Despite the fact that Apollo, the son of Zeus and the Titanide Leto, the twin brother of the eternally young Artemis, was a patron of the arts, an oracle and a healer, he also cleansed people who committed murder, knowing from his own experience how difficult this sin is to bear. He killed not only those who really deserved it (for example, the giant serpent Python, who was devastating the surrounding area of Delphi), but also those who aroused his wrath.
For example, after the satyr Marcia defeated him in a musical competition, he tore off his skin, struck the giant Titius, who had insulted Lethe, with arrows, and together with his sister killed all of Niobe’s children when she offended their mother.
It is not surprising that the cult of Apollo was widespread not only in Greece (Didyma, Thermosa, Corinth, Bassa), but also far beyond its borders, for example, Syracuse in Sicily. Unfortunately, little remains of most of the sanctuaries at the moment. For example, the Temple of Apollo in Corinth now displays only seven of the forty-two surviving columns. That they survived is a true miracle, since Corinth was completely destroyed by one of the most brutal generals of ancient Greece, Lucius Mummius in 16 BC. e.
Based on the descriptions of the temples of Apollo that have reached us, we can say with confidence that the sanctuaries dedicated to this god played an important role in the life of ancient society, being not only a temple, but also the center of business and political life. In the architecture of ancient buildings, innovative ideas and changes in styles are clearly visible, which the ancient Greeks boldly brought to life.
For example, the temple at Fermos, built around 640 BC. BC, at first it had wooden columns, which were later replaced by stone pillars. During the construction of this temple, a strip foundation was used for the first time, and there was practically no frieze on the building, since it was at an early stage of formation.
Also, the temple in Syracuse, one of the first buildings of this city, located not in Greece, but on the territory of Sicily, on the island of Ortigia, made its contribution to the development of architecture. It was built in the 6th century. BC e and its construction, like the temple in Fermos, belongs to the early stage of the development of stone construction.
Its columns were low and located too close to each other, the distance between them was unequal, and the building had a slightly elongated shape.
Despite its age, the temple in Syracuse existed for a long time - there was a Byzantine church, a mosque, a Norman temple and even a Spanish barracks. Naturally, this could not but affect the unique architectural monument: at present, only a few walls, a staircase built by Christians and a low foundation 55 by 21 meters have survived from the ancient temple in Syracuse.
The main center of veneration for the ancient Hellenes was the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, which was located 120 km from Athens, 10 km from the coast of the Gulf of Corinth, on the southern slope of Parnassus, at an altitude of 700 m above sea level. m.
The Delphic temple, according to legend, was erected in the place where Apollo killed the son of Hera, the huge serpent Python, who not only devastated the lands, but also oracled through a crack in the rock. The angry Hera was so outraged by the death of her son that she demanded that her husband, Zeus, punish the culprit - he could not help but fulfill the request.
The punishment itself turned out to be specific: Zeus ordered his son to predict people's destinies. It was in Delphi that the main temple was located, where a person could get answers to all his questions. It is interesting that this temple in Greece was not the only one; for those who could not visit the shrine of Apollo here, they could go to Didymachus, where another prophetic temple was located).
Fate was usually predicted by one of the priestesses of the temple, Pythia, so called in memory of the snake killed by Apollo. At first it was a young girl, but after one of them was kidnapped by a pilgrim, a more mature woman began to be chosen for the role of the oracle. At first the priestess made predictions once a year, but after some time the procedure changed - and she began to give prophecies constantly
Before making a prediction, the priestess took a bath, dressed in gold clothes, let down her hair and placed a laurel wreath on her head.
After this, she drank water from the source of Cassotis, chewed a bay leaf and, climbing onto a tripod, under which there was a crevice with intoxicating vapors coming out of it, fell into ecstasy. Plutarch talks about an interesting case when a priestess once dreamed of something, because of which she jumped up from a tripod, ran out of the sanctuary, lost consciousness in the street, and died a few days later.
