Greece Trip #35: The 2 Gods Born on the Island of Delos

 After yesterday's archeologically-heavy and history-rich blog on the Greek island of Delos, today's blog will dive into the mythology associated with the island. A Greek God and a Greek Goddess were said to be born on Delos, so today's blog will tell you about Apollo and Artemis.

(Photo: What Apollo may have looked like. Credit: Pinterest) 

WHICH GODS WERE BORN THERE? Delos is the mythological birthplace of  Apollo-Sun, god of daylight, and his twin sister Artemis-Moon, goddess of night light.  

WHO IS APOLLO?

 - Apollo was one of the most important, influential and widely worshipped deities in the ancient Greco Roman world. He was a complex deity who was a God of numerous things including music, healing, the sun, light, oracles, knowledge, diseases, poetry, dance, archery, herds and flocks, and protection of young. Apollo was a very powerful God and even the other gods feared him. It was only his father, Zeus, and his mother, Leto, who could easily endure his presence. Apollo possessed the powers of the Olympian Gods which include super-human strength; immortality; and eternal youth. 

Apollo had the ability to foretell future events with high level of accuracy. Among other things, Apollo is a supreme archer and thus his standard weapon is the bow and arrow. Here is an overview of the major powers of the Greek God Apollo. 

 Apollo, like most Greek gods, has the gift of eternal youth, which meant that, unlike mortals, he would always look young, handsome and beautiful. Apollo is immune to injury and cannot be plagued with earthy diseases. Even when he sustains an injury, it heals at a supernatural speed. Besides, Apollo also possesses super human strength.(Source: Learnodo)

WHO IS THE GODDESS ARTEMIS? Artemis, in Greek religion, the goddess of wild animals, the hunt, and vegetation and of chastity and childbirth; she was identified by the Romans with Diana. Artemis was the daughter of Zeus and Leto and the twin sister of Apollo. Among the rural populace, Artemis was the favourite goddess. 

Artemis was one of the most widely venerated of the Ancient Greek deities, and her temple at Ephesus was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Artemis' symbols included a bow and arrow, a quiver, and hunting knives, and the deer and the cypress were sacred to her. 

For the extensive history of Artemis, visit Wikipedia.

(Photo: The Diana of Versailles, a Roman copy of a Greek sculpture by Leochares (Louvre Museum))

NEXT: Delos Island's Famous Lions, Murals and  Excavations