The sport of archery dates back thousands of years, and while the gear and equipment may have changed (somewhat), it was still a respected art even at the beginning of its popularity. Many gods and goddesses have been associated with archery throughout the years, revealing their virtues and strengths.The Greek and Roman god Apollo is the god of light and the sun, and was often portrayed with a bow and arrows. These were given to him by the god Hephaestus in order to kill the dragon Python, which was hunting down his mother. Later, Apollo shot plague-infected arrows during the Trojan War in order to recapture Chryseis, the daughter of one of his chief priests. He was also responsible for killing Achilles, who had earlier killed Apollo’s own son, Troilus. Read the rest of this entry »