The pilgrims did not go to the priestess empty-handed, and sacrificed goats. They found out whether the animal was suitable for Apollo using a rather original method: before slaughtering, the goat was doused with cold water, and if it began to tremble, then the victim was acceptable, and God would accept it.
Almost all life in Delos, except for winter, when Apollo left the city and gave way to Dionysus, revolved around the temple, which was the religious and political center. The treasury of the Delian League was kept in the building and meetings of its members were held, as well as people came to the god of arts for inspiration.
To build the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, money was collected throughout the country, and considerable sums were donated by foreign rulers. The opening of the shrine took place around 510 BC. The structure had a rectangular shape (60 x 23 m), and columns surrounded it along the perimeter - six pillars were installed on the facades, fifteen on the sides.
On the eastern pediment the first appearance of Apollo in the city was depicted (he came here not alone, but with his mother and sister): in the center there was a chariot with celestials, and on both sides of it human figures could be seen. On the western side of the building a scene of the battle of the Olympian gods with the giants was depicted.
After the earthquake, it took almost half a century to restore the temple - the new building, the architects of which were Spinphanes of Corinth, Xenodros and Agathon, was restored only in 330 BC. The shrine was built according to the previous plan, so the shape and number of columns in it were preserved.
The room inside the temple was divided into three parts using partitions, and at the end of the central room there was an adyton, where the priestess Pythia prophesied (only priests had the right to enter here, who rhymed the words of the prophetess and conveyed them in poetic form to the questioner). But the marble pediments of the temple changed - on the eastern side Apollo was depicted with the muses, on the western side he was depicted, but with maenads.
In front of the entrance to the temple there was an altar made of white marble 8.5 x 2.2 m. An interesting fact: near this altar, slaves were usually solemnly released, dedicating them to the service of Apollo. A bronze column made in the shape of intertwining snakes was installed here - it was given to Apollo in honor of the victory over the Persians in 479 (in the 3rd century AD it was transported to Constantinople and placed at the hippodrome, where it can be seen today ).
Shrine in Bassi
The Temple of Apollo in Bassae was erected by the inhabitants of Phigalia in the 5th century. BC. on the western slope of Mount Cotilion, at an altitude exceeding 1 thousand m above sea level. m., thirteen kilometers from the city. And they dedicated it to Apollo Epicurean (Healer, Savior), according to one hypothesis, in gratitude for the fact that he helped them in the war with Sparta, according to another, he did not allow the plague that reigned at that time into the city.
The sanctuary of Apollo was small - 34.3 by 17.6 m, so only 21 columns surrounded it along the perimeter.
Its construction is notable for the fact that the building plan is oriented from north to south, which is uncharacteristic for the temples of ancient Hellas. Researchers explain this by the features of the mountain where it was built, as well as by the fact that it was designed taking into account the old small sanctuary located in that place, which was included in the architectural plan of the building.
The friezes on the outside of the temple, dedicated to the war with the Amazons and centaurs, are interesting: unlike classical sculptural compositions, all proportions are violated here, forms are layered on top of each other, and complex episodes containing several figures at the same time are asymmetrical and angular.
Since the temple of Apollo in Bassae was located quite far from the main Greek cities, it was lost to society for a long time, thanks to which it is one of the few shrines of this god that have been well preserved. The building is the first of the historical and architectural monuments of Greece included in the UNESCO list.
Who want to be a millionaire? 07.10.17. Questions and answers.
* * * * * * * * * *
"Who want to be a millionaire?"
Questions and answers:
Yuri Stoyanov and Igor Zolotovitsky
Fireproof amount: 200,000 rubles.
