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From a late myth that deviates from much older ones, when young, Apollo killed the chthonic [[serpent (symbolism)|serpent]] [[Python (mythology)|Python]], named Pythia in older myths, but according to some later accounts his wife, [[Pythia]], who lived beside the [[Castalian Spring]], according to some because Python had attempted to rape [[Leto]] while she was pregnant with Apollo and [[Artemis]]. The bodies of the pair were draped around his Rod, which, with the wings created the [[caduceus]] symbolic of the god. This spring flowed toward the temple but disappeared beneath, creating a cleft which emitted vapors that caused the Oracle at Delphi to give her prophecies. Apollo killed Python but had to be punished for it, since she was a child of Gaia. The shrine dedicated to Apollo was originally dedicated to Gaia and then, possibly to [[Poseidon]].  The name [[Pythia]] remained as the title of the Delphic [[Oracle]].  As punishment for this murder Apollo was sent to serve in menial tasks for eight years.  A festival, the Septeria, was performed annually portraying the slaying of the serpent, the flight, the atonement and the return of the God. The Pythian Games took place every four years to commemorate his victory [http://www.ancientlibrary.com/seyffert/0178.html].

From a late myth that deviates from much older ones, when young, Apollo killed the chthonic [[serpent (symbolism)|serpent]] [[Python (mythology)|Python]], named Pythia in older myths, but according to some later accounts his wife, [[Pythia]], who lived beside the [[Castalian Spring]], according to some because Python had attempted to rape [[Leto]] while she was pregnant with Apollo and [[Artemis]]. The bodies of the pair were draped around his Rod, which, with the wings created the [[caduceus]] symbolic of the god. This spring flowed toward the temple but disappeared beneath, creating a cleft which emitted vapors that caused the Oracle at Delphi to give her prophecies. Apollo killed Python but had to be punished for it, since she was a child of Gaia. The shrine dedicated to Apollo was originally dedicated to Gaia and then, possibly to [[Poseidon]].  The name [[Pythia]] remained as the title of the Delphic [[Oracle]].  As punishment for this murder Apollo was sent to serve in menial tasks for eight years.  A festival, the Septeria, was performed annually portraying the slaying of the serpent, the flight, the atonement and the return of the God. The Pythian Games took place every four years to commemorate his victory [http://www.ancientlibrary.com/seyffert/0178.html].

[[Erwin Rohde]] wrote that the [[Python (mythology)|Python]] was an earth spirit, who was conquered by Apollo, and buried under the [[Omphalos]], and that it is a case of one deity setting up a temple on the grave of another.<ref>Rohde, ''Psyche'', p.97. Another view holds that Apollo was a fairly recent addition to the Greek [[Pantheon (gods)|pantheon]] coming originally from [[Lydia]]. The [[Etruscans]] coming from northern [[Anatolia]] also worshiped Apollo, and it may be that he was originally identical with [[Mesopotamian mythology|Mesopotamian]] Aplu, an [[Akkadian language|Akkadian]] title meaning "son", originally given to the plague God [[Nergal]], son of [[Enlil]]. Apollo Smintheus (Greek {{ polytonic|Απόλλων Σμινθεύς}}), the mouse killer Entry: [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%2395523 σμινθεύς] at Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon</ref> eliminates mice, a primary cause of disease, hence he promotes preventive medicine.

[[Erwin Rohde]] wrote that the [[Python (mythology)|Python]] was an earth spirit, who was conquered by Apollo, and buried under the [[Omphalos]], and that it is a case of one deity setting up a temple on the grave of another. Rohde, ''Psyche'', p.97. Another view holds that Apollo was a fairly recent addition to the Greek [[Pantheon (gods)|pantheon]] coming originally from [[Lydia]]. The [[Etruscans]] coming from northern [[Anatolia]] also worshiped Apollo, and it may be that he was originally identical with [[Mesopotamian mythology|Mesopotamian]] Aplu, an [[Akkadian language|Akkadian]] title meaning "son", originally given to the plague God [[Nergal]], son of [[Enlil]]. Apollo Smintheus (Greek Απόλλων Σμινθεύς), the mouse killer Entry: [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%2395523 σμινθεύς] at Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon</ref> eliminates mice, a primary cause of disease, hence he promotes preventive medicine.

==Oracle==

==Oracle==