Apollo (Riordan Books)

**Apollo**, also known as **Lester Papadopoulos**, is the Greek god of the sun, light, healing, disease, plague, music, art, poetry, archery, reason, knowledge, truth, and prophecy. He is the twin brother of the goddess Artemis, and they are together known as the "twin archers". He bears the same name as his Roman counterpart.

Apollo used to drive the Sun around the Earth in his chariot - a responsibility he took on when Helios, the original sun-god, faded after he was downsized by the Romans. As punishment for encouraging his legacy Octavian to pursue his perilous approach to conflict, Apollo was cast down from Olympus by his father, Zeus, stripped of his godhood, and became human for a third time.

## Personality

Apollo is described in the books as arrogant, vain and big-headed, both as god and as mortal. After learning humility as a mortal though, he slowly learns to appreciate the little things in life. As a mortal, his archery and musical skills were not smothered. He continued to have the ability to sing, (as Calypso said, "You have a decent voice,") and also recovers his archery skills which prove useful later.

* ***Immortality (formerly):*** As with all gods, Apollo was immortal and could not be killed through conventional methods.
* ***Superhuman Strength, Speed and Stamina (formerly):*** Apollo had great superhuman strength, and the Homeric hymns stated that no ropes could bind him. During the very first Olympic games (which were for the gods), he defeated Ares in boxing and outran Hermes.
* ***Teleportation (formerly):*** Apollo could forcibly teleport others both to his side and away from him, which he did to Chiron.
* ***Shapeshifting (formerly):*** Apollo was capable of altering his appearance at will, shown when he transformed into his mortal alter-ego "Fred". He also has the ability to turn himself into a cloud.
* ***Granting Powers (formerly):*** Apollo had the ability to grant the gifts of longevity and Naiad-hood to whomever he desired - he transformed his lover Cyrene into a Naiad with a very long lifespan. He also granted Sybil, who wrote the Sibylline Books, with as many years of life as there were grains of sand on the beach where they were. He, like all other gods, had the power to create new gods, but at the price of losing a portion of his own power for every new god created.
* ***Divine Form (presumably; formerly)***
* ***Levitation (presumably; formerly)***
* ***Telepathy (presumably; formerly)***
* ***Bilocation (presumably; formerly)***

**Heliokinesis (*formerly*):** As the God of the Sun, Apollo had absolute control and divine authority over the sun. His abilities included:

* ***Photokinesis (formerly):*** As the God of the Sun and Light, Apollo had absolute control over sunlight.
	+ ***Sunlight Rays (presumably; formerly):*** As his twin sister can create moonlight, it is probable that he can generate rays of sunlight. He also approached Cyrene while surrounding by a flickering aura of honey-colored light.
* ***Pyrokinesis (formerly):*** As the God of the Sun, Apollo had absolute control and divine authority over the flames of his Sun Chariot. However, this power was inferior to that of Hephaestus, the God of Fire, and Helios, the original driver of the Sun Chariot and Titan of the Sun.
	+ ***Fire Immunity (formerly):*** Apollo was completely immune to any amount of fire and heat.

**Supernatural Sight (*formerly*):** As the God of Sun and Light, Apollo was able to see almost anything anywhere during the day.

**Audiokinesis (*presumably*):** Apollo's son, Will Solace, can make a sharp ultrasonic whistle-like sound that can temporarily stun his opponents, making them clutch thei rears in confusion, so Apollo himself most likely has this ability as well.

**Vitakinesis (*formerly*):** As the God of Healing and Medicine, Apollo could manipulate and modify a person's anatomy, as well as restore an injured person to full health.

* ***Enhanced Healing (formerly):*** Apollo could instantly heal wounds - he healed all of Annabeth's wounds by speaking an incantation, and later did the same thing with Chiron. His demigod children are able to channel his healing powers when they hummed a hymn to him in Ancient Greek, but it required a good deal of energy on their part.
* ***Disease Manipulation:*** Apollo also had power over plagues and epidemics, and he channeled this ability through special arrows that exploded into foul vapors that spread disease. During the Trojan War, when Agamemnon offended him, Apollo infected the latter's army with a plague. Even as a human, Apollo has this power, although it is considerably weaker and required a hymn about himself, creating an arrow that caused hay fever.

**Prophecy (*formerly*):** As the God of Prophecy and Foresight, Apollo was able to see into the future. However, he was unable to tell anyone about future events, except through his Oracles, as then the information would become meaningless. This is a dangerous ability, and his only children known to have inherited it are Idmon and Halcyon Green, as well as his Roman legacy Octavian. Apollo did not have full control over this power. He did not always know what the prophecies meant, nor could he always control when they were told.

**Madness (*formerly*):** It is believed that Apollo drove Orion insane with the urge to hunt every last beast on Earth.

**Truth Sense (*presumably; formerly*):** As the God of Truth, Apollo possibly knew when people were telling the truth or lying.

**Couplets Curse (*presumably; formerly*):** Apollo's demigod children can curse others to only speak in rhyming couplets that can take days or even weeks to wear off, so Apollo himself most likely had this same ability.

**Flight (*formerly*):** Apollo had the ability to fly, which was shown when he flew to the island of Delos to slay Python, and when he and Artemis descended on the city of Thebes to punish Queen Niobe for her hubris.

**Invisibility (*formerly*):** While first spying on the playing satyr Marsyas, Apollo floated invisibly above the gathered crowd.

**Hypnokinesis (*formerly*):** Apollo had the power to induce slumber. He put Percy to sleep by snapping his fingers. However, it is unknown to what extent his power over sleep is.

## Abilities

**Battle Prowess:** Apollo has great combat skills. When Hercules attacked his Oracle, Apollo engaged him in battle and they were equally matched. Apollo participated in the battle between the Olympians and Typhon, and apart from being one of those who were not taken out by the storm giant, he set Typhon's loincloth on fire by shooting "a blazing volley of arrows".

* ***Swordsmanship:*** Given Homer's description of him as "Apollo of the Golden Sword", it can be deduced that Apollo is an expert swordsman. It was revealed that he once had an extremely sharp sword made of adamantine and gold, but rarely used it, and he later gave it to Hermes in exchange for the flute.

**Archery:** As the God of Archery, Apollo excels in archery and other target-shooting-based activites, such as basketball. His arrows are invisible to mortals and always strike their intended target, regardless of the distance. His archery skills are only rivaled by his sister and the giant Orion.

**Musical Ability:** As the God of Music, Apollo is the leader of the nine Muses, as well as an expert musician who can play any musical instrument perfectly, though he is most often seen with his lyre. During his musical contest with Marsyas, Apollo was able to play his lyre flawlessly while holding it behind his back and not looking at the strings. Apollo was also the one who taught Pandora how to sing and play the lyre, making her irresistible to Epimetheus.