Apollo was one of the most important, influential and widely worshiped deities in the ancient Greco Roman world. He was a complex deity who was a God of numerous things including music, healing, the sun, light, oracles, knowledge, diseases, poetry, dance, archery, herds and flocks, and protection of young. Apollo was a very powerful God and even the other gods feared him. It was only his father, Zeus, and his mother, Leto, who could easily endure his presence. Apollo possessed the powers of the Olympian Gods which include super-human strength; immortality; and eternal youth. Moreover, he had the ability to foretell future events with high level of accuracy. Among other things, Apollo is a supreme archer and thus his standard weapon is the bow and arrow. Here is an overview of the major powers of the Greek God Apollo.
Powers of an Olympian God
Apollo is one of the 12 Olympian Gods who resided atop Mount Olympus. The Olympians are a race of deities who are a third or fourth generation of immortal beings and they were worshiped as the principal deities of the Greek pantheon. The Olympians managed to become the supreme deities after a 10 year long struggle known as Titanomachy. In this struggle, Apollo’s father Zeus led his siblings to victory over the Titans who were the ruling deities at the time. Although there are a number of immortal residents at Mount Olympus, only 12 of them are considered the most important ones; and these include Apollo. All the Olympian gods are immortal, including Apollo. Moreover, Apollo, like most Greek gods, has the gift of eternal youth, which meant that, unlike mortals, he would always look young, handsome and beautiful. Apollo is immune to injury and cannot be plagued with earthy diseases. Even when he sustains an injury, it heals at a supernatural speed. Besides, Apollo also possesses super human strength.
Supreme Skills as an Archer
Apollo is one of the most powerful gods of the ancient Greek pantheon. Among other things, he is known for his supreme skills as an archer. When Apollo was born, he was fed with an immortality drink called ambrosia. At his first taste of ambrosia, Apollo immediately transformed into a man. Four days after being born, Apollo killed the serpent Python by going into its cave and piercing him through the forehead by his arrows. Moreover, he also killed Aloadae, the collective name for two giants named Otus and Ephialtes, with the perfect aim of his arrows.
Foreseer
Being the god of truth and prophecy, Apollo possessed the prophetic powers to see into the future events with high-level accuracy. Apollo used his precognitive abilities and provided wise and prophetic predictions through the oracles, who were thought to be portals through which the gods spoke directly to people. The cult of Apollo was centered at Delphi, an important religious sanctuary where the oracle was consulted about important decisions throughout the ancient European world. It was believed that Apollo communicated his knowledge of the future and the will of his father Zeus through the oracles at the site.
Ability To Heal People And Bring Disease
Apollo possesses the mystical ability to heal people or bring illness and disease. Being a God of Music, Apollo has the power to heal people from illness through his music and through his arrows. At the same time, he could also bring about plagues and disease through his arrows. Like, during the Trojan War, he used his arrows to send plagues into the camp of the Greeks. On the other hand, Apollo also uses his healing abilities in the Trojan War to treat the injuries of Hector, the great fighter and the Trojan prince.
Ability to Bless and Curse
Apollo possesses the ability to bless and curse mortals. Both these abilities are apparent in a myth featuring Cassandra, the daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy. Cassandrawas very beautiful and was admired by Apollo. Cassandra promised to return his love but on one condition: he should give her the power to see the future. Apollo granted her her wish but she went back on her word and rejected him. The enraged Apollo could not revoke a divine power. So, he decided to make it a curse. He cursed Cassandra that even though she would be able to see the future, no one would believe her prophecies.
Shape-Shifting
In Greek mythology, many gods and goddesses possess the ability to shape-shift, or physically transform oneself. Apollo also possesses this ability and can shape-shift into different forms at will. According to a myth, he once shape shifted into a dolphin to hijack a merchant ship.