Apollo's Bow: Gold or Silver?

I've heard Apollo described as a God of the Golden Bow, and by others a God of the Silver Bow in things like The Iliad. Which is it?

AgathonZante wrote:I've heard Apollo described as a God of the Golden Bow, and by others a God of the Silver Bow in things like The Iliad. Which is it?

Both are Greek titles of Apollo — Ἀργυρότοξος 'silver-bowed' and Χρυσότοξος 'golden-bowed'.

Ἀργυρότοξος is more Homeric, whereas Χρυσότοξος is more Classical Attic.

I thought that Artemis was of the silver bow. I did not know that Apollo was also referred to as this.

Daedalus wrote:I thought that Artemis was of the silver bow. I did not know that Apollo was also referred to as this.

Many of the epithets of Απόλλων and Άρτεμις are either shared outright, or derived from one another.

Erodius wrote:

Daedalus wrote:I thought that Artemis was of the silver bow. I did not know that Apollo was also referred to as this.

Many of the epithets of Απόλλων and Άρτεμις are either shared outright, or derived from one another.

Which makes perfect sense, given the extremely close relationship the two share with one another.

Icarus wrote:

Erodius wrote:

Daedalus wrote:I thought that Artemis was of the silver bow. I did not know that Apollo was also referred to as this.

Many of the epithets of Απόλλων and Άρτεμις are either shared outright, or derived from one another.

Which makes perfect sense, given the extremely close relationship the two share with one another.

They are twins.  I am less confused now thank you.

Daedalus wrote:

Icarus wrote:

Erodius wrote:

Daedalus wrote:I thought that Artemis was of the silver bow. I did not know that Apollo was also referred to as this.

Many of the epithets of Απόλλων and Άρτεμις are either shared outright, or derived from one another.

Which makes perfect sense, given the extremely close relationship the two share with one another.

They are twins.  I am less confused now thank you.

I imagine the gold and the silver in this case also reffers to the sun (golden) and the moon (silver).

I have also drawn that conclusion. Apollo being referred to as of the silver bow threw me off.

Speaking practically, silver and gold were quite often alloyed in Antiquity, and there would have been less of a concrete distinction in the Classical mind between gold vs. silver than there is for us today with our more refined metallurgy.

Somewhat similar to how, in Ancient Greek and Latin, colors are not distinguished from each other as clearly as they are today. Red, indigo and purple were not really differentiated from each other, blue and grey were essentially seen as shades of the same color, brown was a type of red, and there was no such thing as orange.