Questions:
1. What fate befell the mansion in the fairy tale of the same name?
2. What does the chorus of the song in Svetlana Druzhinina’s film encourage the midshipmen to do?
3. What button is not found on the remote control of a modern elevator?
4. Which expression means the same as “to walk”?
5. What is stroganina made from?
6. In what mode of operation of the washing machine is centrifugal force especially important?
7. Which phrase from the movie “Aladdin’s Magic Lamp” became the title of the album of the group “AuktYon”?
8. Where do the sailors of a sailing ship take their places at the command “Whistle all up!”?
9. Which of the four portraits in the foyer of the Taganka Theater was added by Lyubimov at the insistence of the district party committee?
10. Which state’s flag is not tricolor?
11. Who can rightfully be called a hereditary sculptor?
12. What is the name of the model of the human body - a visual aid for future doctors?
13. What was inside the first Easter egg made by Carl Faberge?
Right answers:
1. fell apart
2. keep your nose up
3. “Let’s go!”
4. on your own two feet
5. salmon
7. “Everything is calm in Baghdad”
8. on the upper deck
9. Konstantin Stanislavsky
10. Albania
11. Alexandra Rukavishnikova
12. phantom
13. golden chicken
The players did not answer question 13, but took the winnings in the amount of 400,000 rubles.
_____________________________________
Svetlana Zeynalova and Timur Solovyov
Fireproof amount: 200,000 rubles.
Questions:
2. Where, according to the popular phrase, does the road paved with good intentions lead?
3. What is used to sift flour?
4. How to correctly continue Pushkin’s line: “He forced himself to be respected...”?
5. What appeared for the first time in the history of the Confederations Cup this year?
6. In which city is the unfinished Church of the Holy Family located?
7. How does the line of the popular song end: “The leaves were falling, and the snowstorm was chalk...”?
8. What kind of creative work did Arkady Velurov do in the film “Pokrovsky Gate”?
9, the site reports. What is believed to be added by the Crassula plant?
10. What did Parisians see in 1983 thanks to Pierre Cardin?
11. Who killed the huge serpent Python?
12. What title did the 50 Swiss franc note receive at the end of 2016?
13. What do adherents of the cargo cult in Melanesia construct from natural materials?
Right answers:
1. profile
4. I couldn’t think of a better idea.
5. video replays for judges
6. in Barcelona
7. Where have you been?
8. sang verses
10. play “Juno and Avos”
11. Apollo
13. runways
The players were unable to answer question 13 correctly, but left with a fireproof amount.
Lost Gospels. New information about Andronicus-Christ [with large illustrations] Gleb Vladimirovich Nosovsky
73. An evil serpent pursues Latona and her children - Apollo and Diana. Death of the serpent Python at the hands of Apollo
Let's remember the Gospels. At the very beginning, after the story of the Nativity of Christ, there follows the story of the persecution of the Infant Jesus by the evil tyrant Herod. King Herod is afraid of competition from Christ, called the King of the Jews, and wants to kill him. However, he fails and the Holy Family flees to Egypt. We should expect that we will now see something similar in the myth of Apollo. Our expectation is completely justified.
Juno, the wife of Zeus-Jupiter, could not forgive Latona that the God Zeus fell in love with her and gave birth to a son, Apollo. “She (Juno) sent Author) to Latona of a MONSTER DRAGON, a creature of the Earth, named Delphius, or Python... Obeying the orders of Juno, PYTHON CONTINUALLY PURSUED THE UNHAPPY GODDESS, WHO FLEED FROM HIM, CLASSING THE CHILDREN TIGHTLY TO HIS CHEST. On an antique vase we see a long snake with its head held high, chasing Latona (see Fig. 1.103 - Author)”, p. 203.
Rice. 1.103. Latona pursued by the serpent Python. In her arms are Apollo and Diana. Drawing from an “antique” vase. Taken from, p. 202, ill. 195.
Most likely, the evil “ancient serpent Python” is a reflection of the gospel evil king Herod, who seeks by all means to destroy the Infant Jesus.
