Pytho

The celebrated city of Delphi, which on account of its oracle, received countless visits during many years, was originally called Pytho, and was still called so at the time of the Trojan War, when it was held by Epistrophus ₁ and Schedius ₁, sons of Iphitus ₂, son of Naubolus ₁, or of Hippasus ₃. Naubolus ₁, who sometimes is called son of Hippasus ₃, is otherwise called son of Ornytus ₁.

Some have said that the name Pytho comes from Pythes, son of Delphus, but others say that the city was called after Python, the dragon offspring of Gaia, who guarded Themis' Oracle at Delphi (more about this dragon at Leto).

Phocis and Parnassus

DELPHIC MAXIMS The Seven Sages are believed to declare with this maxim that ruin is near to such pledges as those made in relation to contracts and all other agreements in which money is involved. And Euripides is recorded to have said likewise: Of this maxim it has been said that the Seven Sages wished mankind to observe due measure and proportion in all matters, and not to make irrevocable decisions about any human affairs. These are the three maxims which the so called Seven Sages, with laconic brevity, engraved upon a column at Delphi: "Know yourself" Some have believed that by this maxim they exhorted men and women to become educated and to acquire prudence. For, they say, those who are ignorant and thoughtless use to think themselves to be very clever. And this disgraceful feature has been considered to be the worst of all kinds of ignorance, since such people consider wicked men to be good, and believe the honest to be of no account. It has also been remarked that some fail to follow this maxim by believing they own greater wealth than they do, or by believing they possess better physical qualities than it is the case, or by erring about the qualities of the soul, thinking themselves to be wiser than they are. Others have affirmed that to know oneself is to exploit the gifts one has got, and that only the man with self-knowledge will be able to love wisely. They have added that if nature has made him handsome, he should flash his best profile, that the good singer should sing, and the good drinker drink. This they considered to be Apollo's counsel. "Nothing in excess." "A pledge, and ruin is near." "No pledge I give, observing well the loss Which those incur who of the pledge are fond." (Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History 9.10.4). And yet it has been found pertinent to observe that by this maxim they do not mean to abstain from aiding a friend who needs help, but that they advise against strong decisions, against eagerness in giving pledges, and against decisions beyond recall. It has also been remarked that whereas the treasures of Delphi have vanished, these maxims have been kept alive, and that being the fairest Pythian treasure, still survive stored up in the souls of men for all time.

Phocis was called after Phocus ₄, son of Ornytion, son of Sisyphus. Later Phocus ₃ (son of Aeacus and Psamathe ₁) and his sons settled in the land about Mount Parnassus. This mountain, they say, was called after Parnassus, son of Cleopompus and Cleodora ₁, a nymph, or as others say, son of Poseidon and Cleodora ₁. Parnassus, who invented the art of foretelling the future from the flight of birds, is said to have founded the first city of Delphi, which was destroyed during the Flood of Deucalion ₁.

Lycorus

Those who were able to escape the Flood followed the howls of wolves and came to the top of Mount Parnassus. And because they were saved by these beasts, they called the new city Lycoreia, founding it above Delphi. But others say that the city was named after Lycorus, son of Apollo and Corycia, a nymph after whom the Corycian cave was named.

Delphus

Lycorus, they say, had a son Hyamus, who had a daughter Celaeno ₃, who had by Apollo a son Delphus, after whom the city received its definitive name. But others have said that Delphus was son of Apollo and Thyia ₁, a priestess of Dionysus ₂ and the first to celebrate orgies in his honour. She was daughter of Castalius, an autochthon from Phocis. Still others say that Delphus was son of Apollo and Melaena, daughter of the river god Cephisus. Her mother was probably Liriope, who is also called mother of Narcissus.

