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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>.  

Apollo's cryptic prognostications received at the [[Oracle of Delphi]] play a crucial role in the actions of both Greeks and Persians (as well as some other peoples) in [[Herodotus]]'s History, which is generally considered the first work of history. He also appears frequently as a moving force in the surviving Greek dramas, where a prophecy from Delphi sometimes foreshadows the action of the play or sets up an important conflict.

Apollo's cryptic prognostications received at the Oracle of Delphi play a crucial role in the actions of both Greeks and Persians (as well as some other peoples) in [[Herodotus]]'s History, which is generally considered the first work of history. He also appears frequently as a moving force in the surviving Greek dramas, where a prophecy from Delphi sometimes foreshadows the action of the play or sets up an important conflict.

Apollo is always portrayed as a young man, in contrast with some of the other Greek gods, such as Zeus, who are always portrayed as middle aged. He is frequently portrayed with a bow and arrow or a lyre (a stringed instrument).

Apollo is always portrayed as a young man, in contrast with some of the other Greek gods, such as Zeus, who are always portrayed as middle aged. He is frequently portrayed with a bow and arrow or a lyre (a stringed instrument).