By the way, in the old drawing we cited, Latona Maria is depicted with two babies in her arms. As we have already said, one of the ancient traditions often represented the Virgin Mary with two children, namely Jesus and John the Baptist. In the Roman version, this is the famous “She-Wolf” with two royal infant brothers Romulus and Remus. See our book “Tsarist Rome in the Oka and Volga Interfluves”.
Further, the “ancient” myth reports that young Apollo, while still a boy, kills the evil serpent Python, taking revenge on him for persecuting the goddess Latona. Moreover, we repeat, it is specially emphasized that, “according to the stories of the poets, this event should have happened when Apollo was still a child,” p. 209–210. In Fig. 1.104 shows an ancient engraving showing the slaying of the dragon Python by the young Apollo.
Rice. 1.104. "Apollo kills Python." Etienne Delaunay. Allegedly 1518/19–1583. Warsaw. Folk Museum. Taken from, p. 46.
The Gospels say nothing about the murder of King Herod by Jesus or on Jesus' orders. However, the death of Herod is reported, and this episode immediately follows the story of Herod's persecution of the Christ Child. It is said that Herod, ridiculed by the Magi, became very angry and sent to kill all the babies in Bethlehem under the age of two. The order was carried out. And the very next Bible verse says that HEROD DIES (Matthew 2:16-19). After which the Angel appears to Joseph in Egypt and invites him to return to the land of Israel. Joseph, Mary and Christ return. Thus, in the gospel narrative, the death of Herod immediately follows the scene of his persecution of the Infant Jesus. Some later writers might well have thought that Herod was quickly punished by the gods for his unrighteous acts towards Mary and the child Jesus.
So, under the pen of the “ancient classics”, this gospel story could be slightly refracted and they decided that the evil serpent Python, that is, Herod, was killed almost immediately after his attempts to overtake the young Apollo-Christ and Latona the Virgin. Moreover, they attributed the honor of victory over the “bad serpent” personally to the young Apollo-Christ. They even said that Apollo killed the serpent Python when he was only four days old! They write like this: “At sunset on the FOURTH DAY, he (Apollo - Author) demanded a BOW AND ARROW, which he immediately received from Hephaestus... Apollo headed straight to Mount Parnassus, where his mother’s enemy, the serpent Python, hid, and managed to wound him with arrows... Apollo dared to enter to the sanctuary and dealt with him (with the serpent - Author) on the edge of the sacred abyss”, p. 53.
“Victory of Apollo (over the evil Python - Author) depicted on an antique bas-relief (see Fig. 1.105 - Author), where Nike, the personification of victory, pours a sacred drink to a god holding a lyre in his hand. Behind him stand Diana with a torch and Latona,” p. 211.
Let us recall here that Christ was called “NIKA” and this word - VICTORY - was often written on images of the crucifixion of Christ. So the appearance of Apollo-Christ next to Nike-Christ is quite natural and understandable.
Thus, a very clear correspondence is revealed between the story of young Apollo and the Baby Jesus.
But it’s too early for us to part with this plot. It turns out that the motive for the death of the evil pursuer of Christ-Apollo is clearly heard in the stories about the fate of the Roman procurator Pontius Pilate. Let us remember that Pilate condemned Jesus and sent him to execution. Although Pilate himself did not see any guilt in Christ, he showed cowardice and submitted to the persistent demands of the Jews to crucify Jesus. The Gospels do not say a word about the further fate of Pilate. However, other Christian documents pay great attention to this. It turns out that there was a strong medieval tradition according to which PILATE WAS EXECUTED, and executed precisely “because of Jesus.” Here is a brief summary of how it happened, according to the retelling of the Slavic manuscript “Pilate’s Ascension.”
“Having read Pilate’s report, Caesar Tiberius orders him to come to Rome. There, in the Capitoline sanctuary, in the presence of the entire Senate, the interrogation of the deposed governor takes place: for what reason did he crucify an innocent man who had performed so many wonders and signs? Pilate justifies himself by saying that he was forced to yield to the Jews. Enraged, Tiberius sends the military commander Lycian to Jerusalem... to punish the lawless Jews, and COMMANDS PILATE TO CUT OFF THE HEAD. Before execution, Pilate, already a Christian at heart, raises his eyes to heaven and, turning to Jesus, says...
