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Apollo was one of the most important of the [[pagan]] Greek gods, being responsible for many things, including healing and plague, archery, the arts (particularly music), and most especially prophecy. Later on he would also become the sun god. It should be noted that, with the exception of prophecy, all of Apollo's areas of responsibility also sometimes belong to other pagan mythological figures: healing to [[Asclepius]], the arts to the [[Muse|Muses]], the sun to [[Helios]], and archery to Apollo's sister goddess [[Artemis]]. Even with respect to Apollo's role as the god of prophecy, it is sometimes suggested that Apollo derives his knowledge of the future from [[Zeus]], and then acts as a go between to humans.  

'''Apollo''' was one of the most important of the [[pagan]] Greek gods, being responsible for many things, including healing and plague, archery, the arts (particularly music), and most especially prophecy. Later on he would also become the sun god. It should be noted that, with the exception of prophecy, all of Apollo's areas of responsibility also sometimes belong to other pagan mythological figures: healing to [[Asclepius]], the arts to the [[Muse|Muses]], the sun to [[Helios]], and archery to Apollo's sister goddess [[Artemis]]. Even with respect to Apollo's role as the god of prophecy, it is sometimes suggested that Apollo derives his knowledge of the future from [[Zeus]], and then acts as a go between to humans.  

Nonetheless, as the god of prophecy Apollo is one of the Greek gods most likely to interact with man. He appears at the beginning of what is generally considered to be the oldest non-[[Judaic]] text in the [[Western tradition]], the [[Iliad]] of [[Homer]]. It is Apollo's anger at the Greek troops outside the walls of [[Troy]] which results in the plague which is besetting the Greeks, and the attempts of the pagan priests to deal with the crisis lead directly to the conflict between [[Achilles]] and [[Agamemnon]] which is the basis of this great [[epic poem]]<ref>Homer, The Iliad, Book I</ref>.  

Nonetheless, as the god of prophecy Apollo is one of the Greek gods most likely to interact with man. He appears at the beginning of what is generally considered to be the oldest non-[[Judaic]] text in the [[Western tradition]], the [[Iliad]] of [[Homer]]. It is Apollo's anger at the Greek troops outside the walls of [[Troy]] which results in the plague which is besetting the Greeks, and the attempts of the pagan priests to deal with the crisis lead directly to the conflict between [[Achilles]] and [[Agamemnon]] which is the basis of this great [[epic poem]]<ref>Homer, The Iliad, Book I</ref>.