Apes include orangutans, gorillas, bonobos, and gibbons. They vary in size, but some of
them can be as big as an adult human.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Ape 147
apes except gibbons build nests for
sleeping.
Most apes live in groups. Chimpanzees
and bonobos are the most social, sometimes
living in groups of more than 100
animals. However, male adult orangutans
live mostly alone.
Apes eat mainly plants, including fruits,
leaves, stalks, and seeds. Sometimes they
eat insects or other small animals.
Chimpanzees also hunt and kill monkeys
and other mammals for food.
Great apes are very intelligent. Some
chimpanzees and orangutans in the wild
use sticks or other objects as tools. For
instance, some chimpanzees poke sticks
into ant or termite nests. The chimps
pull the sticks out and eat the insects
clinging to them. Scientists study the
learning abilities of apes in laboratories
and zoos. They have taught some great
apes to communicate using sign language
or pictures of symbols. However,
not all scientists agree that these apes
have truly learned to use language.
Reproduction
Reproduction in apes is similar to reproduction
in humans. A female ape usually
gives birth after a pregnancy of seven to
nine months. Normally a single baby is
born. Twins are rare. Baby apes are
nearly helpless for the first few months
after birth. Adult apes may provide care
for the young for several years.
Under Threat
Most types of ape are endangered, or at
risk of dying out completely in the wild.
Humans have cut down the trees in forests
where some apes live, destroying
their habitats. People also kill apes for
their meat. However, people have also
begun trying to save these animals.
Some countries have national parks to
protect apes and their habitats. Laws
also make it illegal to hunt or capture
endangered apes.
#More to explore
Chimpanzee • Gibbon • Gorilla
• Orangutan • Primate
Aphrodite
In ancient Greek mythology Aphrodite
was the goddess of love and beauty. She
was one of the 12 chief gods believed to
live on Mount Olympus. Aphrodite is
associated with the Roman goddess
Venus because they shared many of the
same characteristics. The symbols of
Aphrodite are the dove, rose, myrtle
tree, and swan.
In one story Aphrodite was the daughter
of Zeus, the ruler of all the gods. Her
mother was a Titan named Dione.
Some apes spend part of their time in trees
and part on the ground. Orangutans, like
gibbons, spend most of their time in trees.
148 Aphrodite BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Titans were giants who once ruled the
world. Other stories tell that Aphrodite
sprang fully grown from the foam of the
sea. The wind carried her on a shell to
the island of Cyprus, which became her
home. Sailors prayed to her to calm the
wind and waves.
According to legend, gods and humans
alike desired Aphrodite because of her
beauty. But she was proud and rejected
her admirers. To punish her, Zeus had
her marry the ugly god of fire, named
Hephaestus. Aphrodite soon left him
for Ares, the handsome god of war.
One of their children was Eros, the
winged god of love. Zeus later arranged
for Aphrodite to fall in love with a
handsome shepherd named Anchises.
From that union Aeneas was born. He
was said to be an ancestor of the
Roman people.
#More to explore
Ares • Greece, Ancient • Hephaestus
• Mythology • Zeus
Apia
Apia is the capital of Samoa, an island
country in the southern Pacific Ocean.
It lies on the northern coast of Upolu
Island. Apia is Samoa’s main port. It
ships dried coconut meat, bananas,
cocoa, and coffee to other countries.
Manufacturing and tourism also bring
money to the city.
Apia developed into a port after European
missionaries and traders arrived in
the mid-1800s. In the 1940s, during
WorldWar II, U.S. Marines used Apia
as a base.
The former home of Scottish writer
Robert Louis Stevenson sits on a hill
overlooking Apia. Today Samoa’s head
of state lives there.
#More to explore
Samoa
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Apia 149
Apollo
In ancient Greek mythology Apollo was
the god of music, healing, light, and
prophecy (predicting the future). He
was one of the 12 main gods believed to
live on Mount Olympus. He also came
to be considered a sun god. Because of
Apollo’s many important roles, the
Greeks loved him greatly. The Romans
later worshipped him too. The laurel
tree, dolphin, and crow were sacred to
Apollo.
Apollo was the son of Zeus, the chief
god, and Leto. Leto was a Titan, or one
of the giants that once ruled the world.
Apollo was also the twin brother of
Artemis, the goddess of hunting.
According to tradition, one of Apollo’s
earliest deeds was to slay a giant snake,
called Python. No human dared
approach the monster. Apollo came
down from Mount Olympus and, after a
hard fight, killed Python using his silver
bow and golden arrows.
The famous Temple of Apollo stood at a
site called Delphi. This was near the
place where Apollo had killed Python.
People traveled great distances to visit
the shrine. There they would speak to
one of Apollo’s priestesses. She would
give them an oracle, or prediction of the
future, said to come from Apollo.
According to legend, the god Hermes