Rice. 1.105. “Ancient” bas-relief: Apollo, Diana and Latona in front of the goddess Nike, see right. Taken from, p. 211, ill. 205.
Pilate's severed head is picked up by an angel and carried to heaven. Seeing this, Pilate’s wife Proclus gives up the ghost, and she is buried with her husband,” p. 450.
It is very likely that this Christian plot gave rise to the “ancient classics” to depict Apollo-Christ as an avenger killing his evil pursuer - the serpent. Here, in the image of the “serpent,” both King Herod and Pontius Pilate merged. And also, it is possible that Judas Iscariot, who also died “because of Christ” and was also guilty of the death of Jesus, contributed to the image of the serpent. Then Judas repented and hanged himself, according to some versions, and according to other sources, he was killed.
In addition, let us express one more consideration. It is possible that the victory of Apollo-Christ over the serpent Python absorbed the stories about the victory of Zeus-Christ over the serpent Typhon. The names of “both” serpents – Typhon and Python – are quite close. At the same time, the victory of Zeus over Typhon is a reflection of the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380. See the Appendix to this book for details. And in the book “The Conquest of America by Ermak-Cortes and the Rebellion of the Reformation through the Eyes of the “Ancient” Greeks” we showed that chroniclers sometimes confused the Baptism of Rus'-Horde at the end of the 12th century, given by Andronicus-Christ himself, and the Baptism of the Great Empire at the end of the 14th century, given Dmitry Donskoy = Constantine the Great. Therefore, the victory of Apostolic Christianity in the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380 could sometimes be interpreted as the victory of Jesus-Zeus-Apollo over the dragon Python or Typhon.
author73. An evil serpent pursues Latona and her children - Apollo and Diana. The death of the serpent Python at the hands of Apollo Let us remember the Gospels. At the very beginning, after the story of the Nativity of Christ, there follows the story of the persecution of the Infant Jesus by the evil tyrant Herod. King Herod is afraid
From the book The Lost Gospels. New information about Andronicus-Christ [with large illustrations] author Nosovsky Gleb Vladimirovich From the book The Lost Gospels. New information about Andronicus-Christ [with large illustrations] author Nosovsky Gleb Vladimirovich75. People who offended Latona and young Apollo were punished. This is a reflection of one of the “children’s stories” in the story of Christ. The “Ancient” version tells the following about the goddess Latona and her two children - Apollo and Diana. “Once, pursued by a dragon, Latona and her children came to
From the book The Lost Gospels. New information about Andronicus-Christ [with large illustrations] author Nosovsky Gleb Vladimirovich From the book The Lost Gospels. New information about Andronicus-Christ [with large illustrations] author Nosovsky Gleb Vladimirovich From the book 100 Great Mysteries of the 20th Century author From the book 100 Great Temples author Nizovsky Andrey YurievichTemple of Apollo in Delphi Delphi, one of the oldest cities in Greece, was famous in the ancient world for its temple of Apollo and the famous oracle, to which pilgrims from all over the ecumene came for fortune telling. In antiquity, the sanctuary at Delphi was of great importance.