First priests

It is said that after killing Python, a plague for all men, Apollo established his oracle in the vicinity. He then appointed Cretan sailors as the sanctuary's first priests. For having seen a Cretan ship sailing from Cnossus in Crete to Pylos in the Peloponnesus, he turned himself into a dolphin and brought the ship into the Crisaean Gulf, which is in the Phocian section of the northern coast of the Gulf of Corinth. So from Crisa, the Cretan sailors conducted by Apollo came to Parnassus, and having become priests of Apollo, they called the city Delphi, for the god, having appeared to them in the shape of a dolphin, told them:

"I sprang upon the ship in the form of a dolphin, pray to me as Apollo Delphinius; also the altar itself shall be called Delphinius …" (Apollo to the Cretan sailors. Homeric Hymn to Pythian Apollo 495).

The oracle

Concerning the oracle says a Pythian priestess of Delphi that the first to have prophetic powers was Gaia, who appointed Daphnis ₄, a Mountain Nymph (Oread), as prophetess. After her came Themis, and then the Titaness Phoebe ₁, who gave her seat at Delphi to Phoebus Apollo, called after her. But others say that Gaia and Poseidon had the oracle in common, and that it was Themis who gave the oracle to Apollo as a gift, and that Poseidon was compensated receiving Calaureia, that lies off Troezen, in exchange for the oracle.

First prophetess

Phemonoe, they say, was the first prophetess of Apollo at Delphi, but the Delphian poetess Boeo says that the Hyperboreans Pagasus ₁, Olen and Agyieus established the oracle of Apollo at Delphi and that Olen was Apollo's first prophet.

First temple

The most ancient temple was made of laurel, the branches of which were brought from the laurel in Tempe (a Thessalian valley through which the river Peneus flows from the foot of Mount Pindus) where Apollo was once purified.

Second temple

According to the Delphians the second temple was made by bees from bees-wax and feathers, though others say that it was built by Pteras, who is known for this.

Third temple

The third temple was made of bronze and some say that it was destroyed through falling into a chasm in the earth, but others have said that it was melted by fire.

Fourth temple

The temple was then rebuilt a fourth time by Agamedes ₁ and Trophonius, sons of King Erginus ₁ of the Minyans by a young wife. Erginus ₁, who was afterwards killed by Heracles ₁, was son of Clymenus ₂, son of Presbon, son of Phrixus ₁ and Chalciope ₂, daughter of King Aeetes of Colchis and the Oceanid Idyia. Phrixus ₁ is son of Athamas ₁ and Nephele ₂.

Clever architects

Trophonius (who some say was son of Apollo and not of Erginus ₁) and Agamedes ₁, being regarded as talented architects, built both sanctuaries and palaces, as the temple in Delphi and the palace of wealthy Hyrieus, son of Poseidon and Alcyone ₁, one of the PLEIADES. These two architects built Hyrieus treasury in such a way that they were able, by removing one of the stones from the outside, to drain Hyrieus' riches. The wealthy man was dumbfounded, for although all keys and seals were untampered the treasure kept shrinking. So he put traps to arrest anyone who should enter, and that is how Agamedes ₁ was kept fast. But Trophonius, fearing that his brother should be tortured when day came and confess everything, cut off his head. Trophonius himself was later swallowed up by the earth.

Location of Delphi in Phocis, mainland Greece

Musical contests

Musical and poetical contests were held at Delphi among singers and composers, and prizes were offered to the best hymn to the god. A crown of laurel was the prize for a Pythian victory on account of the love of Apollo for Daphne ₁, who turned into a laurel tree, a branch of which the god made into a wreath for himself.

First winner

The first contest was won by Chrysothemis ₃, son of Carmanor, the man who purified Apollo after the latter had killed the dragon Python, and the same who received Apollo in his house when the god consorted with Acalle (Acacallis), the daughter of Minos ₂.

Second winner

The second contest was won by Philammon, who was famous for his song and zither. Philammon was son of Apollo by either Chione ₂, Leuconoe ₃ or Philonis, though others have called him son of Hephaestus. Chione ₂ and Philonis are daughters of Daedalion (see Ceyx). Leuconoe ₃ is daughter of Eosphorus, who is Lucifer, that is, the morning an evening star, or with other words, the planet Venus. Eosphorus is son of Eos (Dawn). Philammon was killed by an armed force of Phlegyans that marched against the sanctuary at Delphi.

