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Another legend held that Apollo walked to Delphi from the north and stopped at [[Vale of Tempe|Tempe]], a city in [[Thessaly]] to pick laurel, a plant sacred to him (generally known in English as the bay tree). In commemoration of this legend, the winners at the [[Pythian Games]] received a wreath of laurel (bay leaves) picked in Tempe.

Another legend held that Apollo walked to Delphi from the north and stopped at [[Vale of Tempe|Tempe]], a city in [[Thessaly]] to pick laurel, a plant sacred to him (generally known in English as the bay tree). In commemoration of this legend, the winners at the [[Pythian Games]] received a wreath of laurel (bay leaves) picked in Tempe.

Delphi became the site of a major temple to [[Phoebus Apollo]], as well as the [[Pythian Games]] and the famous prehistoric oracle. Even in Roman times, hundreds of votive statues remained, described by [[Pliny the Younger]] and seen by [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]]. Supposedly carved into the temple were three phrases: {{polytonic|γνῶθι σεαυτόν}} (gnothi seauton = "[[know thyself]]" and μηδὲν ἄγαν (meden agan = "nothing in excess"), as well as a large letter [[Epsilon|E]]. Hodge, A. Trevor. "The Mystery of Apollo's E at Delphi," ''American Journal of Archaeology'', Vol. 85, No. 1. (Jan., 1981), pp. 83-84.  Among other things epsilon signifies the number [[5 (number)|5]].  [[Plutarch]]'s essay on the meaning of the ''“E at Delphi"'' is the only literary source for the inscription.

Delphi became the site of a major temple to [[Phoebus Apollo]], as well as the [[Pythian Games]] and the famous prehistoric oracle. Even in Roman times, hundreds of votive statues remained, described by [[Pliny the Younger]] and seen by [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]]. Supposedly carved into the temple were three phrases: γνῶθι σεαυτόν (gnothi seauton = "[[know thyself]]" and μηδὲν ἄγαν (meden agan = "nothing in excess"), as well as a large letter [[Epsilon|E]]. Hodge, A. Trevor. "The Mystery of Apollo's E at Delphi," ''American Journal of Archaeology'', Vol. 85, No. 1. (Jan., 1981), pp. 83-84.  Among other things epsilon signifies the number [[5 (number)|5]].  [[Plutarch]]'s essay on the meaning of the ''“E at Delphi"'' is the only literary source for the inscription.

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].