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Apollo's wreath combines the laurel for Daphne, the coronal effect of the sun's rays, and the beauty and power of young, beardless, athletic men. Apollo appears often in the myths, plays and hymns. [71] The connection with the northern-dwelling Dorians and their initiation festival apellai is reinforced by the month Apellaios in northwest Greek calendars. Apollo's first love, ancient Goddess. Zeus - Eagle Hera - Peacock, Cow Poseidon - Horse Hades - Ram, Bull (all black animals) Ares - Dog, Vulture Athena - Owl Apollo - Crow, Dolphin Artemis - Deer (all animals, but especially the deer) Aphrodite - Dove, Sparrow, Swan Hephaestus - Crane, Donkey. [201] Another variation is that Apollo played his instrument upside down. After watching The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Yorgos Lanthimos's brilliant follow-up to his critically beloved and surprisingly lucrative The Lobster, you may have some questions. In fact they used to exchange live hares as gifts of love. [253], Apollo sired many children, from mortal women and nymphs as well as the goddesses. According to other versions, Apollo had invented the lyre himself, whose strings he tore in repenting of the excess punishment he had given to Marsyas. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Martin Nilsson (1967). [143][144] This island became sacred to Apollo and was one of the major cult centres of the god. [362] In 1895, V. I. Leonardos proposed the term kouros ("male youth") to refer to those from Keratea; this usage was later expanded by Henri Lechat in 1904 to cover all statues of this format. Arion began singing a song in praise of Apollo, seeking the god's help. It is here at the palace of Gnosis at Knossos where you will find the Dolphins of Apollo in what is known as the famous "Dolphin Fresco.". Hera once again sent another giant, Tityos to rape Leto. Apollo fell in love with the instrument and offered to exchange the cattle for the lyre. In Greek mythology, Apollo was the god of the sun, music, poetry, healing, truth, archery, dance, music, and prophecy. To check their insolence, Zeus devised a plan to humble them and improve their manners instead of completely destroying them. Orestes and Pylades carry out the revenge, and consequently Orestes is pursued by the Erinyes or Furies (female personifications of vengeance). In the Great Eoiae that is attributed to Hesoid, Scylla is the daughter of Apollo and Hecate.[235]. So, when he spotted a ship sailing from Crete, he sprang aboard in the form of a dolphin. The temples should be canonic, and the architects were trying to achieve this esthetic perfection. This annoyed Zeus, who decided to annihilate the entire family of Periphas. Aristaeus was placed under the care of Chiron after his birth. The terrible god is called "the archer" and the bow is also an attribute of Shiva. The Pythia was Apollo's high priestess and his mouthpiece through whom he gave prophecies. Dolphins, ravens, swans and wolves were Apollo's sacred animals. Apollo kept his promise and went back. A western Anatolian origin may also be bolstered by references to the parallel worship of Artimus (Artemis) and Qdns, whose name may be cognate with the Hittite and Doric forms, in surviving Lydian texts. Thus, dolphins are considered to the brightest of all animals and at the same time aware of the unseen. Python was a serpent who lived near Delphi, considered the center of the earth. The Vedic Rudra has some similar functions with Apollo. "Tikal: Sacred Architecture . [227], Leukatas was believed to be a white colored rock jutting out from the island of Leukas into the sea. Dolphins, ravens, swans and wolves were Apollos sacred animals. They attempted to storm Mt. Castalia was a nymph whom Apollo loved. Read More 7 Ian Starr After he was freed from his servitude to Eurystheus, Heracles fell in conflict with Iphytus, a prince of Oechalia, and murdered him. So the Muses who were the judges declared Apollo the winner. Aphrodite was furious with King Glaucus of Corinth as he did not appreciate her beauty. The Twelve Olympian Gods and Goddesses of Greek Mythology, Fast Facts on Helios - Greek God of the Sun, Hermes - A Thief, Inventor, and Messenger God, Classic Greek Mythology: Stories from Ovid's Metamorphoses, M.A., Linguistics, University of Minnesota. V. 61-Paus. [229], It was an ancestral custom among the Leukadians to fling a criminal from this rock every year at the sacrifice performed in honor of Apollo for the sake of averting evil. It probably is a cognate to the Doric month Apellaios (),[9] and the offerings apellaia () at the initiation of the young men during the family-festival apellai (). Patron god of the theatre and art. In Pindar's odes, the gods took a mortal named Aeacus as their assistant. Her tears formed the river Achelous. When Evadne went into labour, Apollo sent the Moirai to assist his lover. After the end of the war, Apollo and Poseidon together cleaned the remains of the city and the camps. He is associated with dominion over colonists. What of his song, so cunning and so sweet? When the sisters woke up and saw what had happened, they threw themselves off a cliff in fear of their father's wrath. Another common emblem was the sacrificial tripod, representing his prophetic powers. After the child was born, Apollo sent snakes to feed the child some honey. 