Star Trek: 10 Alien Encounters Before First Contact

10. The Greek Gods - Who Mourns For Adonais?

In a now-infamous scene, the Enterprise is stopped in space by a giant, green hand - grasping the ship and holding it in place. This was sent from Apollo, the last remaining corporeal member of the race of aliens native to Pollux IV. They had visited Earth around 2700 BC, inspiring an entire religion to form around them.

These aliens were restored by love and admiration, with these serving to them as food did to humans. Ironically, they appeared mostly human themselves, save for an extra organ in their chests. This organ made all the difference, as it allowed them to control the elements, technology, and even their physical forms.

They ruled over the Hellenic region on Earth until Humanity outgrew, and eventually forgot them. Unable to face this obscurity, they elected to return to their homeworld. At that point, all bar Apollo chose to leave their bodies behind and become one with the wind. It was only after the encounter with the Enterprise, and the reminder that humanity had truly outgrown them, that Apollo shed his skin and went to join his people.