Greek Mythology: Apollo (Apollon)

Ancient Greek Mythology, Religion, Art

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In Greek mythology, Apollo (Apollon, Phoebus Apollo) was associated with many of the things which had a central role in Greek culture, causing Apollo to be often identified with Greek mythology in its entirety. Although not the oldest of the Greek gods, Apollo may also be closely associated with events surrounding the replacement of native-born goddess cults with patriarchal warrior gods imposed by invading warriors. This, in turn, has had a significant impact on the course of Western culture - something which is a frequent target for critics of religion generally or just patriarchal religion in particular.

W.F. Otto described Apollo as the "most Greek of Greek gods" because he was not only the god of music, poetry, healing, light and augury (fortune telling), but also had dominion in one manner or another over plague, colonies, reason, dance, intellect, and herds of domesticated animals. His name does not appear on any of the Linear B tablets made during the Mycenaean Age (Late Bronze Age, 1700 - 1100 BCE), but his cults appear fully developed and his shrines at places like Delphi are well known during the Archaic Period (850 - 480 BCE) with no evidence dating back to the Bronze Age.

Therefore, he must have been introduced during the so-called "Dark Age" (1100 - 850 BCE). Where he came from and what form he originally had remain a mystery, but it appears that when he did appear, he may have had to replace an already-existing goddess cult at Delphi. One common epithet applied to Apollo is Apollo Pythios ("Pythian") at Delphi. This is a reference to his killing of the dragon Python, son of Gaia who lived at Delphi and helped the priestess their tell oracles.

Some texts suggest that Apollo did this in revenge for Python trying to rape his mother Leto while pregnant with Apollo and Artemis. Because Apollo then became the patron of Delphi and source of oracles there, some scholars believe that this was a mythic explanation of how a former goddess cult was replaced by a patriarchal cult centered around a male god. This is the sort of god which has dominated in the West for millennia — and to which quite a lot problems have been attributed. Many of the worst excesses of religion have been placed at the feet of absolutist, exclusivist, and war-like male gods.

The validity of this theory is disputed, as is the entire question of whether ancient tribes really did worship chief female goddesses who were replaced by invading armies worshipping war-like male gods. There is an element of wishful thinking to such explanations - the wish that humans were once more peaceful and egalitarian than they currently are. Even if these theories are incorrect, or at least just exaggerated, what's not disputed is the degree to which modern religions have been primary engines driving the repression and subjugation of women for millennia. A closer investigation of whether current patriarchal religions like Christianity are ultimately dependent upon something like Apollo replacing a female goddess at Delphi is well worth the effort.

Ancient Greek Mythology: Apollo (Apollon)
Belvedere Apollo	Apollo (Apollon)
Apollo (Apollon), c. 600 BCE	Apollo (Apollon), c. 600 BCE
Belvedere Apollo	Apollo of Melos
Apollo (Apollon)	Apollo Shooting His Bow
Apollo and Daphne	Apollo (Apollon)

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