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Ovid characterizes Apollo as a god of foolish and ineffectual passions. The son of Jupiter and the god of the sun, Apollo is a hothead. His strong emotions often get the best of him, making him look and act foolish. In Book I, his lust for Daphne leads him to caress and kiss her—even after she has been turned into a tree. In Book II, he allows his son, Phaeton, to ride his chariot, which almost destroys the whole world. In the same book, he kills his lover, Coronis, in a fit of fury. He ultimately regrets this murderous act. Apollo is not only tempestuous but also inept. Although he is the god of healing he is not able to help anyone. He fails in his attempt to heal Hyacinthus, his boy lover, and he does nothing to drive away the plague in Rome.

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