| Although you may not realize it, many of the | | | | at Delphi made Apollo one of the most important |
| deities of ancient Greece still play a role in our | | | | deity figures of Olympus. The cults (sects) that |
| modern society. Apollo, the Greek Deity, was a | | | | followed Apollo - the Greek deity - were quite |
| name used for space missions for a very obvious | | | | distinct, unusual, because he had two areas that |
| reason. | | | | were devoted to him - Delos and Delphi. Often, |
| Ancient Greece had a large pantheon of religious | | | | shrines of each cult would be found in the same |
| figures with each figure guarding over a different | | | | city. |
| aspect of the world, or at least, daily Greek life. | | | | The most common symbols associated with |
| There were deities for important parts of life, | | | | Apollo were the lyre and the bow, along with |
| such as war, and also for more mundane areas, | | | | occasional depictions of a plectrum and the |
| such as cleaning and weaving. One of the most | | | | "sacrificial tripod", representing his powers of |
| well-known deities in the Greek world was Apollo - | | | | prophecy. The Pythean Games were held at |
| the Greek deity of many areas, including medicine, | | | | Delphi every four years in honor of Apollo, with |
| healing, music, poetry, archery and even plague. | | | | the laurel bay plant being used as the basis of |
| Apollo - the Greek deity - was seen differently in | | | | crowns given to winners at his game. This was |
| later times, and as Roman deity of the same | | | | not the only plant sacred to Apollo, palms were |
| name. The Classical version of Apollo was the | | | | often used in ceremonies regarding this deity |
| deity of the sun, taking the place of Helios. Apollo | | | | because he was born under one in Delos. |
| was also a patron of Delphi, which made him an | | | | Apollo was one of the most influential and |
| oracle and able to tell the future and speak to | | | | powerful deities in the Greek pantheon. With two |
| mortals. He also became the deity that oversaw | | | | sites, Delos and Delphi, devoted to worshiping him, |
| colonists, and was the patron defender of herds | | | | Apollo had many followers. He also governed |
| and flocks. Apollo's many different aspects were | | | | many aspects of Greek life, so received more |
| worshiped alternately in different areas of Greece. | | | | donations and tributes than many of his fellow |
| The sun of the deity Zeus and mythical figure | | | | deities. Today, Apollo is still revered by followers |
| Leto, his twin sister was Artemis, deity of hunting | | | | of revivalist Hellenic polytheism. As the Greek |
| and later the deity of the moon (a position | | | | Deity of the sun, NASA seems to have liked him |
| usurped from Selene). His position diving prophecy | | | | as well. |