From the book Legends and Myths of Ancient Greece (ill.) author Kun Nikolay AlbertovichAPOLLO BIRTH OF APOLLO The god of light, golden-haired Apollo, was born on the island of Delos. His mother Latona, driven by the wrath of the goddess Hera, could not find shelter for herself anywhere. Pursued by the dragon Python sent by Hera, she wandered all over the world and finally took refuge on Delos,
author Nosovsky Gleb Vladimirovich From the book The Lost Gospels. New information about Andronicus-Christ [with illustrations] author Nosovsky Gleb Vladimirovich75. People who offended Latona and young Apollo were punished. This is a reflection of one of the “children’s stories” in the story of Christ. The “Ancient” version tells the following about the goddess Latona and her two children - Apollo and Diana. “Once, pursued by a dragon, Latona and her children came to
From the book The Lost Gospels. New information about Andronicus-Christ [with illustrations] author Nosovsky Gleb Vladimirovich77.1. Competition between Apollo and Marsyas Let us ask ourselves a natural question. If, as we claim, “ancient” Apollo is a reflection of Andronicus-Christ, then the “crucifixion of Apollo” should be well known in “ancient” mythology. However, nothing like this in the “ancient”
From the book The Lost Gospels. New information about Andronicus-Christ [with illustrations] author Nosovsky Gleb Vladimirovich78. Some ancient images of Apollo-Christ In conclusion, we present several ancient images of Apollo-Christ. In Fig. 1.139 shows the famous “antique” statue called Apollo Musagetes. Interestingly, the lyre that Apollo holds in his hands depicts
From the book The Greatest Mysteries of the 20th Century author Nepomnyashchiy Nikolai NikolaevichTHE DRAMA OF "APOLLO 11" An obituary was prepared in advance for this day. US President Richard Nixon intended to address the nation with words of grief and consolation. The astronauts - Armstrong, Collins and Aldrin - were looked at as suicide bombers - kamikazes, and only self-control and
From the book Hyperboreans. Children of the Sun author Fomina OlgaChapter 8. Apollo's Arrow Apparently, it is not without reason that many ancient authors, including major ancient historians, persistently talk about the flying abilities of the Hyperboreans, that is, their mastery of flight techniques. This is, however, how Lucian described them, not without irony. Could it be
From the book Louis XIV by Bluche FrancoisConstruction of Apollo When the king and court arrive at Versailles on May 6, 1682, the beautiful castle is still “filled with masons” (97). When they return here on November 16, after staying first in Chambord and then in Fontainebleau, they settle among the construction site. Despite the imperturbability
From the book The Stone Age Was Different... [with illustrations] author Däniken Erich von73. An evil serpent pursues Latona and her children - Apollo and Diana. Death of the serpent Python at the hands of Apollo
Let's remember the Gospels. At the very beginning, after the story of the Nativity of Christ, there follows the story of the persecution of the Infant Jesus by the evil tyrant Herod. King Herod is afraid of competition from Christ, called the King of the Jews, and wants to kill him. However, he fails and the Holy Family flees to Egypt. We should expect that we will now see something similar in the myth of Apollo. Our expectation is completely justified.
Juno, the wife of Zeus-Jupiter, could not forgive Latona that the God Zeus fell in love with her and gave birth to a son, Apollo. “She sent (Juno - Author) to Latona of a MONSTER DRAGON, a creature of the Earth, named Delphius, or Python... Obeying the orders of Juno, PYTHON CONTINUALLY PURSUED THE UNHAPPY GODDESS, WHO FLEED FROM HIM, CLASSING THE CHILDREN TIGHTLY TO HIS CHEST. On an antique vase we see a long snake with its head held high, chasing Latona (see Fig. 1.103 - Author)”, p. 203.
Rice. 1.103. Latona pursued by the serpent Python. In her arms are Apollo and Diana. Drawing from an “antique” vase. Taken from, p. 202, ill. 195.
Most likely, the evil “ancient serpent Python” is a reflection of the gospel evil king Herod, seeking by all means to destroy the Infant Jesus.
By the way, in the old drawing we cited, Latona Maria is depicted with two babies in her arms. As we have already said, one of the ancient traditions often represented the Virgin Mary with two children, namely Jesus and John the Baptist. In the Roman version, this is the famous “She-Wolf” with two royal infant brothers Romulus and Remus. See our book “Tsarist Rome in the Oka and Volga Interfluves”.
