Pyhton: A Study of Delphic Myth and Its Origins

Description

“This large and very learned work is the climax of a long series of studies of the cult and myths of Apollo. Its fundamental proposition, with which the reviewer agrees, is that the slaying by the god of Python (or Delphyne) is but the Greek form, or rather one of the Greek forms, of the primeval battle between a god and a formidable monster inimical to the cosmos as it now exists. . . . this is a work no one can afford to be without if he is interested in Apollo, the history of his cult, the exploits of Herakles and other heroes, or cosmic myths, Greek or barbarian.” - Classical Review [From the back cover.] INTRODUCTION 1 THEMES OF THE COMBAT MYTH 9 CHAPTER I. APOLLO AND THE DRAGON 13 PYTHON AND DELPHYNE 13 TITYOS 22 PHORBAS AND PHLEGYAS 24 CHAPTER II KYKNOS AND OTHER BAD CHARACTERS 28 KYKNOS 28 LAPITHS AND DRYOPES 35 PYRENEUS AND SYBARIS 44 CHAPTER III. PYTHON AND HIS DERIVATIVES 46 CHAPTER IV. ZEUS AND TYPHON 70 CHAPTER V. TYPHON AND PYTHON 77 CHAPTER VI. DRAGONESS AND LAMIA 94 ECHIDNA, KETO 94 SKYLLA 97 LAMIA 100 ΡΟΙΝΕ AND PSAMATHE 104 EMPUSA, MORMO, GELLO 115 CHAPTER VII. GOD AND THE DRAGON IN THE NEARER EAST 121 HITTITE DRAGON AND DEMON 121 BAAL'S COMBATS WITH SEA AND DEATH 129 AQHAT 138 DRAGON AS SEA AND DEATH 142 CHAPTER VIII. GOD AND DRAGON IN MESOPOTAMIA 146 THE GOD’S COMBAT 146 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS 151 TAMMUZ AND BILULU 164 GILGAMESH 167 CHAPTER IX. GOD AND DRAGON IN EGYPT AND INDIA 177 EGYPTIAN MYTHS 177 INDIC MYTHS 194 OBSERVATIONS ON ASIATIC MYTHS 209 CHAPTER X. CHAOS AND COSMOS 217 THE CHAOS DEMONS 218 GIGANTOMACHY 239 THE DYING GOD 247 DEMONESS AND LOVE GODDESS 255 TRICKERY AND MAGIC 261 SUMMARY 262 CHAPTER XI. PERSEUS AND KADMOS 274 PERSEUS 275 KADMOS 306 CHAPTER XII. HERAKLES 321 ALKESTIS AND THANATOS 323 HERAKLES AT PYLOS 327 ANTAIOS 330 GERYON AND CACUS 334 LAOMEDON AND HESIONE 347 ACHELOOS, NESSOS, AND AMALTHEIA 350 HYDRA AND LION 356 CHAPTER XIII. EARLIER FORMS OF THE DELPHIC MYTH 365 TELPHUSA 366 DIONYSOS AT DELPHI 374 POSEIDON AND PYRRHOS 394 HERAKLES AND THE TRIPOD 401 CHAPTER XIV. THE CORYCIAN CAVE 406 THE CILICIAN CAVE 407 THE PARNASSIAN CAVE 409 LYKOREIA 412 PYRRHOS, DEUKALION, LYKOROS 419 MEN OF OAK AND STONE 423 THE THREE SISTERS OF PARNASSOS 426 CHAPTER XV. THE RITUALS 434 THE BABYLONIAN NEW-YEAR FESTIVAL 436 OTHER ORIENTAL RITUALS 446 SEPTERION AND PYTHIAN FESTIVAL 453 CONCLUDING REMARKS ON MYTH AND RITUAL 461 CONCLUSION 465 APPENDICES 1. CHARON AND THE STEERSMAN OF ARGO 477 2. JUDITH AND HOLOFERNES 488 3. COMBAT MYTHS OF CHINA, JAPAN, AND AMERICA 491 4. ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON 515 5. THE COMBAT IN GERMANIC MYTH AND LEGEND 521 6. DRAGONS AND SPRINGS 545 7. LIST OF ART WORKS 550 BIBLIOGRAPHY 557 INDICES A. THEMES AND MOTIFS 579 B. LOCORUM 594 C. GENERAL 600