Also called Apollo Medicus, Apollo Palatinus.
Their story
Apollo came to Rome as a healer: a temple to Apollo Medicus was vowed in 433 BC during a plague and dedicated two years later. The Ludi Apollinares were founded in 212 BC on the advice of prophetic verses during the war with Hannibal. Augustus, who credited Apollo with his victory at Actium, built a splendid temple beside his house on the Palatine and moved the Sibylline Books there. He is one of the few major gods Rome took from Greece with his Greek name unchanged.
Best times to give to them
- Ludi Apollinares, 6 to 13 July
- Dedication day of his Palatine temple, 9 October
- In times of sickness
What they like being given
- Laurel leaves
- Incense
- Honey cakes
- Music or a sung hymn
How to honour them
- Play or sing a piece of music as an offering.
- Burn a dried bay leaf with a prayer for good health.
- Keep a sprig of laurel by the door for protection.
How they can help you
- Recovery from illness
- Clarity and truth-seeking
- Music and poetry
Symbols
- laurel
- lyre
- bow
- tripod
Rome had no native equivalent, so his Roman cult is built on a Greek god.
Sources
- Livy 4.25 and 4.29
- Livy 25.12
- Suetonius, Augustus 29
More Roman gods
- Jupiter Best and greatest, guardian of Rome
- Mars Father of Rome and guardian of fields
- Mercury Patron of merchants, messages and journeys
- Janus Two-faced god of doors and beginnings
- Saturn King of the golden age and lord of the harvest
- Sol Invictus The unconquered sun, reborn at midwinter
- Neptune Lord of fresh water and the sea
- Vulcan God of fire, both destroying and forging