AmongthecrowdofOlympiangodstheonemostwidelyadmiredwasApollo．HewasthesonofZeusandLetto．AccordingtoGreekmythology，LetowasdrivenbyHerafromlandtolandatlastPoseidontookPityonherandbroughttheislandofDelosoutofwaterforhertoliveon．Thereshegavebirthtothetwins，ApolloandArtemis．Apollowasmesun-god．Heworeapurplerobe．Heusuallysatinhisbrighteasternpalaceearlyinthemorningandmadereadytostarthisdailyjourneyacrossthesky．Duringthedayhedrovehiscarriageofgoldandivory，andbroughtlight，lifeandlovetothegreatworldbelow．Iateintheafternoonhecametotheendofhisjourneyinthefarwesternseaandgotonhisgoldenboattoreturntohiseasternhome．Apollowasthegodofmusicandpoetry．Hecouldstirupallfeelings．Thesefeelingsareexpressedinloftysongs．WithhislyreofgoldandthesweetaccentsofhisgodlikevoiceheledthechoiroftheMusesatOlympus．ThepleasantmusicfromhislyrewassoexcitingthatstonesmarchedintotheirplacesinrhythmictimeandoftheirownwillwhenhehelpedPoseidonbuildupthewallsofTroy．Ononeoccasion，invitedtoacontestbythehumanmusicianMarsyas，hewonandthenflayedhimtodeathforhispride．Onanotheroccasion，helostouttoPanatamusicalcontestandturnedtheearsofthejudge，KingMidas，intothoseofanass．Hisson，Orpheus，tookoversuchskillfromthefatherthathislyremovedmanandanimalsalike．Apollostoodforyouthfulandmanlybeauty．Hisgoldenhair，statelymannerandairallcombinedtomakehimtheadmirationoftheworld．Abeautifulgirl，bythenameofClytle，wassofondofhisbeautyandglorythatfromdawntoduskshekneltontheground，herhandsoutstretchedtowardsthesungod，andhereyeslookedathisgoldenwheeledcarriageracingacrossthebluesky．Thoughherlovewasnotreturned，shehadneverchangedhermindaboutApollo．Thegodsweremovedatthesadsight，andchangedherintoasunflower．在众多的奥林波斯山神中，主神宙斯和雷托之子阿波罗最受推崇。据希腊神话记载，雷托被天后赫拉驱赶得四处流浪。最终是海神波塞冬怜悯她并从海中捞起提落岛让她居住。在岛上，她生了孪生儿子阿波罗和阿尔特弥斯。阿波罗是太阳神。清晨他身着紫色袍，坐在那明亮的东方宫殿，准备开始每日穿越天空的旅行。白天，他驾着用金子和象牙制成的战车，给广阔无垠的大地带来光明、生命和仁爱。黄昏时分，他在遥远的西海结束了旅行，然后就乘上金船返回东方的家中。阿波罗是音乐神和诗神。他可唤起人们倾注于圣歌中的各种情感。在奥林波斯山上，他手拿金质里拉，用悦耳的音调指挥缪斯的合唱。当他帮助波塞冬建造特洛伊城墙时，里拉奏出的音乐如此动听，以致石头有节奏地、自动地各就其位。有一次他接受凡人音乐家马斯亚斯的挑战参加一次竞