Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Apollo

 
 
Apollo Victorious over the Python by the Florentine Pietro Francavilla (dated 1591) depicting Apollo's first triumph, when he slew with his bow and arrows the serpent Python, which lies dead at his feet[43] (The Walters Art Museum
 
 
Apollo was the son of Zeus and Leto and the fraternal twin brother of Artemis.  He was a powerful god, a sun god, and was famous for his slaying of the python of Delphi.  He was known for being the god of music and medicine and prophecy.  His cult took over the Oracle of Delphi which originally belonged to Gaia.
 
His equivalent in Nordic mythology was Frey and he went on to live out his life as a king in the Nordic countries of Europe.  He also had many children and many loves.
 
Once again, here is his connection to Crete from Wikipedia:
 
It seems an oracular cult existed in Delphi from the Mycenaean ages.[57] In historical times, the priests of Delphi were called Labryaden, "the double-axe men", which indicates Minoan origin. The double-axe, labrys, was the holy symbol of the Cretan labyrinth.[58][59] The Homeric hymn adds that Apollo appeared as a dolphin and carried Cretan priests to Delphi, where they evidently transferred their religious practices. Apollo Delphinios was a sea-god especially worshiped in Crete and in the islands, and his name indicates his connection with Delphi[60] and the holy serpent Delphyne ("womb").[citation needed] Apollo's sister Artemis, who was the Greek goddess of hunting, is identified with Britomartis (Diktynna), the Minoan "Mistress of the animals". In her earliest depictions she is accompanied by the "Mister of the animals", a male god of hunting who had the bow as his attribute. We don't know his original name, but it seems that he was absorbed by the more powerful Apollo, who stood by the "Mistress of the animals", becoming her brother.[53]
 



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