Delos … a rocky, barren island

Today, Delos is primarily an archaeological site

The contractual nature of Apollo’s relation to his birthplace, the island of Delos Delos before ApolloWhat Delos gains if she accepts to serve as Apollo’s birthplace Unhonored, unfrequentedHonored by Apollo and his worshippers Poor in natural resourcesRich from foreign pilgrims DesertedPermanent seat of Apollo’s worship

Apollo’s Chief Attributes which he claims at birth The bow (he is the archer god) The lyre (he is the god of music) He utters the word of Zeus (he is the god of oracles)

Apollo’s most famous oracular shrine

Remains of Apollo’s temple at Delphi

Apollo’s defeat of the dragoness (Python) reenacts (on a smaller scale) Zeus’ defeat of Typhoios

The Pythia: Priestess of Pythian Apollo

Seating on the oracular tripod, the Pythia would inhale the fumes emanating from the floor of the temple andwould channel the word of Apollo in a language that would then get translated by priests standing close by.

West Pediment of Temple of Zeus, Olympia depicting the Centauromachy

What remains today of the West pediment

The East pediment of Temple of Zeus, Olympia depicting the fatal chariot race between Oinomaos and Pelops

Pelops on left, Zeus in center, Oinomaos on right

Apollo’s pose, function, role again a parallel to those of his father Zeus: they both serve here as arbiters of justice, defenders of order

From the “preface” of the Homeric Hymn to Apollo Before him, as he goes through the hall of Zeus, the gods tremble and rise up all from their thrones as he approaches and draws his shining bow. But Leto alone abides by Zeus, who delights in the thunderbolt, and she unstrings Apollo’s bow and closes his quiver. Then taking with her hands from his mighty shoulders the bow, she hangs it on the pillar beside his father’s seat from a peg of gold and leads him to his throne and seats him there, while the father welcomes his dear son and gives him nectar in a golden cup. Then do the other gods welcome him from where they sit, and Lady Leto rejoices, in that she bore the lord of the bow, her mighty son.