Admetus of Pherae

When Apollo was sentenced to a year of servitude to a mortal as punishment for killing Delphyne, or as later tradition has it, the Cyclopes, the god was sent to Admetus' home to serve as his herdsman.

[8] The romantic nature of their relationship was first described by Callimachus of Alexandria, who wrote that Apollo was "fired with love" for Admetus.

[10] Latin poet Ovid in his Ars Amatoria said that even though he was a god, Apollo forsook his pride and stayed in as a servant for the sake of Admetus.

[14] Admetus initially believed that one of his aged parents such as his father Pheres would happily take their son's place of death.

But I, who have escaped my fate and ought not to be alive, shall now live out my life in sorrow.The situation was saved by Heracles, who rested at Pherae on his way towards the man-eating Mares of Diomedes.

He repaid the honor Admetus had done to him by wrestling with Thanatos until the god agreed to release Alcestis, then led her back into the mortal world.