Apollo
by CTCWeb Editors
Unlucky in Love
Apollo was no Casanova or Don Juan, he simply did not have “a way with women.” Apollo attempted to love many women by only succeeded in “loving” a few. Fits of jealousy, unrequited love, and bad luck plagued Apollo’s love life. Students should look at the love interests and affairs of Apollo along with their results.
Coronis
Apollo loved Coronis and they were to have a child. Coronis made a mistake during her pregnancy and slept with the mortal Ischys. This angered Apollo’s sister, Artemis.
Pindar Pythian Ode 3.8-46 - Tells of her attempted deception and love of Ischys.
Pausanias 2.26.6 - Coronis had intercourse with Ischys. She was killed by Artemis to punish her for the injustice she had done to Apollo.
Apollodorus 3.10.3 - Apollodorus claims that “Aesculapius was not a son of Arsinoe, daughter of Leucippus, but that he was a son of Coronis, daughter of Phlegyas in Thessaly.” He tells the story of her mating with Apollo and her intercourse with Ischys.
Cassandra
Apollo fell for Cassandra and in exchange for her “favors” he offered to teach her the art of prophecy. Cassandra learned the art then refused Apollo. In anger, Apollo deprives Cassandra of the ability to persuade others that her prophecies are true. Homer claims that Apollo spat in Cassandra’s mouth to deprive her on her persuasive powers.
Apollodorus 3.12.5.
Aeschylus, Agamemnon 1072.
Homer, Iliad.
Daphne
Pausanias 8.20.4 - “The poets who sing of Apollo’s love for Daphne make an addition to the tale; that Apollo became jealous of Leucippus because of his success in his love. Forthwith Daphne and the other maidens conceived a longing to swim in the Ladon, and stripped Leucippus in spite of his reluctance. Then, seeing that he was no maid, they killed him with their javelins and daggers.”
Hyacinth
Apollodorus 1.3.3, 3.10.3, 3.10.3 - They say that this Hyacinth was beloved of Apollo and killed by him involuntarily with the cast of a quoit.
Marpessa
Apollodorus 1.7.8-9 - Evenus was the father of Marpessa who was wooed by Apollo. Idas carried Marpessa off in a winged chariot that Poseidon gave to him. Evenus attempted to catch Idas and to retrieve his daughter but failed. Evenus threw himself into a river that from then on bared his name. Ideas arrived in Messene where he and Apollo fought for the hand of Marpessa. Zeus parted the two and asked Marpessa to choose her mate. Marpessa chose Idas fearing that Apollo would abandon her when she grew old.
Cyrene
Pindar Pythian Ode 9.5-8 - Cyrene, another of Apollo’s conquests, was more fortunate than other women whom Apollo loved, she lived and flourished as the ruler of her own city. Her abduction from Mt. Pelion and positioning as a valiant leader is described by Pindar.