2011-12-12 00:14:46. [221] According to another tale, Apollo killed them by sending a deer between them; as they tried to kill it with their javelins, they accidentally stabbed each other and died. Protection of herds, flocks and crops from diseases, pests and predators were his primary duties. Delphi and Actium were his primary places of worship. Many temples were dedicated to Apollo in Greece and the Greek colonies. Marsyas argued against this, saying that Apollo would have an advantage and accused Apollo of cheating. The seventh and twentieth, the days of the new and full moon, were ever afterwards held sacred to him. Known as the ideal of youth and athleticism, Apollo is the son of the Zeus and Leto; and his twin sister, Artemis, is the goddess of the moon and the hunt. The Muses and Athena sniggered at this comment. What was Apollo's sacred animal? In Ovid's account, Apollo completes his task by playing his tunes on his lyre. The first buildings were built narrowly in order to hold the roof, and when the dimensions changed some mathematical relations became necessary in order to keep the original forms. [citation needed]. [178], To complete his third task, Heracles had to capture the Ceryneian Hind, a hind sacred to Artemis, and bring back it alive. The invention of string music is attributed to him. This contrast appears to be shown on the two sides of the Borghese Vase. She is also described in Greek mythology as "Goddess of the night", "Lady of the Beast", "Woodland Goddess" and "Phoebe," which translates as the bright one. He also killed many of the enemy warriors like Melaneus, Antiphus, Aetion, Polites and Lampus. Like many of the Greek Gods, Apollo has many symbols. According to legend, the positioning was recognized by Zeus, the King of the Gods, who sought to seek out the epicentre of the earth goddess Gaia, or [] . As the myth goes, Cronus learned of a prophecy in which he was fated to be overthrown by one of his children. It was so beautiful that Tmolus at once awarded the victory to Apollo, and everyone was pleased with the judgement. Thebes every nine years held the Daphnephoria. The most famous is the little owl, which was associated with Athena because she was the patron goddess of the city of Athens, where owls were said to be common. The lyre is a common attribute of Apollo. This answer is: He was ultimately given immortality for the benefits he bestowed upon the humanity. After jumping, he fell into the net of a fisherman in which, when he was pulled out, he found a box filled with gold. 540, 544, "The conception that the diseases come from invisible shots sent by magicians or supernatural beings is common in primitive people and also in European folklore. [346], On the occasion of a pestilence in the 430s BCE, Apollo's first temple at Rome was established in the Flaminian fields, replacing an older cult site there known as the "Apollinare". Perhaps, the most well-known symbol of Apollo is his lyre. In cult practice, Delian Apollo and Pythian Apollo (the Apollo of Delphi) were so distinct that they might both have shrines in the same locality. After much pleading, Artemis permitted him to take the hind and told him to return it later.[179]. Parnassos, which was then named after her. He was the victor in all those contests, but he tended to punish his opponents severely for their hubris. [166] He returned only after the Delphians sang hymns to him and pleaded him to come back. The marble is a Hellenistic or Roman copy of a bronze original by the Greek sculptor Leochares, made between 350 and 325 BCE. Apollo was the son of Zeus, the king of the gods, and Leto, his previous wife[135] or one of his mistresses. To avoid her death, Apollo turned her into a nymph, saving her life. They were all usually very beautiful. They show the spread of the cult of Apollo and the evolution of the Greek architecture, which was mostly based on the rightness of form and on mathematical relations. Either Cinyras committed suicide when he lost, or was killed by Apollo.[205][206]. Athena had also placed a curse upon the instrument, that whoever would pick it up would be severely punished. According to some, Apollo secured Delos to the bottom of the ocean after some time. 499500. Apollo's chief epithet was Phoebus (/fibs/ FEE-bs; , Phoibos Greek pronunciation:[pi.bos]), literally "bright". [384] Psychologist Carl Jung's Apollo archetype represents what he saw as the disposition in people to over-intellectualise and maintain emotional distance.