Apollo was the son of Zeus who was the father of gods and humans．He is called“sun-god”．During the day Apollo drove his carriage of gold and ivory across the sky and spread light，life and love to the great world below．At dusk he finished his journey in the far western sea and returned to his eastern home in his golden boat．
Apollo was the god of music and poetry．He could inspire all feelings expressed in hymns ．With his gold lyre and his sweet voice he led the choir of the Muses．
The music from his lyre was so wonderful that stones marched into their own places in rhythmic time when he helped Poseidon build up the walls of Troy ．
Apollo stood for youth and manly beauty．His golden hair and magnific manner made him very attractive．
According to Greek mythology，a beautiful girl named Clytie was so fascinated with him that she knelt on the ground from dawn to dusk，staring at Apollo's golden-wheeled carriage racing across the blue sky．Though Apollo didn't give her a look，she never changed her love for Apollo．The gods were deeply touched and changed her into a sunflower．
Words and Expressions
- ivory n．象牙；（海象等的）长牙
at dusk薄暮，黄昏时
- inspire v．激发，激励
- hymn n．圣歌，赞美诗
- lyre n．（古希腊的）七弦竖琴
- choir n．（教堂的）唱诗班；圣乐团；歌唱队，合唱团
- rhythmic adj．有节奏的；有韵律的；有节律的；按节拍的
Poseidon波塞冬，希腊神话中的手持三叉矛的海神
Troy特洛伊，古希腊殖民城市
stand for象征，代表，意味着
- manly adj．有男子气概的
- magnific adj．庄严的，崇高的
- kneel v．跪，跪下，跪着
Read the passage again and try remembering the basic facts about Apollo．
Now have you got any idea of Apollo？
Check your memory and try finishing the following sentences without referring to the passage：
Apollo was the son of __________ who was the father of __________ and __________．He is called __________．Apollo was the god of __________ and __________．Apollo stood for __________ and __________．His __________ and __________ made him very attractive．
阿波罗与向日葵
宙斯统治着众神和人类，阿波罗是宙斯之子。他被称作是“太阳神”。白天，阿波罗驾驶着用金子和象牙做成的车子穿越天空，给人间带来光明、生命和仁爱。黄昏的时候，他在遥远的西海结束了旅行，乘着金船返回到东方的家中。
阿波罗是月神和诗神。他能够激发出人们在圣歌中表达的各种情感；他手拿金里拉琴，用悦耳的声音指挥着缪斯女神的合唱队。
当他帮助波塞冬建造特洛伊城墙时，里拉琴弹奏的声音太美妙了，以至于石头都有节奏的自动地各就其位。
阿波罗象征着青春和阳刚之美。他金色的头发和庄重的神态使他具有非凡的魅力。
据希腊神话记载，有一个叫“克里提”的美丽少女非常迷恋阿波罗，从黎明到黄昏，她都跪在地上，深情凝视着阿波罗的金制马车在天空中驰骋。尽管阿波罗从未看过她一眼，但她对阿波罗的爱却从未改变。众神为她的痴情所深深打动，将她变成了一株向日葵。