Delphi the Pythia Apollo - Greek god Apollo

The Pythian Games grew out of the of a musical festival, which was held every eight years in Delphi, to honor god Apollo's mythical slaying of the serpent Python. Though poetry and recitals remained central to the occasion, from 582 BC athletic events in the stadium were added and the festival became known as Pythian Games. When the athletic games where added, the Pythian Games started taking place every four years and particularly between the Isthmian and Nemean Games and two years before the Olympic Games.


		The participants gave the following oath: "I here swear fealty and service To the Crown of Apollo To ever enrich the Crown With my talents and abilities. To promote the diverse arts. To increase the glory of the Muse, And to be worthy of the Wreath I wear. Thus swear" Specifically they were held in the beginning of September under the direction of the Amphyctionic Council, a religious body including representatives of all the principal Greek states, which administrated the affairs of the shrine and its oracle. Notable is that he chariot race was held in the hippodrome down below in the Sacred Plain. The winners received a wreath of bay laurels (which was a symbol of Apollo and also closely associated with Pythia) from the city of Tempe in Thessaly. The Roman emperor's borrowed their habit of wearing a wreath of laurels by the Pythian Games.

"I here swear fealty and service To the Crown of Apollo
To ever enrich the Crown With my talents and abilities.
To promote the diverse arts.
To increase the glory of the Muse,
And to be worthy of the Wreath I wear. Thus swear"