[385]. It is said that they were guarded by the sun titan, Helios . Many myths have him train his children. Offerings - Create a special offering table in the delivery room. [154], In his early years when Apollo spent his time herding cows, he was reared by Thriae, the bee nymphs, who trained him and enhanced his prophetic skills. Pindar's Paeans: A Reading of the Fragments with a Survey of the Genre, The Uses of Greek Mythology By Ken Dowden, Benjamin Acosta-Hughes, Luigi Lehnus, Susan Stephens -, Apollonius Rhodius. When Zeus allowed the other gods to get involved in the war, Apollo was provoked by Poseidon to a duel. Impressively, Apollo defeated the mighty Python at just four days old. Artemis rushed to support Apollo, while Athena supported Heracles. Well Known Greek God Names with their Symbols, Attributes and Sacred Animals Greek God Names of the Olympian Gods Apollo - Apollo is known to be the God of the Sun. [189][190][191] Their belief was that the music purifies the soul, just as medicine purifies the body. This time Apollo shot him with his arrows and attacked him with his golden sword. Apollo is said to be filled with grief. Water from this spring was sacred; it was used to clean the Delphian temples and inspire the priestesses.[331]. [236], Thero, daughter of Phylas, a maiden as beautiful as the moonbeams, was loved by the radiant Apollo, and she loved him in return. Apollo helped many Trojan warriors, including Agenor, Polydamas, Glaucus in the battlefield. When Apollo found out about her infidelity through his prophetic powers or thanks to his raven who informed him, he sent his sister, Artemis, to kill Coronis. Hesychius connects the name Apollo with the Doric (apella), which means "assembly", so that Apollo would be the god of political life, and he also gives the explanation (sekos), "fold", in which case Apollo would be the god of flocks and herds. [243] He was later resurrected and taken to heaven. Arion was a poet who was kidnapped by some sailors for the rich prizes he possessed. He consulted the oracle of Apollo once again, in hope of ridding himself of the disease. He had found an aulos on the ground, tossed away after being invented by Athena because it made her cheeks puffy. When Hypseus tried to kill the hero by a spear, Apollo directed the spear towards the charioteer of Amphiaraus instead. Jeremy Villasis, Philippines / Getty Images. He wished to plunder Delphi for its wealth. [75][76], George Huxley regarded the identification of Apollo with the Minoan deity Paiawon, worshipped in Crete, to have originated at Delphi. The doe, the dog, the boar, and the wolf were sacred to her among the animals; among the plants, the laurel, the cedar, and the olive tree. [25] It was very commonly used by both the Greeks and Romans for Apollo's role as the god of light. To commemorate his son's bravery, Apollo commanded Boeotians to build a town around the tomb of the hero, and to honor him.[183]. Captivated by the god's beauty, he kissed Apollo. Patroclus was eventually killed by Hector. Daphne was a nymph who scorned Apollo's advances and ran away from him. Then, Apollo struck the strings of his lyre. Spartan annual festivals were the Carneia and the Hyacinthia. He was the giver of laws, and his oracles were consulted before setting laws in a city. In myths, the tears of amber Apollo shed when his son Asclepius died became the waters of the river Eridanos, which surrounded Hyperborea. While none of the Greek originals have survived, several Roman copies from approximately the late 1st or early 2nd century exist. Apollo. In ancient myths, the god Hermes created the lyre and gave it to Apollo in exchange for the rod of healthor for the cows that the mischievous Hermes had stolen from Apollo. In spaceflight, the 1960s and 1970s NASA program for orbiting and landing astronauts on the Moon was named after Apollo, by NASA manager Abe Silverstein: Apollo riding his chariot across the Sun was appropriate to the grand scale of the proposed program. [340] Apollo was sometimes called the son of Athena and Hephaestus. His oracular shrines include: Oracles were also given by sons of Apollo. Cyparissus was so saddened by its death that he asked Apollo to let his tears fall forever. One of Apollo's epithets, Hecatos, is the masculine form of Hecate, and both the names mean "working from afar". One day, they were put in charge of watching their father's ancestral wine jar but they fell asleep while performing this duty. He reared the child with the help of his mother Leto and educated him to be a seer. The epitome of youth and beauty, source of life and healing, patron of the arts, and as bright and powerful as the sun itself, Apollo was, arguably, the most loved of all the