This being the first day of a new month, February, let's start by shining the spotlight on a Greek God, Apollo!
Apollo is one of the most important Gods from Mount Olympus. Complex and all emcompassing Apollo is the god of music, poetry, plague, oracles, sun, medicine, light and knowledge. Apollo is so well known that his name is used everywhere, including for rockets used for Lunar space exploration and yet in popular culture, Apollo is almost invisible. It's a bit frustrating. I always wondered why no one has ever made a film based on him. It's probably because he's too complex, which I'll try to look into in future posts. There's no shortage of paintings and statues though.
Apollo is also one of the few Greek deities who's Roman name is identical.
"Apollo Revealing his Divinity to the Shepherdess" by Francois Boucher
He's often seen holding a lyre, which he gave to Orpheus. Other symbols associated with Apollo: laurel wreath, python, raven, bow and arrows. He's also seen ridding a chariot.
The fountain of Apollo at the Palace of Versailles
It is interesting that the Greeks considered a wide hip girdle to be attractive, although today the narrower the better.
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