Mount Parnassus, next to which murmurs Castalian spring.There he leads a dance forever young muses - daughters of Zeus: Thalia, Melpomene, Euterpe, Erato, Clio, Terpsichore, Urania, Polyhymnia and Calliope.All of them are patrons of the various arts.
God Apollo and the Muses together constitute the divine ensemble, in which the girls sing, and he is accompanied by the singing of the game on his golden lyre.In those moments when they heard the chorus, nature stops to enjoy the divine sounds.Zeus himself at this time becomes gentle, and lightning in his hands fade away, and the bloody god of war Ares forgets.Peace and tranquility are triumphant when on Mount Olympus.
Base Delphic oracle
When the god Apollo was still in the womb of his mother by order of Hera always pursued a fierce dragon Python.And when the young god was born, he soon wanted to take revenge for all the suffering that befell the summer.Apollo found a dark valley in the vicinity of Delphi - the abode of Python.And it was the call of the dragon.The sight of him was terrible: a huge scaly body writhing countless rings between the rocks.The whole earth shook from its heavy tread, and the mountains crumbling into the sea.All live in terror ran away.
When Python opened his fire-breathing jaws, it seemed that for a moment, and it will absorb the Apollo.But in the next moment there was the sound of a golden arrow that pierced the body of the beast and the dragon fell prostrate.In honor of his victory over Python he founded Apollo at Delphi oracle that it resounded with the people's will of Zeus.
But though Apollo and is considered the god of divination and prophecy, he personally never done it.Answers to many questions people gave priestess Pythia.Coming into a state of frenzy, she began to cry out loud incoherent words, which were immediately recorded by priests.They interpreted the predictions of the Pythia and transfer them to inquire.
Atonement
After the god Apollo shed the blood of Python, by the decision of Zeus, he had to be cleansed of this sin, and to atone for it.The young man was driven to Thessaly, where the king was then Admetus.Apollo was to be a shepherd to simple hard work to achieve redemption.He humbly pass the royal herds, and sometimes right in the middle pasture, have fun playing a simple reed flute.
his music was so wonderful that even the wild beasts came out of the forest to hear it.When the Apollo - the god of ancient Greece - played music, fierce lions and panthers prey peacefully walked among his herd with deer and roes.Around the joy and peace reigned.In the house of the king Admetus gotten prosperity.His horses and gardens become the best in Thessaly.Apollo helped Admetus and love.He gave huge power of the king, by which he could be harnessed to the chariot of the lion.Such a condition was put beloved father of Admetus - Alcestis.Apollo served for eight years as a shepherd.Fully redeem his sin, he returned to Delphi.
Delphic temple
Apollo - the god of ancient Greece, who, like other Olympic revered deity, has been immortalized.And not only in the marble statues and legends.In his honor the Greeks erected numerous temples.It is believed that the very first temple dedicated to the sun god, it was built at Delphi, at the foot of the Oracle.Tradition says that it was all made entirely of laurel tree branches.Of course the construction of such a brittle material could not stand for long, and soon on the site, a new religious building.
How the account is the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, the ruins of which have survived to our time, is now hard to say, but now you can see how great was once the temple of Delphi.Art historian say that over the entrance to the sanctuary was the inscription to the two main commandments of God, which read: "Know thyself" and "Know the measure."
most famous statue of the god Apollo
- an ancient god who inspired many artists and sculptors to create beautiful works of art.In the world there are many of his sculptures.But the most perfect statue, which captures the image of one of the most revered Greek gods - a marble sculpture of "Apollo Belvedere."This statue is a copy filmed anonymous Roman craftsman with a bronze sculpture of the Greek Leochares, who served at the court of Alexander the Great.Original, unfortunately, not been preserved.
Marble copy found in the villa of the Emperor Nero.The exact date of discovery is unknown, it happened somewhere between 1484 and 1492 years.In 1506 a priceless work of art was brought to the Vatican and placed in the Belvedere Garden.What is he, the god Apollo?Pictures and photographs, alas, can give only a general idea of how the ancient Greeks saw it.But one thing is certain: the Apollo even today can be considered a symbol of male beauty.
