Editing Apollo (section)

===Childhood and youth===

Growing up, Apollo was nursed by the nymphs Korythalia and [[Veritas|Aletheia]], the personification of truth.<ref>Plutarch, ''Moralia'' 657e</ref> [[Phoebe (Titaness)|Phoebe]], his grandmother, gave the oracular shrine of [[Delphi]] to Apollo as a birthday gift.<ref name="ReferenceG">[[Aeschylus]], ''[[The Eumenides|Eumenides]]''</ref>

As a four-year-old child, Apollo built a foundation and an altar on Delos using the horns of the goats that his sister Artemis hunted. Since he learnt the art of building when young, he came to be known as [[Archegetes]], (''the founder of towns'') and guided men to build new cities.<ref>Callimachus, ''Hymn to Apollo''</ref> To keep the child amused, the Delian nymphs ran around the altar beating it, and then with their hands tied behind their backs, bit an olive branch. It later became a custom for all the sailors who passed by the island to do the same.<ref name="Callimachus, Hymn to Delos">Callimachus, ''Hymn to Delos''</ref>

From his father Zeus, Apollo received a golden headband and a chariot driven by swans.<ref name="Alcaeus, Hymn to Apollo">Alcaeus, ''Hymn to Apollo''</ref><ref name="ReferenceF">Timothy P. Bridgman, ''Hyperboreans: Myth and History in Celtic-Hellenic Contacts''</ref>

In his early years when Apollo spent his time herding cows, he was reared by the [[Thriae]], who trained him and enhanced his prophetic skills.<ref>''[[Homeric Hymns|Homeric Hymn]] 4 to [[Hermes]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0138%3Ahymn%3D4%3Acard%3D550 550].</ref> The god Pan was also said to have mentored him in the prophetic art.<ref>Apollodorus, ''Bibliotheca'' 1.41.</ref> Apollo is also said to have invented the lyre, and along with Artemis, the art of archery. He then taught the humans the art of healing and archery.<ref>[[Diodorus Siculus]], [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/5D*.html#74.5 5.74.5].</ref>

====Lycian peasants====

[[File:Joshua Cristall - Latona and the Lycian Peasants - 96.1210 - Museum of Fine Arts.jpg|thumb|Latona and the Lycian peasants, by [[Joshua Cristall]]]]

Soon after giving birth to her twins, Leto fled from Delos fearing Hera. Upon reaching Lycia, her infants had drained all of their mother's milk and cried for more to satisfy their hunger. The exhausted mother then tried drinking from a nearby lake but was stopped by some [[Lycian peasants]]. When she begged them to let her quench her thirst, the haughty peasants not only threatened her but also stirred the mud in the lake to dirty the waters. Angered by this, Leto turned them into frogs.<ref>Ovid, ''Metamorphoses'' 6. 313</ref>

In a slightly varied version, Leto took her infants and crossed over to Lycia where she attempted to bathe her children in a spring she found there. But the local herdsmen drove her away. After that, some wolves found Leto and guided her to the river Xanthos, where Leto was able to bathe her children and quench her thirst. She then returned to the spring and turned the herdsmen into frogs.<ref>Antoninus Liberalis, ''Metamorphoses'' 35</ref>

====Slaying of Python====

[[File:7003.Apollo mit dem getöteten Python(1752)-François Gaspard Adam-Große Fontäne-Sanssouci Steffen Heilfort.JPG|thumb|Apollo victorious over the Python, by [[François Gaspard Adam]]|left]]

[[Python (mythology)|Python]], a [[chthonic]] serpent-dragon, was a child of Gaia and the guardian of the [[Delphic Oracle]].
In the Callimachus' hymn to Delos, fetal Apollo foresees the death of Python at his hands.<ref name="Callimachus, Hymn to Delos"/>

In the Homeric hymn to Apollo, Python was a female drakon and the nurse of the giant [[Typhon]] whom Hera had created to overthrow Zeus. She was described as a terrifying monster and a "bloody plague". Apollo, in his pursuit to establish his worship, came across Python and killed her with a single arrow shot from his bow. He let the corpse rot under the sun and declared himself the oracular deity of Delphi.<ref name="Homeric hymn to Apollo">''Homeric hymn to Pythian Apollo''</ref> Other authors have Apollo kill the monster using a hundred arrows<ref>Simonides, Fragment 573</ref><ref>Statius, ''Thebaid'' 5. 531</ref> or a thousand arrows.<ref name="Ovid, Metamorphoses 1. 434">Ovid, ''Metamorphoses'' 1. 434</ref>

[[File:Artus Quellinus, Apollo en Python- Apollon et Python, KBS-FRB.jpg|thumb|upright=.7|''Apollo and Python'', terracotta relief by [[Artus Quellinus the Elder]] (1609–1668)]]