gods. Basically, Apollo and his twin sister Artemis were raised by a she-wolf and around wolves. [344], Homer and Porphyry wrote that Apollo had a hawk as his messenger. According to one account, after the first round, they both were deemed equal by the Nysiads. The day of Apollos birth was believed to have been the seventh of the month, whence he is called hebdomagens. Wilderness and animals Ajesit. Hephaestus The Trojan hero Hector (who, according to some, was the god's own son by Hecuba[177]) was favored by Apollo. When the raven told Apollo of the affair, he became enraged that the bird had not pecked out Ischys' eyes, and the poor raven was an early example of the messenger being shot. Finally, Apollo caused Achilles' death by guiding an arrow shot by Paris into Achilles' heel. As the patron of Delphi (Pythian Apollo), Apollo was an oracular godthe prophetic deity of the Delphic Oracle. Pythia is arguably the constant favorite of Apollo among the mortals. He then gave it to Sleep (Hypnos) and Death (Thanatos). What things are sacred to Apollo? It was present in the sanctuary of Apollo Leukates. Hence, Apollo then became the master of the lyre. Apollo spent the winter months among the Hyperboreans. The sculptors derived this from observations on human beings, but they also embodied in concrete form, issues beyond the reach of ordinary thought. Her sacred animals are the cow and the peacock. Some commonly-used examples are "paion" ( literally "healer" or "helper")[60] "epikourios" (, "succouring"), "oulios" (, "healer, baleful")[61] and "loimios" (, "of the plague"). Cassandra promised to return his love on one condition - he should give her the power to see the future. He was the God of the arts, music, healing, purification, prophecy, oracles, plague, poetry, civilization, the sun, truth, intelligence, logic, reason, and archery, he also showed men the art of medicine. [170][171], According to another version, or perhaps some years later, when Zeus struck down Apollo's son Asclepius with a lightning bolt for resurrecting the dead, Apollo in revenge killed the Cyclopes, who had fashioned the bolt for Zeus. The Sibyl took a handful of sand and asked Apollo to grant her years of life as many as the grains of sand she held in her hands. Cyrene was a Thessalian princess whom Apollo loved. When he got severely injured, Apollo healed him and encouraged him to take up his arms. The Greek God Apollo, alas the legendary epitome of male beauty, attuned to his arrow he launches the perfect shot. It was a custom for boys to cut and dedicate their long hair to Apollo after reaching adulthood. [83], The Greeks gave to him the name agyieus as the protector god of public places and houses who wards off evil and his symbol was a tapered stone or column. And he challenged the young and sturdy men to a match of boxing, only to cut their heads off when they would get defeated by him. The violet remains a sacred flower to Cupid, and witches still use Violet in a variety of love spells and love potions. Themis inspired him to be the oracular voice of Delphi thereon.[157]. As the gods of the Greeks used to dwell in the natural world alongside humans and be present in specific parts of the natural world, they also had some animals sacred to them, due to the fact that the animal's particular characteristics were somehow overlapping with the powers and physical elements. This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 21:45. According to the Greek myth, each morning Apollo rides a golden flaming chariot across the sky bringing daylight to the world. [193] In his role as the god of banquets, he was always present to play music in weddings of the gods, like the marriage of Eros and Psyche, Peleus and Thetis. Heartbroken, Aphrodite wandered looking for the rock of Leukas. There, he was pegged to the rock floor, covering an area of 9 acres (36,000m2), where a pair of vultures feasted daily on his liver. Apollo divides months into summer and winter. At level 20 it can be found in the northwestern edge of Phokis in the Sacred Lands of Apollo. She was armed with golden bow and arrows, weapons made by the Cyclopes (the masters of manufacturing weapons for the Gods!). Martin Nilsson (1967) Vol I, pp. Sacred Animals. Zeus made her choose between them, and she chose Idas on the grounds that Apollo, being immortal, would tire of her when she grew old.[330]. Why is Angel Number 555 strongly linked to Twin Flame Love? Apollo adopted Carnus, the abandoned son of Zeus and Europa. He shook his locks of hair, put an end to the night voices, and took away from mortals the truth that appears in darkness, and gave the privilege back again to Loxias. These animals were considered sacred and worshipped in a wide array of ceremonies and sacrifices. His domestic actions caused embarrassment to his family. Long hair, which was the prerogative of boys, was cut at the coming of age (ephebeia) and dedicated to Apollo. ", For the iconography of the AlexanderHelios type, see H. Hoffmann, 1963. