Her son Apollo did not forget the insolance of the dragon, and no sooner had he stuck his head out into the world, than he swore vengeance. Grasping a golden bow in his tiny hands, the young God hunted the guardian of the Oracle, and slew it with his terrible arrows. He shot it so many times, that it looked like a pin cushion! Under the powerful sun, the serpent's body rotted away to nothing, and that is how it came to be called Python, and the priestesses of the area Pythias for in Greek, the word pytho means 'rotten'. Phoebe saw how easily the young God had dispatched her terrible guardian, so she fled in a panic, leaving the Oracle to him. This is how Delphi came into his hands, and how the Far-Shooter came to be called Phoebus for he adopted the name of the Titaness as his own, in order to honor the previous owner of the Oracle.
Now Apollo did not give his predictions appearing face to face with the supplicant, as Themis and Gaia had done before him. Instead the Shining One collected at Delphi a number of young women, going as far as Egypt and Phoenicia and distant Hyperborea to gather these prized possessions who would tend his temple. And the chief of these women he gave the title of Pythia, and it was she who, entering into trances, would become inspired by the God, and from this holy state profess the will and wisdom of her God Phoebus. When the Pythia died or proved unable any longer to enter into communion with Apollo, she was replaced and the title was passed on to another girl, one of her attendant priestesses. Under Apollo's tutelage the city of Delphi grew up around the sanctuary, and the fame of Delphi spread until all the world had heard of the marvelous predictions that came from the earth's navel. Kings from far distant countries sent huge treasures to Delphi to help assure the favor of the God, and numerous wars were fought over who would protect the famed city. Apollo grew proud and arrogant because of his precious possession.
People came from all parts of the world to hear the wisdom of Apollo and have the answer to their problems put before them, but this was not the only function of Delphi - though by far it was the most famous. Rites of purification were performed at Delphi, so that poor wretches with the stain of blood on their hands and hearts could come to the temple of Apollo and find redemption there - at a hefty price, and through great effort. Herakles, after killing his lovely wife Deianeira - that same daughter of Oeneus who had befriended Bakkhos - in a fit of madness sent by Hera, came to Delphi to attone for his sin, though he found no redemption there, though plenty of others found purification for their minds and souls amid the high peaks of Delphi. Others came to the sanctuary merely to offer sacrifice to the High Gods, thinking that their prayers would be heard all the better having been sung at this holy site.
Copyright Sannion, 06/25/02
All Rights Reserved
Posted with permission
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