According to Euripides, Leto had brought her twins to the cliffs of Parnassus shortly after giving birth to them. Upon seeing the monster there, Apollo, still a child being carried in his mother's arms, leapt forth and killed Python.<ref>Euripides, ''Iphigenia in Tauris'' 1234</ref> Some authors also mention that Python was killed for displaying lustful affections towards Leto.<ref>Limenus, ''Paean to Apollo''</ref><ref>Greek Anthology, 3.6</ref>

In another account, Python chased pregnant Leto with an intent of killing her because his death was fated to come at the hands of Leto's child. However, he had to stop the chase when Leto came under the protection of Poseidon. After his birth, four days old Apollo killed the serpent with the bow and arrows gifted to him by Hephaestus and avenged the trouble given to his mother. The god then put the bones of the slain monster in a cauldron and deposited it in his temple.<ref name="Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 140">Pseudo-Hyginus, ''[[Fabulae]]'' 140</ref>

This legend is also narrated as the origin of the cry "''Hië paian''". According to Athenaeus, Python attacked Leto and her twins during their visit to Delphi. Taking Artemis into her arms, Leto climbed upon a rock and cried at Apollo to shoot the monster. The cry let out by her, "ιε, παῖ" ("Shoot, boy") later got slightly altered as "ἰὴ παιών" (''Hië paian''), an exclamation to avert evils.<ref>Athenaeus, ''Deipnosophists'' 15.62</ref> Callimachus attributes the origin of this phrase to the Delphians, who let out the cry to encourage Apollo when the young god battled with Python.<ref>Callimachus, ''Hymn to Apollo'' 97</ref>

Strabo has recorded a slightly different version where Python was actually a cruel and lawless man who was also known by the name "Drakon". When Apollo was teaching the humans to cultivate fruits and civilise themselves, the residents of Parnassus complained to the god about Python. In response to their pleas, Apollo killed the man with his arrows. During the fight, the Parnassians shouted ''"Hië paian"'' to encourage the god.<ref name="Strabo, Geography 9. 3. 12">Strabo, ''Geography'' 9. 3. 12</ref>

====Establishment of worship in Delphi====

Continuing from his victory over Python, the Homeric hymn describes how the young god established his worship among the humans. As Apollo was pondering about what kind of men he should recruit to serve him, he spotted a ship full of Cretan merchants or pirates. He took the form of a dolphin and sprang aboard the ship. Whenever the oblivious crew members tried throwing the dolphin overboard, the god shook the ship until the crew was awed into submission. Apollo then created a breeze that directed the ship to Delphi. Upon reaching the land, he revealed himself as a god and initiated them as his priests. He instructed them to guard his temple and always keep righteousness in their hearts.<ref>Homeric Hymn to Pythian Apollo</ref>

Alcaeus narrates the following account: Zeus, who had adorned his newborn son with a golden headband, also provided him with a chariot driven by swans and instructed Apollo to visit Delphi to establish his laws among the people. But Apollo disobeyed his father and went to the land of [[Hyperborea]]. The Delphians continuously sung paeans in his honour and pleaded him to come back to them. The god returned only after a year and then carried out Zeus' orders.<ref name="Alcaeus, Hymn to Apollo"/><ref>Himerius, ''Orations''</ref>

In other variations, the shrine at Delphi was simply handed over to Apollo by his grandmother Phoebe as a gift,<ref name="ReferenceG"/> or Themis herself inspired him to be the oracular voice of Delphi.<ref>[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0006 1]; ''[[Orphic Hymn]]'' 79 ''to Themis''</ref>

[[File:John Flaxman - To Phoebus at His Birth, From Aeschylus, Furies - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|[[Phoebe (Titaness)|Phoebe]] gifts the oracular tripod to Apollo, by [[John Flaxman]]]]

However, in many other accounts, Apollo had to overcome certain obstacles before he was able to establish himself at Delphi. Gaea came in conflict with Apollo for killing Python and claiming the Delphic oracle for himself. According to Pindar, she sought to banish Apollo to Tartarus as a punishment.<ref>Pindar, fr. 55 SM</ref><ref>Henry, W.B. (I.) Rutherford Pindar's Paeans. A Reading of the Fragments with a Survey of the Genre</ref> According to Euripides, soon after Apollo took the ownership of the oracle, Gaea started sending prophetic dreams to the humans. As a result, people stopped visiting Delphi to obtain prophecies. Troubled by this, Apollo went to Olympus and supplicated to Zeus. Zeus, admiring the ambitions of his young son, granted his request by putting an end to the dream visions. This sealed the role of Apollo as the oracular deity of Delphi.<ref>Euripides, ''Iphigenia in Tauris'' 1259</ref>

