Editing Pythian Games (section)

{{short description|One of the Panhellenic Games of Ancient Greece}}
{{For|modern Delphic Games|Delphic Games of the modern era}}
{{More citations needed|date=November 2019}}
[[File:Αρχαίο στάδιο Δελφών2.jpg|thumb|260px|The [[stadium of Delphi]], Greece]]
[[Image:Delphi stadium starting line DSC06301.jpg|thumb|upright|This starting line at the Delphi stadium used for the Pythian Games at Delphi, Greece, has a design representative of that of many ancient Greek stadiums: stones with two lines in which the athletes nudged their toes, and round holes in which posts could be erected to support the start signalling mechanism.]]

The '''Pythian Games''' ({{langx|grc|Τὰ Πύθια|Ta Pythia}}) were one of the four [[Panhellenic Games]] of [[Ancient Greece]]. They were held in honour of [[Apollo]] at his sanctuary in [[Delphi]] every four years, two years after the [[Ancient Olympic Games|Olympic Games]], and between each [[Nemean Games|Nemean]] and [[Isthmian Games]]. The Pythian Games were founded sometime in the 6th century BC. In legend they were started by Apollo after he killed [[Python (mythology)|Python]] and set up the [[Pythia|Oracle at Delphi]]. They continued until the 4th century AD.

The Pythian Games were ranked second in importance behind the Olympics. Unlike the Olympics, the Pythian Games also featured competitions for art and dance, which pre-dated the athletic portion of the games, and women were allowed to take part in some events. Victors received a wreath of [[bay laurel]], sacred to Apollo, from the Vale of [[Vale of Tempe|Tempe]], in [[Thessaly]]. Smaller versions of the Pythian Games were celebrated in many other cities of the [[Levant]] and Greece.