Editing Pythian Games (section)

== Mythology ==
The Pythian Games supposedly start with the death of the mythical serpent, [[Python (mythology)|Python]]. [[Ovid]] states that the games were inaugurated to celebrate [[Apollo]]'s killing of the serpent, "Lest in a dark oblivion time should hide
the fame of this achievement, sacred sports
he instituted" (''Metamorphoses,'' 1.445-6).<ref>{{cite web|title = Ovid, The Metamorphoses, 1.445-6|url = https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0028%3Abook%3D1%3Acard%3D416}}</ref> According to Ovid, the python was produced spontaneously by Gaea (mother earth) at the beginning of primordial time and was a threat to human beings.

When Earth, spread over with diluvian ooze,<br>
felt heat ethereal from the glowing sun,<br>
unnumbered species to the light she gave,<br>
and gave to being many an ancient form,<br>
or monster new created. Unwilling she<br>
created this enormous Python.—Thou<br>
unheard of serpent spread so far athwart<br>
the side of a vast mountain, didst fill with fear<br>
the race of newly created man. The God<br>
that bears the bow (a weapon used till then<br>
only to hunt the deer and agile goat)<br>
destroyed the monster with myriad darts,<br>
and almost emptied all his quiver, till<br>
envenomed gore oozed forth from livid wounds.

-- ''Metamorphoses, 1.434-444.''

By killing the monster, Apollo rendered the area safe for human beings and established his ownship of the site. 
After burying the body, Apollo founded the [[Delphic Sibyl|oracle of Delphi]]. However, by slaying Python, Apollo had committed a crime and [[Zeus]] declared that he had to make amends.  Apollo then created the Pythian Games to pay for the death.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} Other versions of the legend state that Apollo established the games to celebrate his victory over the python.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Python {{!}} Python, Delphi & Oracle {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Python-Greek-mythology |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>