Since Apollo had committed a blood crime, he also had to be purified. Pausanias has recorded two of the many variations of this purification. In one of them, both Apollo and Artemis fled to Sicyon and were purified there.<ref>Pausanias, ''Description of Greece'' 2. 7. 7</ref> In the other tradition that had been prevalent among the Cretans, Apollo alone travelled to Crete and was purified by [[Carmanor (of Crete)|Carmanor]].<ref>Pausanias, ''Description of Greece'' 2. 30. 3</ref> In another account, the Argive king [[Crotopus]] was the one who performed the purification rites on Apollo alone.<ref>Statius, ''Thebaid'' 1. 561</ref>

According the Aristonous and Aelian, Apollo was purified by the will of Zeus in the [[Vale of Tempe]].<ref>Aelian, ''Varia'' ''Historia'' 3.1</ref> Aristonous has continued the tale, saying that Apollo was escorted back to Delphi by Athena. As a token of gratitude, he later built a temple for Athena at Delphi, which served as a threshold for his own temple.<ref>[[Temple of Athena Pronaia]] was the first one met by the visitor who came to Delphi on foot from the eastern road.</ref> Upon reaching Delphi, Apollo convinced Gaea and Themis into handing over the seat of oracle to him. To celebrate this event, other immortals also graced Apollo with gifts – Poseidon gave him the land of Delphi, the Delphian nymphs gifted him the Corycian cave, and Artemis set her dogs to patrol and safeguard the land.<ref>Aristonous, ''Paean to Apollo''</ref>

Some others have also said that Apollo was exiled and subjected to servitude under king [[Admetus]] as a means of punishment for the murder he had committed.<ref>Scholiast on Euripides, Alcestis. 1 citing Anaxandrides</ref> It was when he was serving as a cowherd under Admetus that the theft of the cattle by Hermes happened.<ref>Hesiod, The Great Eoiae Fragment 16</ref><ref>Antoninus Liberalis, ''Metamorphoses'' 23</ref> The servitude was said to have lasted for either one year,<ref>Strabo, ''Geography'' 10.1.10</ref><ref>Apollodorus, ''Bibliotheca'' 3.10.4</ref> or one great year (a cycle of eight years),<ref>Plutarch, ''Amatorius'' 761e</ref><ref>Apollodorus, ''Bibliotheca'' 3.4.2</ref> or nine years.<ref>Servius, ''Commentary on Aeneid'' 2.761</ref>

Plutarch, however, has mentioned a variation where Apollo was neither purified in Tempe nor banished to Earth as a servant for nine years, but was driven out to another world for nine great years. The god who returned was cleansed and purified, thus becoming a "true Phoebus – that is to say, clear and bright". He then took over the Delphic oracle, which had been under the care of Themis in his absence.<ref>Plutarch, ''Why the Oracles Cease To Give Answers'' 421c</ref> Henceforth, Apollo became the god who cleansed himself from the sin of murder, made men aware of their guilt and purified them.<ref>Apollo, Fritz Graf</ref>

The Pythian games were also established by Apollo, either as funeral games to honor Python<ref name="Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 140"/><ref name="ReferenceE"/> or to celebrate his own victory.<ref>Strabo, ''Geography'' 9. 3. 10</ref><ref>Statius, ''Thebaid'' 6. 8</ref><ref name="Ovid, Metamorphoses 1. 434"/> The [[Pythia]] was Apollo's high priestess and his mouthpiece through whom he gave prophecies.<ref>{{OEtymD|Pythia}}</ref>

====Tityus====

[[File:Apollo Tityos Staatliche Antikensammlungen 2689.jpg|thumb|Apollo slaying [[Tityos]], Attic red-figure kylix, 460–450 BC]]

[[Tityos|Tityus]] was another giant who tried to rape Leto, either on his own accord when she was on her way to Delphi<ref name="Homer, Odyssey 11. 576">Homer, ''Odyssey'' 11. 576</ref><ref name="Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1.22">Apollodorus, ''Bibliotheca'' 1.22</ref> or at the order of Hera.<ref>Hyginus, ''[[Fabulae]]'' 55</ref> Leto called upon on her children who instantly slew the giant. Apollo, still a young boy, shot him with his arrows.<ref>Apollonius Rhodius, ''Argonautica'' 1. 758</ref><ref>Quintus Smyrnaeus, ''Fall of Troy'' 3. 390</ref>  In some accounts, Artemis also joined him in protecting their mother by attacking Tityos with her arrows.<ref>Scholia on [[Pindar]], ''Pythian Odes'' 4.160 citing Pherecydes</ref><ref>Pausanias, ''Description of Greece'' 10. 11. 1</ref> For this act, he was banished to Tartarus and there he was pegged to the rock floor and stretched on an area of {{convert|9|acre|m2}}, while a pair of vultures feasted daily on his liver<ref name="Homer, Odyssey 11. 576"/> or his heart.<ref name="Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1.22"/>

Another account recorded by Strabo says that Tityus was not a giant but a lawless man whom Apollo killed at the request of the residents.<ref name="Strabo, Geography 9. 3. 12"/>