Editing Apollo (section)

====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>