Apollo is the Greek god of the
sun, light, poetry, art, music, medicine, healing and archery (important
guy). He and his twin,
Athena, were a product of
Zeus’ inability to keep his wang to himself when he knocked up a deity named Leto, who is otherwise rather insignificant in Greek mythology.
Apollo is characterized as being the most beautiful of the gods, garnering much adoration from his many lovers -- both male and female alike (most of his male lovers died tragically), and bore a number of
children. According to legends, Apollo is responsible for the existence of the cypress
tree and flowers that turn to follow the sun. In a rage he seared
white birds into crows (poor judgment on his part, but he made up for it by giving them the responsibility to announce death), and turned a jealous Zephyrus into the wind.
Apollo’s symbols are the lyre and the bow and arrow, and he considers several animals sacred, such as snakes, crows, wolves, dolphins and deer.
