# Apollo — The Eumenides character guide

> Apollo in The Eumenides by Aeschylus.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Phoebus Apollo, Leader Phoebus Apollo, Lord Apollo, Loxias

**First appearance:** 0001-the-eumenides

## Snapshot

The god who ordered the matricide and now defends his suppliant, arguing that Zeus's will outranks any blood-tie a mother claims.

## Who they are

Apollo sheltered Orestes at Delphi and sent him on to Athens under Hermes' guard, promising purification and release. In the trial he stands as the accused's advocate, insisting that he merely revealed the will of Zeus and that the father's claim outweighs the mother's. His confidence is both his strength and his liability, since he must defend a killing he himself commanded.

## Relationships

### [Zeus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_eumenides_se/characters/zeus)

_family_

Apollo is the son of Zeus, and they share a complex bond of divine authority and filial duty.

### [Mother Earth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_eumenides_se/characters/mother_earth)

_psychological_

Apollo is deeply connected to Mother Earth as a source of prophetic power and ancient wisdom, but also in conflict over the primacy of his own oracle.

### [Orestes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_eumenides_se/characters/orestes)

_friendship_

Apollo acts as Orestes' divine patron and defender, guiding and protecting him throughout his ordeal.

### [The Furies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_eumenides_se/characters/the_furies)

_rivalry_

Apollo directly opposes the Furies, defending Orestes and championing the new order of justice over their ancient vengeance.

### [Zeus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_eumenides_se/characters/zeus)

_family_

Apollo is the son of Zeus, and they share a complex bond of divine authority and filial duty.

## In the story

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_eumenides_se/chapters/endnotes)

Noted as the patron of Orestes and the advocate of moral order against primitive blood-justice.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_eumenides_se/characters/apollo
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_eumenides_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_eumenides_se/characters