Offering to Apollo

What to offer Apollo

This page is sort of an evergoing process. From time to time I will update with new offerings and ideas, so check back once in a while (every other month is probably enough).

This is a small list of possible offerings to Apollon, organized in cathegories and with a small explanation of why that particular offering is listed. Immediatly after the name of the offering you will see either AS or UPG. AS stands for Ancient Source, meaning that it is an historical offering to the God, while UPG stands for Unverified Personnal Gnosis, meaning that is something I feel or think is right, or something that as been revealed to either me or someone else and might not be right for anyone else.

So, let's get to it.

General Offerings

Music, Hymns, Poetry, Dancing (AS) music and hymns, as well as dances, have been used since ancient times to honour every God and Goddess and Apollon, being God of the Muses, Art, Poetry, Music and the Lyre, was never an exception to this rule. You may sing, declamate and dance. For poems you can even write them and then burn them as an offering. Realy, any form of art can be used (UPG for this last part).

Competitions, Arete (AS) Apollon is the God of Competition and arete (excellence - the quest for the best of you) and Games were held in Ancient Greece for Heroes and dead ones, but also for the Gods, the Ollympic Games, in honour of Zeus, being the most famous. Apollon too had pan-hellenic games, just like the Ollympic Games - they were the Pythian Games, celebrating the slay of Python and Apollon's redemption.

Divination work (UPG) I know divination is not always considered an offering but you can just use a divination technique to ask what does the God want, something already done in Ancient Greece.

Musical Instruments (UPG) I feel that being God of Music, Apollon wont mind having His musical instruments collection increased. If it is hand made by yourself and used only in rituals to Apollon it may even have more value.

Drawings (UPG) If you are good at drawing and like to draw, why not offer a drawing or painting of Apollon to Him, maybe to decorate his shrine or, if you don't have one, you can just hung it on the wall to remind you of His presence, or donate it to someone who keeps him a shrine or temple. If you are not good at drawing, you can commit to learn.

Philosophy (UPG) Apollon is God of Philosophy and self awareness and I feel it is apropriate to learn philosophy and practice philosophy as a way to incorporate Apollon's teachings in your own life.

Donations (UPG) donating to health research institutes, health promoting entities or to local artists might be a good way to thank Apollon and keep his domains alive.

Plants and Fruits

Laurel (AS) Laurel, or bay, is the most famous plant linked with Apollon. You can burn the leaves (sometimes they sparkle), make tea, include it in offering meals, use incense, plant a tree... Your imagination is the limit.

Cypress (AS) another tree connected with Apollon, although I'm not sure it was offered to him or if it was just a mythology connection. It is related to Apollon's Dark aspect and His temple in Hades.

Hyacinthus (AS) another plant I know was mythologicly linked with Apollon but am unsure about actual offerings. However, be aware that today's hyacinthus flowers are quite different from the ancient ones.

Frankincense (AS) according to the Orphic Hymns, frankincense is the best incense to burn for Apollon.

Apple (UPG) Apples are golden and round and they just feel fit to Apollon, from my point of view, though they were connected with Hera and Aphrodite more than with Apollon.

Foods

Golden Cakes (UPG) golden is Apollon's colour since ancient times and golden cakes seem a good offering to the golden God of the golden lyre. If you can make them round like the sun better yet, though that would also fit Helios.

Images and Statues

This are symbols and representations of Apollon to offer as statues, painting or to use in poems. You can also search through the other offerings for other ideas, such as animals and plants.

Young man (AS) this was how Apollon has always been pictured, a young man, around 20 or so, normally with curly golden hair, though not always, after all, this is only a way for us to understand the Gods, not how they actually are.

Exotic (UPG) Apollon is the God of colony foundation, land discovery and foreign countrys, God of the Hyperboreans and of the origins of Civilization, so I feel that he will be glad with exotic things that remind us of these facets.

Tripod (AS) the tripod was used in Delphi and though it is relatively hard  to find today it is very easy to draw. If you find one, you can use it to burn incense to the god or burn the holy fire in it.

Bow (AS) bow is the classical symbol of Apollon. You can buy one, make one or use statues of a bower. You can also learn how to shoot a bow and practice archery.

Animals

Some people like to keep animals as an offering to Apollon, something already practiced in Ancient Greece. Here are the animals connect to Apollon, though some of them can't be peted at all.

Lion (AS) the lion was one of Apollon's animals, so statues of lions are good offerings. I also feel that almost any member of the Felidae familly, including cats, will do, but this is entirely UPG and tigers were actually connected with Dionysus rather than Apollon.

Mice (AS) Apollon is God of mice and hamsters are a popular pet nowadays and relatively easy to keep, when compared with the other animals assotiated with Apollon.

Crow (AS) the crow is the most famous bird of Apollon, the one who keeps an eye on Men and informs Apollon of what we are doing, but also the one who may sometimes bring messages from the Shinning One.

Dolphin (AS) when he conquered Delphi Apollon swimmed on the back of a dolphin. The loved mammalian is one of the most adored out there and you can donate to Zoos that keep them or buy statues and images of them to decorate you shrine as they are very easy to find.

~Miguel

The beginning is the most important part of the work - Plato