CMLT316 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Know Thyself, Euripides, Pherae
3 Jun 2018
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CH 11: Apollo
The Birth of Apollo
● Zeus mated with Leto who conceived the twin gods, Artemis and Apollo
● Leto roamed far and wide in her search for a refuge where she might give birth, but
many places she approached were afraid to recieve her
● Finally the island of Delos accepted her, but only after she assured the island with a
great oath
○ A sacred precinct of Apollo would be built there and that it would become a place
of prosperity, wealth, and prestige
● Leto endured nine days and nights of labor and Eileithyia, the goddess of childbirth, was
summoned by Iris to help in her delivery
● As soon as Apollo had been nursed on nectar and ambrosia, he miraculously became a
mighty god who declared that the curved bow and lyre were his and that he would
prophesy to mortals the unerring will of Zeus
The Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi
● Apollo travelled in Greece until he found the proper place for the foundation of his oracle,
Crisa, under Mt Parnassus where he laid out his temple
● He then slew a dragon named Pytho
● Apollo was given the epithet Pythian and a prophetess of Apollo received the name of
Pythia
● The Omphalos was thought to designate the location of the sanctuary at the center of
the world
○ “Navel”
○ An archaic stone shaped like an egg with two birds perched on either side
● According to legend, Zeus released two eagles from opposite ends of the earth and they
met exactly at the spot of Apollo’s sanctuary
○ Came to be known by the name of Delphi
● This is because:
○ After apollo established his sanctuary, he needed to recruit attendants
○ He spotted a ship sailing from Crete and he sprang aboard in the form of a
dolphin
○ The crew was awed and followed a course that led the ship to Crisa
○ Here Apollo revealed himself as a god and initiated them to his service, with
directions to pray to him as Apollo Delphinus
■ “Dolphin”
The Panhellenic Sanctuary at Delphi
● The sanctuary of Apollo is in many ways representative of Panhellenic sites elsewhere
● Many dedications made to the gods remind us how Greek religion was responsible for
the development of great universal literature, poetry, drama, sculpture, and architecture
The Oracle and Pythia at Delphi
● The Panhellenic sanctuary at Delphi was the most important oracle in the Greek world
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● People come to ask Apollo questions
● The Pythia uttered the responses of the god as she sat on a tripod
○ Her answers came in incoherent ravings which were transcribed by a nearby
priest
Four of Apollo’s Loves
The Cumaean Sibyl
● The most famous among the sibyls was the Cumaean Sibyl
○ Was Aeneas’ guide in the underworld
● Apollo offered her anything she wished, if only she would yield to him
● She picked up a heap of sand and asked for as many birthdays as the individual grains
but forgot to ask for continuous youth along with the years
● Apollo would have given her long life and eternal youth, if she agreed to succumb to him
○ When she refused him, the god granted her original wish, and she withered away
eventually to become only a voice
● This story of the Cumaean Sibyl once again illustrates how our ignorant wishes may be
granted to our woe
Cassandra
● Daughter of the Trojan King Priam
● Was given the gift of prophecy
● When she changed her mind and rejected his advances, Apollo asked for one kiss and
spit in her mouth
○ Thus ensuring not only that Cassandra would keep her gift
○ Also that her true prophecies would never be believed
Marpessa
● The daughter of Ares’ son Evenus
● Was wooed by Idas, one of the Argonauts, who carried her off in his chariot to the anger
and dismay of her father
○ The father committed suicide
● Apollo stole Marpessa away from Idas
● Zeus ordered that Marpessa choose between her lovers
○ She chose the mortal Idas because she feared the immortal Apollo would leave
her when she grew old
Cyrene
● An athletic nymph
● Apollo fell in love with her when he saw her wrestling with a lion
● He whisked her away in his golden chariot to the city in Libya that would bear her name
● They had a son named Aristaeus, who became a keeper of bees
● Successful love affair
Apollo and Daphne
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find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Zeus mated with leto who conceived the twin gods, artemis and apollo. Leto roamed far and wide in her search for a refuge where she might give birth, but many places she approached were afraid to recieve her. Finally the island of delos accepted her, but only after she assured the island with a great oath. A sacred precinct of apollo would be built there and that it would become a place of prosperity, wealth, and prestige. Leto endured nine days and nights of labor and eileithyia, the goddess of childbirth, was summoned by iris to help in her delivery. Apollo travelled in greece until he found the proper place for the foundation of his oracle, Crisa, under mt parnassus where he laid out his temple. He then slew a dragon named pytho. Apollo was given the epithet pythian and a prophetess of apollo received the name of.