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Apollo had also once convinced Athena to stop the war for that day, so that the warriors can relieve themselves for a while. He is pictured as a terrible god, less trusted by the Greeks than other gods. Lyre, the string instrument, is the main Apollo symbol while bows and laurel wreathes are among the other symbols of Apollo. [21] The Hittite testimony reflects an early form *Apeljn, which may also be surmised from comparison of Cypriot with Doric . Zeus and Leto are the parents of Apollo. Medicine and healing are associated with Apollo, whether through the god himself or mediated through his son Asclepius. His body is fair from head to foot, his limbs shine bright, his tongue gives oracles, and he is equally eloquent in prose or verse, propose which you will. Percy Bysshe Shelley composed a "Hymn of Apollo" (1820), and the god's instruction of the Muses formed the subject of Igor Stravinsky's Apollon musagte (19271928). The contrast between the roles of these gods is reflected in the adjectives Apollonian and Dionysian. When Admetus angered the goddess Artemis by forgetting to give her the due offerings, Apollo came to the rescue and calmed his sister. This Greek mythological figure is the godgoddess of battle strategy among other things. [54][55], The cult centers of Apollo in Greece, Delphi and Delos, date from the 8th century BCE. Temple of Apollo Pythios Sotir, 1800-year-old stele on way back from Italy after 23 years, Slab with marching ancient Greek warriors discovered at Apollo temples on ancient black sea island in Bulgaria's Sozopol, A topographical dictionary of Ancient Rome, "New find at Mdina most important so far in old capital", Realencyclopdie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft, "APOLLO, THE YOUNG, AND THE CITY - KEY THEMES - Apollo - Fritz Graf", "Mosaics in Tunisia: Apollo and the Muses", "Cygnus X-1 Book Two: Hemispheres Lyrics | Rush.com", "Trials of Apollo: The Dark Prophecy release date, synopsis", "Dionysus in Nietzsche and Greek Myth by Gwendolyn Toynton", Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. A detailed account of Apollo's conflict with Gaia and Zeus' intervention on behalf of his young son is also given. Apollo had to serve as a slave for nine years. [347] During the Second Punic War in 212 BCE, the Ludi Apollinares ("Apollonian Games") were instituted in his honor, on the instructions of a prophecy attributed to one Marcius. [355][354] In many myths Apollo is transformed into a hawk. The Late Bronze Age (from 1700 to 1200 BCE) Hittite and Hurrian Aplu was a god of plague, invoked during plague years. Delphi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As the god of mousike,[b] Apollo presides over all music, songs, dance and poetry. This may surprise you but Apollo, the God of Sun, Arts, Blessings, Love, Sports, and Magical Wisdom has picked Dolphin and his sacred animal. Capercaillie and black grouse live in the park, as do golden eagles and the rare white-backed woodpecker. These were not arbitrary pairings, but instead encapsulated the mythology of ancient Greece's holy deities, and what they taught the culture at . According to some traditions, he was a seven months child (heptamnaios). [17] Mythographers agree that Artemis was born first and subsequently assisted with the birth of Apollo or was born on the island of Ortygia then helped Leto cross the sea to Delos the next day to give birth to Apollo. Siberian Goddess. The gods Athena and Ares came to the battlefield and took sides. Apollo in anger turned her into a man. What of his robes so fine in texture, so soft to the touch, aglow with purple? Apollo - credits: gilmanshin/depositphotos. Apollo's Sacred Animals. Apollo 's sacred animals were the Wolf, the Dolphin, the Python and the Swan. Laughter, fate, fertility, childbirth beginning at conception, petition for a male child. He sided with the Trojans, and sent a terrible plague to the Greek camp, which indirectly led to the conflict between Achilles and Agamemnon. Angered by this, Apollo killed them by shooting them with arrows. He also gave to Apollo various gifts, like a golden tripod, a golden bow and arrows, a golden chariot and the city of Delphi.