Third winner loses all

The third contest was won by Thamyris ₁, son of Philammon and the Nymph Argiope ₃. This Thamyris ₁ is the same that loved Hyacinthus ₁, being the first man to fall in love with males. He is also known for having engaged in a musical contest with the MUSES, and when he lost they took both his eyes and his minstrelsy in accordance with what they had agreed before the contest. In addition, he is still being punished in the Underworld for having opposed these goddesses.

Another winner

Also Eleuther ₁, son of Apollo and Aethusa (daughter of Poseidon and the Pleiad Alcyone ₁), is said to have won a Pythian victory for his loud and sweet voice. Eleuther ₁ was father of Iasius ₃, father of Chaeresilaus, father of Poemander, the founder of Tanagra in Boeotia.

The seat of the oracle

Tourists visiting the temple of Apollo at Delphi in AD 1983

The seat of the oracle has been described as a cave hollowed out deep down in the earth with a narrow mouth, from which arose breath that inspired a divine frenzy. Over the mouth a high tripod was placed, and when the Pythian priestess mounted it, she received the breath and uttered oracles, in both prose and verse. The oracle at Delphi was believed to be the most truthful, also because it was placed in the geographical centre of Hellas, or as some claimed, in the centre of the inhabited world. For this reason, Delphi came to be considered as the navel of the earth, and many riches and spoils of war were deposited in treasure-houses there. So, for example, when the EPIGONI took Thebes, they sent a part of the booty to Delphi, and with it the daughter of the seer Tiresias, who was a seeress herself; for they had sworn that, if they took the city, they would dedicate to Delphi the fairest of the spoils.

Goats discover oracular site

The oracular shrine, they say, was accidentally discovered by goats, and that is why goats were regularly used as victims when consulting the oracle. What came to be the forbidden sanctuary was originally a chasm, and it is told that when goats once came to that place and peered into the chasm, they started leaping about in an unusual fashion, emitting sounds completely different from what goats normally emit.

Goatherd possessed

So when a herdsman approached the chasm to investigate the reason behind the strange phenomenon, he became as possessed as his goats, or even more, for he began to foretell future events.

All become prophets

Now, when everybody in the vicinity learned what was happening, they started coming in larger numbers visiting the chasm and testing its miraculous effects. Many then became inspired and so the chasm was regarded as a marvel, and as the prophecy-giving shrine of Gaia herself. In this way, and in a completely free manner, all who wished to obtain a prophecy approached the chasm and made their prophetic replies to one another.

Remains of the treasury of the Athenians at Delphi (AD 1983)

Public danger

However, an increasing number of people, not being able to control their frenzy, started to leap down into the chasm disappearing for ever. So to eliminate this public risk, the people of the region decided to appoint one single prophetess for all and to have the oracles told by her. And a contrivance with three supports (hence called a tripod) was devised so that the prophetess could safely mount it, and having become inspired, give prophecies to those who so desired or needed them.

Elderly woman takes over

In ancient times, virgins delivered the oracles because virgins, having their natural innocence intact were supposed to guard the secrecy of the oracles. But in historical times, as sexual violence was offered against a prophetess, the Delphians appointed an elderly woman to prophesy.

Examples of violence at Delphi

Regular violence was also witnessed by the Oracle of Delphi which itself was plotted against many times. The Atrides Agamemnon and Menelaus, seized their uncle Thyestes ₁ at Delphi, when they had come to inquire about him, and Thyestes ₁, by chance, had come at the same time to consult about taking vengeance on his brother Atreus. Later in this same city, Orestes ₂ killed Neoptolemus as the latter was sacrificing to the god. Heracles ₁ was so disappointed when the Pythian priestess did not answer him by oracles, that he, after plundering the temple, carried off the tripod to institute his own oracle. Heracles ₁ was however resisted by Apollo himself until Zeus parted them throwing a thunderbolt.

