In many polytheistic religions, such as those of ancient India and Iran (the most ancient of which go back to a common Indo-Iranian period), Greece and Rome, a deity's epithets generally reflected a particular aspect of that god's essence and role, for which their influence may be obtained for a specific occasion: Apollo is "Apollo, leader of the Muses" and therefore patron of the arts and sciences while "Phoibos" Apollo is the same deity, but as shining sun-god. "Athena protects the city as , oversees handicrafts as , joins battle as and grants victory as ."