[167]. Apollo later established the Pythian games to appropriate Gaia. - Artemis: Sister of Apollo, goddess of the hunt, protectress of wild animals, patroness of the young and innocent, of women (especially when pregnant); virgin, naturally hostile to Aphrodite. Pythia, the Oracle of Delphi, perhaps the most famous one in ancient Greece, was an oracle in the Temple of Apollo. Apollo granted the request by turning him into the Cypress named after him, which was said to be a sad tree because the sap forms droplets like tears on the trunk. [96] Aeneas was then taken to Pergamos, a sacred spot in Troy, where he was healed. Rhoeo, a princess of the island of Naxos was loved by Apollo. Artemis Daphnaia had her temple among the Lacedemonians, at a place called Hypsoi. In the cave, he found a tortoise and killed it, then removed the insides. [148] Aelian says that when the singers would sing hymns to Apollo, the swans would join the chant in unison. Though he greatly favored the Trojans, Apollo was bound to follow the orders of Zeus and served his father loyally during the war. ThoughtCo, Sep. 7, 2021, thoughtco.com/apollo-god-symbols-117070. Some say Apollo was once an anthropomorphic wolf-god who later took on more human characteristics. Apollo is the god who affords help and wards off evil; various epithets call him the "averter of evil". Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Apollo is one of the most handsome, dazzling, and charismatic Gods of the Olympian Pantheon; he is blindingly good-looking and had many, many lovers, both male and female. In Aeschylus' Oresteia trilogy, Clytemnestra kills her husband, King Agamemnon because he had sacrificed their daughter Iphigenia to proceed forward with the Trojan war. Apollo's Sacred Animals And Plants Ravens, wolves, dolphins and swans were known as his sacred animals while larkspurs, cypress trees and laurels were Apollo's sacred plants. One of the few originals which survived into the present dayso rare that its discovery in 1959 was described as "a miracle" by Ernst Homann-Wedekingis the masterpiece bronze, Piraeus Apollo. (Some storytellers say that Zeus had fathered this magical beast as . Apollo appears in Rachel Smythe's 2018 comic Lore Olympus[382][383] as an antagonist. [164] According to a variation, Apollo had also travelled to Crete, where Carmanor purified him. Which were the sacred plants of Apollo? Sympos. In the myths, he is seen helping heroes who pray to him for safe journey. He had a special herd that was mentioned as at one time being stolen by Hermes when he was born. Apollo then brought her to the rock of Leukas and asked her to throw herself from the top of the rock. Unusually among the Olympic deities, Apollo had two cult sites that had widespread influence: Delos and Delphi. Several of this Goddesses roles may appear incompatible in nature. [335] The laurel (daphne) was sacred to both. [241], Hyacinth (or Hyacinthus), a beautiful and athletic Spartan prince, was one of Apollo's favourite lovers. The love between Apollo and Admetus was a favored topic of Roman poets like Ovid and Servius. Plato said that the innate ability of humans to take delight in music, rhythm and harmony is the gift of Apollo and the Muses. You killed him, o Phoebus, while still a baby, still leaping in the arms of your dear mother, and you entered the holy shrine, and sat on the golden tripod, on your truthful throne distributing prophecies from the gods to mortals. In North-Europe they speak of the ", Martin Nilsson (1967), Vol I, pp. Apollo's Cattle are animals sacred to the Greek god of music, poetry, prophecies and the sun, Apollo. Loki Loki's brood; Hel, Fenrir and Jrmungandr. Henceforth, Hyperborea became Apollo's winter home and wolves became sacred to him. [225] He rides on the back of a swan to the land of the Hyperboreans during the winter months, and the absence of warmth in winters is due to his departure. He did all his duties justly. [380] He also appears in the 2014 Hi-Rez Studios Multiplayer Online Battle Arena game Smite as a playable character.[381]. The different wooden elements were considered divine, and their forms were preserved in the marble or stone elements of the temples of Doric order. . [citation needed] If Hecate is the "gate-keeper", Apollo Agyieus is the "door-keeper". A divinity beyond human comprehension, he appears both as a beneficial and a wrathful god. Apollo used his bow and golden arrow to shed light upon an island, where the Argonauts soon took shelter. Apollo became extremely important to the Greek world as an oracular deity in the archaic period, and the frequency of theophoric names such as Apollodorus or Apollonios and cities named Apollonia testify to his popularity. Apollo, transferred the Priests from Crete to his holiest temple turning himself into a dolphin. Known as the ideal of youth and athleticism, Apollo is the son of the Zeus and Leto; and his twin sister, Artemis, is the goddess of the moon and the hunt. They took it back to Apollo, but the god, who had decided to stay away from music for a while, laid away both the lyre and the pipes at Delphi and joined Cybele in her wanderings to as far as Hyperborea. [137] Since it was neither a mainland nor an island, Leto was readily welcomed there and gave birth to her children under a palm tree. It seems that the first peripteral temples were rectangular wooden structures.