God · Character in Homer’s Odyssey

Apollo

Archer god of the silver bow

Master of the unerring shot; the bow contest falls on his feast day.

The far-shooting archer god, sworn by whenever a bow is bent or a swift death wished on somebody. The feast the suitors are keeping on the day the great bow comes into Odysseus' hands is Apollo's own — the archer god's holiday, and no one at the tables thinks about what that might mean.

Bonds

• Apollo son of Zeus — the archer among Zeus’ children
• Apollo dwells in Olympus — feasts among the deathless
• Apollo brother of Artemis — twin archers of Leto

Appears in

• Book III Interview of Telemachus with Nestor
• Book IV Conference of Telemachus and Menelaus
• Book VI Odysseus Discovered by Nausicaä
• Book VII Reception of Odysseus by Alcinoüs
• Book VIII Festivals in Honor of Odysseus
• Book IX The Ciconians, Lotus-Eaters, and Cyclops
• Book XV Return of Telemachus
• Book XVII Return of Odysseus to His Palace
• Book XVIII Combat of Odysseus and Irus
• Book XIX Odysseus Recognized by Eurycleia
• Book XX The Last Banquet of the Suitors
• Book XXI The Bending of the Bow of Odysseus
• Book XXII Death of the Suitors
• Book XXIV Conclusion

Scenes

1. The Full Tale of Murder — Book III. Nestor tells of Aegisthus, Menelaus’s voyage
2. The Plea for Truth — Book IV. Telemachus describes suitors, begs news
3. Odysseus’ Supplication — Book VI. Odysseus begs Nausicaä, who calms maids
4. Unseen Through the City — Book VII. Misted Odysseus passes harbor unnoticed
5. A Son-in-Law Offered — Book VII. Alcinoüs offers daughter, promises escort
6. Feast and First Song — Book VIII. Demodocus sings the quarrel, Odysseus weeps
7. The Quoit Throw — Book VIII. Enraged Odysseus out-throws all rivals
8. Gods Gather to Laugh — Book VIII. Gods gather, laugh at trapped lovers
9. Apollo, Hermes, Poseidon — Book VIII. Apollo teases Hermes, Poseidon pleads
10. Odysseus’s Request — Book VIII. Odysseus asks for the wooden-horse song
11. Scouting Polyphemus’s cave — Book IX. Odysseus scouts Polyphemus’s cave with wine
12. Melampus’s Line — Book XV. Peisistratus leaves, poet traces Melampus
13. Isle of Syria — Book XV. Eumaeus recounts royal birth on Syria
14. Falcon Omen — Book XV. Falcon kills dove, a kingly omen
15. Nestor and Menelaus — Book XVII. Telemachus reports Odysseus on Calypso’s isle
16. Melanthius’s Insults — Book XVII. Melanthius kicks beggar, Eumaeus prays
17. Penelope’s Outrage — Book XVII. Penelope calls Antinoüs most hateful
18. Rebuke of Telemachus — Book XVIII. Penelope scolds, Telemachus blames suitors
19. Melantho’s Taunt — Book XIX. Melantho mocks Odysseus, he rebukes her
20. Hecatomb and banquet — Book XX. Heralds lead hecatomb, suitors feast
21. Eurymachus Fails, Feast Deferred — Book XXI. Eurymachus fails, Antinoüs defers contest
22. Odysseus Asks to Try — Book XXI. Odysseus asks to test bow
23. Penelope Defends the Stranger — Book XXI. Penelope rebukes Antinoüs, promises gifts
24. The Bow Passed Amid Taunts — Book XXI. Suitors jeer as Eumaeus delivers bow

Apollo is named in 26 of the poem’s scenes; these are the twenty-four that carry the most of the name.

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