Apollo seated with lyre / National Archaeological Museum of Naples

Apollo was one of the major Greek gods who was associated with the bow, music and prophecy.

He was the son of Zeus and Leto. He was also twin brother of Artemis particularly worshipped at Delphi, Delos, Claros and Didyma.

As with the other major divinities, Apollo had many children; perhaps the most famous are Asclepius and Orpheus.

Asclepius received his knowledge of healing and medecine from his father.

Orpheus inherited his father’s musical skills and became a virtuoso with the lyre or kithara.

Apollo acquired his lyre from his mischievous half-brother Hermes, the messenger god. While still a baby, Hermes had stolen Apollo’s sacred herd of cattle, cleverly reversing their hooves to make it difficult to follow their tracks. Hermes was permitted to keep his ill-gotten gains but only after he gave Apollo his lyre which he had invented using a tortoiseshell.

This magnificent 2nd century AD statue made of two different materials. Prophyry and white marble.

Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli