Most mammals stop digesting milk well after childhood, and early humans were the same. But some human groups, especially herding communities in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and parts of South Asia, evolved lactase persistence, meaning they kept digesting milk as adults.
The most Greek of the gods, the radiant light and one of the divine archer twins alongside his sister Artemis. He is the protector against evil, most famous for his slaying of the vicious monster Python, and venerated both in Delphi and Delos. To the youth he was a mentor, associated with the raising of children. To the community he was god of society and colonization and was attributed with the invention of several things such as the lyre, sports, music, and archery, and was protector of herds and pastures. He was notable for giving prophecy to various oracles, most famously the oracle of Delphi, and as such was an oracular god and light god. He was also a force to be reckoned with who would send plagues upon his enemies or aid the favored in battle, such as Paris and Hector in the Iliad. Apollo is commonly accompanied by the Muses, goddesses of the arts, as well as his companion Hermes who shares much of his attributes. With his sister Artemis he is considered one of the divine twins of Leto who rain arrows from Olympus. In later times he adopted the role of Helios, the titan of the sun, and became conflated with the sun himself. Unlike the rest of the Olympians Apollo was adopted in his entirety by the Romans, having no direct counterpart and being worshiped as a foreign god.
Alternate Names: Apollon, commonly called Apollo Phoebus, had many epithets both in Greece and Rome.
Character Traits: Defined as the perfect kouros, the youthful athletic perfect archetype. He was a protector first and foremost but his deadly aim with his arrows was feared by those against him.
Visual Traits: Shown as a beardless youth with long hair, a symbol of youth that was not cut until adulthood was reached. Adorned in white robes.
Symbolism: Lyre, bow and arrow, long hair, laurel, goose, swan, snakes, palm tree.
