Apollo And Cassandra (Roman)

Apollo And Cassandra

The Temple at Delphi was the most famous of all Apollo's Temples. But it was not the only temple built for Apollo. There was a wonderful temple in Troy, built by the people of Troy in his honor, before the Trojan War.

As the story goes ...

Apollo enjoyed showing up now and then at the various temples around the ancient world built in his honor. One day, Apollo swung by the temple in Troy.

Cassandra, a young and beautiful priestess, worked at the temple. The minute Apollo saw Cassandra, he fell in love. (Love at first sight ran in the family. After all, Apollo was Jupiter's son.)

Apollo offered Cassandra a deal. He would give her a very special gift, the gift of prophecy - the ability to see the future - if she would give him a kiss.

Cassandra thought that was a great deal. With a laugh, Apollo gave her his gift. Instantly, Cassandra could see the future. She saw Apollo, helping to destroy Troy. When Apollo bent his head to gently kiss her, she angrily spit in his face.

Apollo was furious. He could not take away his gift. That's not how it worked. But he could add to it.

Although Cassandra could, forever after, see the future, no one believed her. Ever. That was his added gift. When Cassandra begged her people in Troy to watch out for the Trojan horse, not one person believed her.