Apollo and Athena

Apollo is the God of the sun, the light, the music, prophecy, poetry, art, oracles, archery, plague, medicine and knowledge. Apollo’s father is Zeus, mother the Titan Leto, and he has a twin sister Artemis and she is the Goddess of wild animals, wilderness, childbirth, virginity and hunt. He had 3 children which were Asclepius, Troilus and Orpheus. Apollo was born in the Greek island of Delos. He is the ideal of the kouros, which means he has a athletic, beardless and youthful appearance. Apollo also go by Phoebus which means bright or pure and it connects him to his grandmother, the Titan Phoebe. Apollo was a masterful magician, he was known for delighting the Gods of Olympus with tunes played on his golden lyre. A lyre is a stringed made instrument that resembles a small harp, which was made by Hermes. He was credited with killing the Cyclops in retaliation for arming Zeus with the thunderbolt. Apollo had many love affairs with both mortals and Goddesses. His most known relationship was with the mortal Hecuba, who was married to the King of Troy. The affair produced their son Troilus.

Athena, also referred to as Athene, is a very important Goddess of many things. She is the Goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, strategic warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill. Athena is manly known for her strategic skill in warfare. She was born from Zeus after Zeus experienced an enormous headache and she sprang fully grown and in armor from his forehead. She has no mother and she was never a child. Athena was also Zeus’s favorite child. It has been said that Athena was a fierce and ruthless warrior. Athena was also known for protecting civilized life. Zeus trusted her so much he let her wield the aegis and his thunderbolt. Athena has no children since she is one of the three virgin Goddesses. She also helped Perseus in defeating Medusa. Athena was also served as a guardian of Athens and in poetry she is referred to “gray-eyed”.