# Apollo — The Iliad character guide

> Apollo in The Iliad by Homer.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Phoebus Apollo, Phoebus, the archer-god Apollo

**First appearance:** 0001-the-iliad

## Snapshot

The archer-god whose plague and pity both fall on Troy, shielding Hector's dragged body with a golden aegis while Achilles rages.

## Who they are

Apollo stands behind Troy the way a father stands behind a stubborn son, sending the plague that opens the poem and answering Hector's prayers in battle. Yet his most human moment comes late, when he alone among the gods refuses to let Achilles' chariot defile the dead, holding his golden shield over the corpse and shaming the immortals into action. He is the poem's conscience about honor done to the fallen, and the voice that finally forces Zeus to intervene.

## Relationships

### [Achilles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/achilles)

_rivalry_

Apollo opposes Achilles, especially after Achilles desecrates Hector's body, and helps guide Paris's arrow to kill Achilles.

### [Hector](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/hector)

_friendship_

Apollo supports Hector in battle, protecting him and guiding his spear until the final duel with Achilles.

### [Achilles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/achilles)

_rivalry_

Apollo opposes Achilles, especially after Achilles desecrates Hector's body, and helps guide Paris's arrow to kill Achilles.

### [Achilles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/achilles)

_rivalry_

Apollo opposes Achilles, especially after Achilles desecrates Hector's body, and helps guide Paris's arrow to kill Achilles.

## In the story

### [Book XV: The Fifth Battle at the Ships](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xv-the-fifth-battle-at-the-ships)

Apollo is dispatched by Zeus to heal Hector and restore his strength, enabling him to lead the Trojan attack.

### [Book XVI: The Sixth Battle—Death of Patroclus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xvi-the-sixth-battle-death-of-patroclus)

Disarms Patroclus, enabling his death.

### [Book XX: The Battle of the Gods](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xx-the-battle-of-the-gods)

Warns Hector to avoid direct combat with Achilles and later rescues him in a cloud.

### [Book XXII: The Death of Hector](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xxii-the-death-of-hector)

Apollo reveals himself to Achilles after luring him away from the city, reminding him that he is immortal and cannot be slain.

## Links

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