Apollo, the Greek god of music, poetry, and prophecy, was known to bestow various gifts upon mortals. One of the most notable gifts he gave was the gift of prophecy. Apollo granted this ability to select individuals, allowing them to foresee future events and communicate divine messages.
One famous recipient of this gift was Cassandra, the daughter of King Priam of Troy. Apollo granted her the power of prophecy, but when she rejected his romantic advances, he cursed her so that no one would believe her predictions. Despite her accurate foresight, Cassandra’s warnings about the fall of Troy were ignored.
Another example is the Sibyl of Cumae, a priestess who received the gift of prophecy from Apollo. She was said to live for centuries and was consulted by many, including Aeneas, the legendary founder of Rome.
These stories highlight Apollo’s role as a god who could bestow both great gifts and significant challenges upon mortals.