Further, the “ancient” myth reports that young Apollo, while still a boy, kills the evil serpent Python, taking revenge on him for persecuting the goddess Latona. Moreover, we repeat, it is specially emphasized that, “according to the stories of the poets, this event should have happened when Apollo was still a child,” p. 209–210. In Fig. 1.104 shows an ancient engraving showing the slaying of the dragon Python by the young Apollo.
Rice. 1.104. "Apollo kills Python." Etienne Delaunay. Allegedly 1518/19–1583. Warsaw. Folk Museum. Taken from, p. 46.
The Gospels say nothing about the murder of King Herod by Jesus or on Jesus' orders. However, the death of Herod is reported, and this episode immediately follows the story of Herod's persecution of the Christ Child. It is said that Herod, ridiculed by the Magi, became very angry and sent to kill all the babies in Bethlehem under the age of two. The order was carried out. And the very next Bible verse says that HEROD DIES (Matthew 2:16-19). After which the Angel appears to Joseph in Egypt and invites him to return to the land of Israel. Joseph, Mary and Christ return. Thus, in the gospel narrative, the death of Herod immediately follows the scene of his persecution of the Infant Jesus. Some later writers might well have thought that Herod was quickly punished by the gods for his unrighteous acts towards Mary and the child Jesus.
So, under the pen of the “ancient classics”, this gospel story could be slightly refracted and they decided that the evil serpent Python, that is, Herod, was killed almost immediately after his attempts to overtake the young Apollo-Christ and Latona the Virgin. Moreover, they attributed the honor of victory over the “bad serpent” personally to the young Apollo-Christ. They even said that Apollo killed the serpent Python when he was only four days old! They write like this: “At sunset on the FOURTH DAY, he (Apollo - Author) demanded a BOW AND ARROW, which he immediately received from Hephaestus... Apollo headed straight to Mount Parnassus, where his mother’s enemy, the serpent Python, hid, and managed to wound him with arrows... Apollo dared to enter to the sanctuary and dealt with him (with the serpent - Author) on the edge of the sacred abyss”, p. 53.
"Victory of Apollo (over the evil Python - Author) depicted on an antique bas-relief (see Fig. 1.105 - Author), where Nike, the personification of victory, pours a sacred drink to a god holding a lyre in his hand. Behind him stand Diana with a torch and Latona,” p. 211.
Let us recall here that Christ was called “NIKA” and this word - VICTORY - was often written on images of the crucifixion of Christ. So the appearance of Apollo-Christ next to Nike-Christ is quite natural and understandable.
Thus, a very clear correspondence is revealed between the story of young Apollo and the Baby Jesus.
But it’s too early for us to part with this plot. It turns out that the motive for the death of the evil pursuer of Christ-Apollo is clearly heard in the stories about the fate of the Roman procurator Pontius Pilate. Let us remember that Pilate condemned Jesus and sent him to execution. Although Pilate himself did not see any guilt in Christ, he showed cowardice and submitted to the persistent demands of the Jews to crucify Jesus. The Gospels do not say a word about the further fate of Pilate. However, other Christian documents pay great attention to this. It turns out that there was a strong medieval tradition according to which PILATE WAS EXECUTED, and executed precisely “because of Jesus.” Here is a brief summary of how it happened, according to the retelling of the Slavic manuscript “Pilate’s Ascension.”
“Having read Pilate’s report, Caesar Tiberius orders him to come to Rome. There, in the Capitoline sanctuary, in the presence of the entire Senate, the interrogation of the deposed governor takes place: for what reason did he crucify an innocent man who had performed so many wonders and signs? Pilate justifies himself by saying that he was forced to yield to the Jews. Enraged, Tiberius sends the military commander Lycian to Jerusalem... to punish the lawless Jews, and COMMANDS PILATE TO CUT OFF THE HEAD. Before execution, Pilate, already a Christian at heart, raises his eyes to heaven and, turning to Jesus, says...
Rice. 1.105. “Antique” bas-relief: Apollo, Diana and Latona in front of the goddess Nike, see right. Taken from, p. 211, ill. 205.
