Among the crowd of Olympian gods the one most widely admired was Apollo. He was the son of Zeus and Leto. According to Greek mythology, Leto was driven by Hera from land to land at last Poseidon took pity on her and brought the island of Delos out of water for her to live on. There she gave birth to the twins, Apollo and Artemis.

Apollo was me sun-god. He wore a purple robe. He usually sat in his bright eastern palace early in the morning and madeready to start his daily journey across the sky. During the day he drove his carriage of gold and ivory, and brought light, life and love to the great world below. Late in the afternoon he came to the end of his journey in the far western sea and got on his golden boat to return to his eastern home.

Apollo was the god of music and poetry. He could stir up all feelings. These feelings are expressed in lofty songs. With his lyre of gold and the sweet accents of his godlike voice heled the choir of the Muses at Olympus. The pleasant music from his lyre was so exciting that stones marched into their places in rhythmic time and of their own will when he helped Poseidon build up the walls of Troy. On one occasion, invited to a contest by the human musician Marsyas, he won and then flayed him to death for his pride. On another occasion, he lost out to Pan at a musical contest and turned the ears of the judge, King Midas, into those of an ass.

Apollo stood for youthful and manly beauty. His golden hair, stately manner and air all combined to make him the admiration of the world. A beautiful girl, by the name of Clytle, was so fond of his beauty and glory that from dawn to dusk she knelt on the ground, her hands outstretched towards the sungod, and her eyes looked at his golden wheeled carriage racing across the blue sky. Though her love was not returned, she had never changed her mind about Apollo. The gods were moved at the sad sight, and changed her into a sunflower.

His son, Orpheus, took over such skill from the father that his lyre moved man and animals alike.