# Phoebus Apollo — Bulfinch’s Mythology character guide > Phoebus Apollo in Bulfinch’s Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Apollo, Phoebus, Accordingly Apollo **First appearance:** 0007-iii-apollo-and-daphne-pyramus-and-thisbe-cephalus-and-procris ## Snapshot God of music, prophecy, and healing, whose golden bow and laurel crown mark him as the most radiant of the Olympians. ## Who they are Apollo pursues Daphne with a passion that ends in her transformation into the laurel, a tree he claims as his own eternal emblem. His domain extends from the lyre to the healing arts, and the wise of ancient days adored one power of physic, melody, and song. In the myths, he embodies the dazzling and sometimes cruel light of civilization, whether striking down the Python or lamenting the death of Hyacinthus. ## In the story ### [Introduction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/i-introduction) God of music; plays the lyre for the gods on Olympus. ### [III: Apollo and Daphne—Pyramus and Thisbe—Cephalus and Procris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/iii-apollo-and-daphne-pyramus-and-thisbe-cephalus-and-procris) God of music, poetry, and medicine; slays Python and falls in love with Daphne after being struck by Cupid's arrow. ### [Apollo and Daphne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/apollo-and-daphne) God of music, poetry, medicine, and archery; falls in love with Daphne due to Cupid's arrow; pursues her until her transformation. ### [IV: Juno and Her Rivals, Io and Callisto—Diana and Actaeon—Latona and the Rustics](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/iv-juno-and-her-rivals-io-and-callisto-diana-and-actaeon-latona-and-the-rustics) Goddess of the hunt, punishes Actaeon for intruding on her bath by transforming him into a stag. ### [Diana and Actaeon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/diana-and-actaeon) Referenced as Phoebus, whose sun parches the earth at midday when the story takes place. ### [Latona and the Rustics](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/latona-and-the-rustics) One of Latona's twin infants, later the sun god. ### [Phaëton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/v-pha-ton) Father of Phaëton; god of the sun who reluctantly grants his son's wish to drive the chariot. ### [Midas—Baucis and Philemon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/vi-midas-baucis-and-philemon) Competes in a music contest with Pan, judged by Tmolus; punishes Midas for dissenting by giving him ass's ears. ### [VIII: Pygmalion—Dryope—Venus and Adonis—Apollo and Hyacinthus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/viii-pygmalion-dryope-venus-and-adonis-apollo-and-hyacinthus) God who loves Hyacinthus and accidentally kills him with a discus; he creates the hyacinth flower inscribed with his sorrow. ### [Apollo and Hyacinthus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/apollo-and-hyacinthus) Deeply in love with Hyacinthus, Apollo is devastated by the accidental death of the youth and transforms him into a flower. ### [Cupid and Psyche](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/xi-cupid-and-psyche) God whose oracle decrees that Psyche is destined for a monstrous husband. ### [Cadmus—The Myrmidons](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/xii-cadmus-the-myrmidons) Oracle consulted by Cadmus, who directs him to follow a cow and build Thebes. ### [XIII: Nisus and Scylla—Echo and Narcissus—Clytie—Hero and Leander](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/xiii-nisus-and-scylla-echo-and-narcissus-clytie-hero-and-leander) Object of Clytie's unrequited love; also compared to Minos's archery skill. ### [Clytie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/clytie) The object of Clytie's unrequited love, who makes no return to her. ### [XIV: Minerva—Niobe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/xiv-minerva-niobe) God who, with Diana, slays Niobe's sons as punishment for her hubris. ### [Niobe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/niobe) Son of Latona, who along with Diana executes the punishment on Niobe's children by shooting them with arrows. ### [Giants, Sphinx, Pegasus and Chimaera, Centaurs, Griffin, and Pygmies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/giants-sphinx-pegasus-and-chimaera-centaurs-griffin-and-pygmies) Fled from the giants and hid by taking the form of a crow. ### [The Centaurs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/the-centaurs) Instructs Chiron and entrusts the infant Aesculapius to his care. ### [Leucothea and Palaemon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/leucothea-and-palaemon) Referenced as Paeon, a name shared with Aesculapius, in Armstrong's poem. ### [XXIII: Achelous and