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As one of the most prominent Olympian gods, Apollo was worshipped by both Ancient Greek and Roman religions. Chiefly recognised as the god of light and the sun, the Roman emperor Augustus Caesar selected Apollo as his own god. Augustus attributed his victory over Mark Antony and Cleopatra to Apollo, and what he considered the sun god's superiority over the vastly inferior Egyptian deities.

According to Greek mythology, Apollo drove the chariot of the sun through the sky every day. Celebrated as the god of truth and prophecy, he was worshipped at Delphi, the most important oracle in the classical Greek world. Delphi was considered the centre of the earth and the universe, and an eternal flame glowed in Apollo's honour at the main temple. One legend tells of how Apollo took the form of a dolphin to transport priests across the sea from the island of Crete to Delphi.

Apollo was the son of the supreme Greek god Zeus and the nymph Leto. His twin sister was Artemis, goddess of the hunt. On learning of Leto's pregnancy, Zeus' wife Hera was outraged, but powerless to change destiny. She refused to allow Leto to give birth on any land under the sun - mainland or island - and sent the earth dragon Python to chase Leto to prevent the birth. She also kidnapped Ilithyia, the goddess of childbirth, to prevent Leto from going into labour. She released her captive after she was tricked by the other gods into accepting an amber necklace.

Because Delos was a barren, floating island it was immune from Hera's decree. According to Homer's "Hymn to Delian Apollo", one of the earliest literary references to the Greek sun god, Leto promised the island that if she was allowed to give birth to Zeus' son there Delos would benefit from the patronage of Apollo. Nine days after giving birth to her daughter Artemis, Apollo was born. In gratitude, Zeus secured Delos with four pillars, and the island became sacred to Apollo. Because Apollo was born on the seventh day of the lunar month the days of the new moon and full moon were sacred to him.

When he was four days old he chased Python, his mother's tormenter, to Delphi, where he killed it. Although a dragon, Python was a child of Gaia - the earth goddess. Apollo had to be punished, so Zeus instigated the Pythian Games, over which Apollo presided. Another legend describes a journey from northern Greece to Delphi, during which Apollo picked laurel (also known as bay) leaves from the plant which was sacred to him. In his honour all winners of the

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