Consultants and Visitors

Since the times of Deucalion ₁, who survived the Flood and after coming to Mount Parnassus received instructions from Themis as to how to populate the desolate earth, the Oracle at Delphi received many inquiries, answering them in both prose and verse. Even though the oracles were clearly spoken by the Pythia, not always were they properly understood.

Manto ₁. Manto ₁, the daughter of Tiresias who was sent to Delphi by the EPIGONI, was commanded by the Oracle to marry whomsoever she might meet, and the man she met was Rhacius (EPIG.3).

Aegeus _1.Aegeus ₁ consulted the Oracle as to how he might have children, and he received the answer:

"The bulging mouth of the wineskin, O best of men,
Loose not until thou hast reached the height of Athens." (Apollodorus, Library 3.15.6).

Erginus ₁. King Erginus ₁ of the Minyans, who was later killed by Heracles ₁, inquired the Oracle about children, and having received the answer

"Erginus, son of Clymenus Presboniades,
Late thou camest seeking offspring, but even now
To the old plough-tree put a new tip." (Pausanias, Description of Greece 9.37.4).

… he took a young wife.

Cadmus. Cadmus founded Thebes, following instructions he received from the oracle when he came to inquire about his sister Europa. The oracle told him not to worry about his sister and instead, letting himself be guided by a cow, found a city in the place where the animal should stop to rest. Some say that Cadmus bought an ox which had a moon-shaped mark on its side—as the oracle had predicted—and driving it before him, he founded Thebes, where the ox lay down to rest (Apd.3.4.1, Hyg.Fab.178, Pau.9.12.2).

Athamas _1. King Athamas ₁ sent a servant to Delphi to inquire as how his kingdom might be delivered from the dearth, but the servant was bribed and brought back a false reply. Athamas ₁, who having suffered two plots, had lost all his children, was banished from Boeotia. Not knowing where to live he inquired the oracle, receiving the answer that he should dwell in whatever place he should be entertained by wild beasts (Apd.1.9.2).

Oedipus and Laius _1. Oedipus killed his father Laius ₁ in the road to Delphi; the former came to inquire about his parents and the latter about prodigies that revealed that death at his son's hands was near. Prior to that, an oracle had declared that if Laius ₁ had a son by Jocasta he would meet his death at his son's hands. This is the reason why Oedipus was exposed (Eur.Phoe.17; Hyg.Fab.66; Pau.9.5.10; Pin.Oly.2.40; Soph.OT.714).

Heracles _1. Alcides inquired at Delphi where he should dwell, and he was called for the first time Heracles ₁ by the Pythian priestess who told him to dwell in Tiryns serving Eurystheus. On a later occasion, after having killed his wife and children, Heracles ₁ was told by the oracle that the cure for his violent mental disease was for him to be sold as a slave, and it was then that he was bought by Omphale, Queen of Lydia in Asia Minor.

HERACLIDES. Also the HERACLIDES consulted the oracle, not understanding the answers until three generations had passed. Their questions were related to their return to the Peloponnesus, which they first conquered but have to leave, when a year had elapsed, because of a plague (see HERACLIDES).

Robe & Necklace of Harmonia ₁. The famous Robe & Necklace of Harmonia ₁ were dedicated at Delphi by the sons of Phegeus ₁, or as others say, by the sons of Alcmaeon ₁ (see Robe & Necklace of Harmonia ₁).

Podalirius. After the Trojan War, Podalirius, son of Asclepius, settled in the Carian Chersonese, following the instructions he received at Delphi.

Inachus. Inachus' daughter Io told her father that she had dreams by night, in which visions told her to leave her maidenhood behind her and yield to Zeus, who loved her. Inachus then consulted the Oracle, and the god speaking through it commanded him to banish his daughter from home and land to roam over the whole world, adding that if he disobeyed a thunderbolt from Zeus would destroy his race (Aes.Pro.655ff.).