Hercules—Admetus and Alcestis—Antigone—Penelope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/xxiii-achelous-and-hercules-admetus-and-alcestis-antigone-penelope) Serves Admetus as a herdsman after being punished by Jupiter for killing the Cyclopes. ### [Admetus and Alcestis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/admetus-and-alcestis) Serves Admetus as a herdsman after being punished by Jupiter for killing the Cyclopes. ### [Orpheus and Eurydice—Aristaeus—Amphion—Linus—Thamyris—Marsyas—Melampus—Musaeus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/xxiv-orpheus-and-eurydice-aristaeus-amphion-linus-thamyris-marsyas-melampus-musaeus) Father of Orpheus and god of music; also defeats Marsyas in a musical contest and flays him. ### [Marsyas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/marsyas) Accepted Marsyas's musical challenge, triumphed, and punished Marsyas by flaying him alive. ### [Arion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/arion) Invoked by Arion as the god who bestowed his musical talent and whose favor he seeks by donning minstrel garb. ### [Ibycus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/ibycus) Bestowed the gift of song upon Ibycus. ### [Orion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/orion) Sun-god who restored Orion's sight; later tricked Diana into shooting Orion. ### [Agamemnon, Orestes, and Electra](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/agamemnon-orestes-and-electra) His oracle at Delphi commands Orestes to avenge his father and later directs him to Tauris. ### [The Phaeacians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/the-phaeacians) Inspires the bard Demodocus to sing of the Trojan War. ### [Adventures of Aeneas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/adventures-of-aeneas) God whose oracle on Delos gives Aeneas the ambiguous command to seek his ancient mother. ### [Palinurus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/palinurus) God associated with the temple and grove where the Sibyl delivers her prophecies to Aeneas. ### [The Sibyl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/the-sibyl) Apollo offered the Sibyl immortality in exchange for her love, but she refused. ### [Pallas, Camilla, Turnus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/pallas-camilla-turnus) Beholds Camilla's fate and ensures her death is avenged by striking down Aruns. ### [Myth of Osiris and Isis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/myth-of-osiris-and-isis) Not directly mentioned in the chapter; no relevant appearance. ### [Oracles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/oracles) The oracle at Delphi is ultimately assigned to Apollo, with the Pythia priestess inhaling vapors to deliver his prophecies. ### [Oracle of Trophonius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/oracle-of-trophonius) The god at Delphi who directed the Boeotians to seek aid of Trophonius during a drought. ### [Oracle of Apis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/oracle-of-apis) Milton's 'Hymn on the Nativity' depicts Apollo leaving his shrine as the oracles become silent at Christ's birth. ### [The Apollo Belvedere](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/the-apollo-belvedere) The subject of the statue, depicted as a victorious god having just slain the monster Python. ### [XXXVI: Modern Monsters—The Phoenix—Basilisk—Unicorn—Salamander](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/xxxvi-modern-monsters-the-phoenix-basilisk-unicorn-salamander) The Phoenix deposits its nest in the temple of the Sun, associated with Apollo, and the basilisk's carcass was hung in the temple of Apollo. ### [The Cockatrice, or Basilisk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/the-cockatrice-or-basilisk) The basilisk's carcass was suspended in the temple of Apollo as a remedy against spiders. ### [The Mythical History of England](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/ii-the-mythical-history-of-england) Mentioned as the god in whose temple Bladud died after attempting to fly. ### [Bladud](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/bladud) Bladud fell upon the temple of Apollo in Trinovant and died. ### [D](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/d) Loved Daphne, who was changed into a laurel tree. ### [E](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/e) Mistakenly listed; intended reference is to the goddess Diana, who loved Endymion and was served by Echo. ### [H](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/h) Beloved Hyacinthus accidentally killed by him; associated with Mount Helicon. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/characters/apollo - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/characters