Apollo was son of Zeus and Leto twin brother  of Artemis. He was the god of Music, and he is often depicted playing a Golden Iyre. He was also known as the Archer, far shooting with a silver bow; the god of healing, giving the science of medicine to man; the  god of Light; and the god of Truth. One of Apollo's most important daily tasks was to harness his four-horse chariot, in order to move the Sun across the sky.

Apollo was an Oracular god, as he was the prophetic deity in the Oracle in Delphi. People from all over known world traveled there to learn what the future held for them, through his priestess Pythia. The god was also worshiped in the Island of Delos, which was initially dedicated to his twin sister Artemis. In relation to the rituals and practices that took place in Delos&Delphi, it could be said that there were probably two completely distinct cults in honor of Apollo.

As already mentioned, Apollo was also considered as the god of Healing and medicine, either through himself or through his son Ascelpus. At the same time, he could also bring forth disease and plague with his arrows; it was considered that a god who can cause disease is also capable of preventing it.                

                                                   

He was born on Delos, where his mother Leto sought refuge; Hera having realised that Leto was impregnated by her husband Zeus, banned Leto from giving birth on Land. So, Leto managed to go to Delos, which had been recently formed and was not considered a real island yet. Artemis who had been born a day earlier helped Leto give birth to Apollo. Leto then promised the Delians that Apollo would always favor them for having helped her.