Apollo was one of the most important Olympian gods in the Classical pantheon. His spheres of influence included music, prophecy, poetry, and light. He was both harbinger and curer of disease. He was the father of the god of medicine, Asclepius, and the brother of the virgin huntress Artemis. The god Hermes created the lyre for Apollo, and the instrument was his most common attribute. Hymns sung to Apollo were called paeans.