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GREEK SUN GODESS leighmurray1 asked this question on 7/5/2000: WHAT WAS THE GREEK SUN GODESS CALLED?

beainsc gave this response on 7/5/2000: Apollo In Greek mythology, Apollo was the son of Jupiter(in Greek Zeus) and Leto (Letona). He was the GOD of the Sun, logic, and reason, and was also a fine musician and healer. Leto travelled all over Greece to find a place to give birth to Apollo. She finally came upon an island named Delos. The island agreed to allow the birth of Apollo if he in turn founded a temple on the island. Leto agreed, and when Apollo grew up, he changed Delos into a beautiful island. He was known as the god who could foretell the future. His most famous sacred place was at Delphi, site of the Oracle of Delphi. The Romans also believed in Apollo as the god of light, music, and healing. Apollo, they say, learned the art of prophecy from Pan and after killing Python took over Themis' oracle in Delphi. He also discovered the bow and the lyre, and introduced the knowledge of healing. Because of his musical and inspiring gift he has been called Musegetes (Leader of the MUSES). After having killed Python, Apollo was purified by Carmanor, a man that consorted with Demeter, having children by her. Apollo is said to have taught Orpheus to play the lyre. Some learned from Apollo the art of prophecy and healing and others learned the art of minstrelsy. Archers consider him their lord, and when Philoctetes came to Italy he founded a sanctuary of Apollo to whom he dedicated his bow. Apollo and his twin Artemis were the children of Zeus and Leto. He was raised by Themis,* who fed him on nectar and ambrosia, and provided him with bow and arrows made by Hephaestus. On leaving Delos he made for Mount Parnassus where the giant serpent,Python, lived. Python, the enemy of Leto, when severely wounded by the arrows from Apollo's bow, fled to the oracle of Mother Earth at Delphi. Apollo followed him into the shrine and dared to kill him beside the sacred chasm. Mother Earth reported this outrage to Zeus. Zeus ordered Apollo to undergo purification and instituted the Pythian Games in honor of Python, over which Apollo would penitentially preside. After his purification on Crete, Apollo coaxed Pan, the disreputable goat-legged god, to reveal the art of prophecy. Then he seized the Delphic Oracle, the Pythoness, and forced her to his own service. The sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi became the most famous in Greece. Apollo bettered Pan in a musical contest, becoming the acknowledged god of Music; he has since played a seven-string lyre while the other Olympians banquet. He was eternally youthful and was originally distinguished by his amorous adventures (not all were successful), his quick temper, his pride, and his harsh violent reactions (he flayed alive a musical competitor). But after Apollo had killed the Cyclopes and was punished by Zeus by having to tend sheep for a year, he learned his lesson. Thereafter he counseled moderation and self knowledge. Know Yourself and Nothing to Excess were emblazoned on his temple at Delphi. He even brought the muses down from their home on Mt. Helicon to Delphi, tamed their wild frenzy, and taught them formal and decorous dances. Apollo became a Panhellenic god, second only to Zeus. He embodies the Greek spirit; because almost everything which distinguishes the Greek outlook on life from that of other peoples around them--sensitivity in art, poetry, music, youthful good health, r espect for law, and love of orderliness and moderation--all these civilizing concepts are symbolized by Apollo. Even today the term Apollonian means harmonious, measured, ordered, and balanced in character. *She is familiar to you as "justice," blindfolded and holding scales.

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