Pilate's severed head is picked up by an angel and carried to heaven. Seeing this, Pilate’s wife Proclus gives up the ghost, and she is buried with her husband,” p. 450.
It is very likely that this Christian plot gave rise to the “ancient classics” to depict Apollo-Christ as an avenger killing his evil pursuer - the serpent. Here, in the image of the “serpent,” both King Herod and Pontius Pilate merged. And also, it is possible that Judas Iscariot, who also died “because of Christ” and was also guilty of the death of Jesus, contributed to the image of the serpent. Then Judas repented and hanged himself, according to some versions, and according to other sources, he was killed.
In addition, let us express one more consideration. It is possible that the victory of Apollo-Christ over the serpent Python absorbed the stories about the victory of Zeus-Christ over the serpent Typhon. The names of “both” serpents - Typhon and Python - are quite close. At the same time, the victory of Zeus over Typhon is a reflection of the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380. See the Appendix to this book for details. And in the book “The Conquest of America by Ermak-Cortes and the Rebellion of the Reformation through the Eyes of the “Ancient” Greeks” we showed that chroniclers sometimes confused the Baptism of Rus'-Horde at the end of the 12th century, given by Andronicus-Christ himself, and the Baptism of the Great Empire at the end of the 14th century, given Dmitry Donskoy = Constantine the Great. Therefore, the victory of Apostolic Christianity in the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380 could sometimes be interpreted as the victory of Jesus-Zeus-Apollo over the dragon Python or Typhon.
Python(Dolphin, Delphinius, Python), in Greek mythology, a monstrous serpent, or half-serpent, half-woman, or dragon, sowing death and destruction.
Description, habitat and origin
Perhaps the name Delphine or Delphinius belongs to two dracaines (dracaines were dragons or giant female snakes, often with human features).
The first Delphine is a dragoness who guarded the sacred spring of Delfuss and the oracle of Gaia-earth and Themis in Delphi. It was to her that Typhon, the offspring of Gaia-earth, was given to be raised. After Apollo killed the monster, the rays of the sun turned his body into dust, that is, he simply rotted, so Delphine received a new name - Python, which literally means “rotting.” According to the interpretation of Antipara from Tarsus, the myth tells that the sun's rays destroyed harmful fumes in damp areas.
The second Delphine is a dragon (half-woman, half-beast), to whom Typhon gave for safekeeping tendons wrapped in bearskin, cut from Zeus during their duel. The exhausted Zeus was imprisoned by Typhon in the Corycian cave (Cilicia); there Delphine guarded Zeus and these tendons. Having stolen the tendons, Hermes and Pan healed Zeus. This myth dates back to the era of the formation of classical Olympic mythology and personifies the fight against chthonism and the replacement of chthonic monsters by new Olympic deities.
Gaia was considered the mother of Delphine, but it is believed that Hera gave birth to the dragon. She later used the services of the dragon; it was at her request that Delphine raised Typhon and tried to destroy the mother of Apollo and Artemis, the goddess Leto.
According to the euhemeristic version, Python is the son of Crius, king of Euboea, a robber who robbed the sanctuary of the god. He was about to go on a campaign against Delphi when the prophetess Themonoia predicted his death from the arrow of Apollo. According to the interpretation of Ephorus, Python is a man who was called the Dragon, whose hut was burned by the Delphians.
Myths and cultural influence
The most famous myth about this monster is the Myth of the Battle of Apollo and Python. It was believed that this giant snake wrapped nine rings around the heights of Parnassus or entwined Delphi seven times. And to kill him, Apollo fired either 100 or 1000 arrows at him.
For the murder of Python, Gaia-earth wanted to imprison Apollo in Tartarus and in order to atone for his guilt before Gaia, Apollo had to be in exile for 8 years. This was remembered at Delphi by various sacred rites and processions.
The earliest presentation of this myth belongs to Homer in the hymn "Apollo Pythian".