Aepytus ₃. Aepytus ₃, son of Elatus ₂, son of Arcas ₁, son of Zeus & Callisto, consulted the Oracle concerning the pregnancy of his adoptive daughter Evadne ₃, to whom Pitana gave birth after having consorted with Poseidon. There he learned that Evadne ₃'s child was Apollo's, and when he came back the child Iamus had already seen the light. Iamus, who had been left on the ground by his distressed mother, was nurtured by two serpents who gave him honey. From Iamus are descended the diviners called Iamides (Pau.6.2.5, Pin.Oly.6.28ff.).

Pelias ₁. King Pelias ₁ of Iolcus was told by the Oracle to beware of a man wearing one sandal. That man proved to be Jason, whom Pelias ₁ sent to fetch the Golden Fleece, according to yet another oracle, which he said he had received and that urged him to make ready a ship for that purpose, and for the purpose of bringing the soul of Phrixus ₁, son of Athamas ₁ home (Apd.1.9.16, Hyg.Fab.12, Pin.Pyth.4.75, 4.164).

Tlepolemus ₁. Tlepolemus ₁, son of Heracles ₁ & Astyoche ₂, was beating a servant when Licymnius, bastard son of Electryon ₁, son of Perseus ₁ ran in between. Licymnius died and Tlepolemus ₁ consulted the oracle, which told him to leave Argos and settle in Rhodes. Tlepolemus ₁ became leader of the Rhodians against Troy (see also ACHAEAN LEADERS). (Apd.2.8.2, Dio.4.58.7, 5.59.5, Pin.Oly.7.32).

Acrisius. King Acrisius of Argos inquired of the oracle how he should get male children, and the answer was that his daughter Danae would give birth to a son who would kill him. That is why Danae was kept isolated, but she nevertheless became pregnant and gave birth to Perseus ₁, who did kill Acrisius (Apd.2.4.1, Hyg.Fab.63).

Telephus. Also Telephus, son of Heracles ₁ and Auge ₂, daughter of Aleus, son of Aphidas ₁, son of Arcas ₁, son of Zeus and Callisto, consulted the oracle concerning his parents, for he had been exposed as a child. On the ground of the information received at Delphi he went to Mysia in Asia Minor and was adopted by King Teuthras ₁, or as others say, by Corythus ₃. Telephus was wounded by Achilles when the Achaeans attacked Mysia on their first expedition against Troy. As the wound would not heal, Telephus asked the oracle, which replied that the wound would be cured when the one who wounded him should turn physician. That is why Telephus, in a beggar's attire, sailed to Argos, where Achilles was staying, begging to be healed by him and offering to show the Achaeans the course to steer for Troy, as a reward. And Achilles healed him by scraping off the rust of his spear (Apd.Ep.3.20; Hyg.Fab.101).

Thyestes ₁. In the course of the conflict between Atreus and his brother Thyestes ₁, the latter consulted the Oracle about taking vengeance on his brother, which answered that he would be able to retaliate if he had intercourse with his own daughter (Apd.Ep.2.14; Hyg.Fab.87).

Alcmaeon ₁ and the EPIGONI. When ten years after the expedition of the SEVEN, the EPIGONI marched against Thebes, they consulted the Oracle, which predicted victory if they fought under the leadership of Alcmaeon ₁. This man, once he was chosen, consulted the Oracle himself regarding the campaign and the punishment of his mother, hateful Eriphyle. And the Oracle answered that he should make the expedition against Thebes, and also punish his mother, who was notorious for the bribes she had received (see Robe & Necklace of Harmonia ₁). On account of those bribes Alcmaeon ₁ killed his mother, but as this is a terrible kind of deed, he was followed by her ERINYES, which means that he went mad; for that is the effect of these avenging spirits. He then consulted the Oracle once more and was instructed to settle in a land that did not exist at the time of the murder. That is why Alcmaeon ₁, having discovered the alluvial deposit of the river Achelous, settled there (Apd.3.7.2-5; Dio.4.66.3; Pau.8.24.8).s. Theseus. When Theseus was about to be sent to Crete as one of the youths that were to be offered to the Minotaur, he consulted the Oracle, which commanded him to make Aphrodite his guide in his journey. And this is certainly why Ariadne fell in love with him and revealed to him the secrets of the Labyrinth (Plu.The.18.2).