So, are they the exact same in qualities in both Roman and Greek mythology?
If not, what qualities did they share?
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There are definitely nuances distinct to each culture, and associations, such as with the Sun, changed over time. There are also a number of localized versiona of Apollo in Ancient Greece. When I get a chance, I'll compare the Latin with the Greek sources and get you more specifics. At a high level, I seem to recall that Apollo was more central in the Roman pantheon, and more highly regarded. By contrast, the gods in Greek myths are not very dignified--Homer made a point of juxtaposing their pettiness against the dignity of human beings, with Hector as the prime exemplar.– DukeZhouSep 28, 2016 at 16:59
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All the major 12 Roman Gods are the Greek Gods, renamed. The Roman Gods still live in Olympus, their authentic home in Greece.– gsamarasJul 31, 2019 at 16:52
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3 Answers
Yes Apollo is the same god in both Greek and Roman mythology.
From Wikipedia The Roman worship of Apollo was adopted from the Greeks. As a quintessentially Greek god, Apollo had no direct Roman equivalent, although later Roman poets often referred to him as Phoebus.
A similar question was asked here: Was Apollo the sun god in Augustan Rome?
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2Phoebus is a Greek name, too, and Apollo is called such in Greek as well. Same with Dionysus and Bacchus or Pallas and Athena — all are Greek names.– cmwSep 20, 2016 at 7:56
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@arboviral Yes. Apollo is Apollo but was called both Apollo and Phoebus by the Romans. Sep 20, 2016 at 11:26
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I realise that; I was suggesting you edit it into the answer. I already upvoted, but strictly speaking the way your answer is written currently it doesn't actually answer the question. Sep 20, 2016 at 13:47
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That answers misleads the reader to believe that not all of the 12 Roman Gods were the 12 Olympian Gods renamed.– gsamarasJul 31, 2019 at 16:53
The Roman story was that they adopted the god Apollo from the Greeks after a plague in the 430s BCE. According to Wikipedia:
On the occasion of a pestilence in the 430s BCE, Apollo's first temple at Rome was established in the Flaminian fields, replacing an older cult site there known as the "Apollinare". During the Second Punic War in 212 BCE, the Ludi Apollinares ("Apollonian Games") were instituted in his honor, on the instructions of a prophecy attributed to one Marcius. In the time of Augustus, who considered himself under the special protection of Apollo and was even said to be his son, his worship developed and he became one of the chief gods of Rome.
The Roman Emperor Augustus had a special devotion to Apollo as well, considering him a patron god. They seem to have seen Apollo as essentially the same god as the Greek version: oracular, artisitic, athletic. However, he took on a more imperial role during Augustus' time.
Yes, Apollo is the same in both Greek and roman mythology because he is the god of poetry, light, and archery.
