APOLLO CULT 2 - Ancient Greek Religion
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APOLLO PAGES INDEX
Part 1: Introduction
(../Olympios/Apollon.html)
Gallery
(../Olympios/Apollon.html#Gallery)
Family Tree of Apollo
(../Olympios/Apollon.html#Family)
Hymns to Apollo
(../Olympios/Apollon.html#Hymns)This page describes his cult in the central and southern
Encyclopedia Entry
(../Olympios/Apollon.html#Encyclopedia)
Sources
(../Olympios/Apollon.html#Sources)
Part 2: Apollo Family
(../Olympios/ApollonFamily.html)
Part 3: Apollo Myths 1 General
(../Titan/TitanisLeto.html)
Part 3: Apollo Myths 2 Loves
(../Olympios/ApollonLoves.html)
Part 3: Apollon Myths 3 Loves
(../Nymphe/NympheDaphne.html)
Part 4: Cult of Apollo 1
(ApollonCult.html)
Oracles of Apollon
(ApollonCult.html#Oracles)
General Cult
(ApollonCult.html#General)
Attica, Southern Greece
(ApollonCult.html#Attika)
Megaris, Southern Greece
(ApollonCult.html#Megaris)
Aegina, Southern Greece
(ApollonCult.html#Aigina)
Corinth, Southern Greece
(ApollonCult.html#Korinthia)
Sicyon, Southern Greece
(ApollonCult.html#Sikyonia)
Part 4: Cult of Apollo 2
Argolis, Southern Greece
(ApollonCult2.html#Argolis)
Laconia, Southern Greece
(ApollonCult2.html#Lakedaimonia)had brought the wolf on the herd, he founded a sanctuary of Apollo Lykios. Here is dedicated the throne of Danaos,
Messenia, Southern Greece
(ApollonCult2.html#Messenia)
Elis, Southern Greece
(ApollonCult2.html#Elis)
Part 4: Cult of Apollo 3
(ApollonCult3.html)
Achaea, Southern Greece
http://www.theoi.com/Cult/ApollonCult2.html
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Greek Mythology (../) >> Greek Gods Cult (../greek-mythology/greek-gods-cult.html) >> Apollo Cult
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APOLLON CULT 2
Greek Name Transliteration Latin Spelling Roman Name
Apolln Apollo Apollo
APOLLON was the Olympian god of music, poetry,
prophecy, youth, healing, and the aversion of plague
and harm.
Peloponnese. His most important shrine in the region
was the Spartan temple at Amyklai (Amyclae), site of the
celebrated Hyakinthia festival.
The statues presented on this page portray Apollon in
the forms Cithaeroedus "Cithar-Player" and Musagetes
"Leader of the Muses".
CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES
CULT IN ARGOLIS (SOUTHERN GREECE)
I. ARGOS Main City of Argolis
Callimachus, Aetia Fragment 1. 2 (from Papryus Rylands
13 Frag 471-3) (trans. Trypanis) (Greek poet C3rd B.C.) :
"[The legend behind the festival of Apollon Arneios at
Argos :] There is a month named Arneios after him and
the days thereof are named the Arneis days. And Linos
died torn by dogs: and his untimely fate as sung by
minstrel men and the wandering of Krotopos ((lacuna)) . .
I sing right on as I received it. Nor did Apollon remain
unheeding forever of his bride of hapless fate, but to
expiate a child's death by the death of children Poine,
and avenger of grievous wrath came against the
Argives, who leapt upon their homes and made empty-
armed the mothers and lightened the burden of the (../Gallery/S5.13.html)
nurses." Apollo, Greco-Roman marble statue, Palazzo Altemps
National Roman Museum
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 19. 3 - 8 (trans. (http://archeoroma.beniculturali.it/musei/museo-nazionale-
Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) : romano-palazzo-altemps)
"The most famous building in the city of Argos is the
sanctuary of Apollo Lykios (Wolf-god). The modern image was made by the Athenian Attalos, but the original temple
and wooden image were the oering of [the mythical king] Danaus. I am of opinion that in those days all images,
especially Egyptian images, were made of wood. The reason why [the mythical Argive king] Danaos founded a
sanctuary of Apollo Lykios was this. On coming to Argos he claimed the kingdom against Gelanor, the son of
Sthenelas. Many plausible arguments were brought forward by both parties, and those of Sthenelas were
considered as fair as those of his opponent; so the people, who were sitting in judgment, put o, they say, the
decision to the following day. At dawn a wolf fell upon a herd of oxen that was pasturing before the wall, and
attacked and fought with the bull that was the leader of the herd. It occurred to the Argives that Gelanor was like the
bull and Danaos like the wolf, for as the wolf will not live with men, so Danaos up to that time had not lived with
them. It was because the wolf overcame the bull that Danaos won the kingdom. Accordingly, believing that Apollon
and here is placed a statue of [the hero] Biton, in the form of a man carrying a bull on his shoulders . . .
Next to this statue is a fire which they keep burning, calling it the fire of Phoroneos. For they do not admit that fire
was given to mankind by Prometheus, but insist in assigning the discovery of fire to Phoroneos.
As to the wooden images of Aphrodite and Hermes, the one they say was made by Epeios, while the other is a
votive oering of Hypermnestra. She was the only one of the daughters of Danaos who neglected his command,
and was accordingly brought to justice by him, because be considered that his life was in danger so long as
Lynkeus was at large, and that the refusal to share in the crime of her sisters increased the disgrace of the contriver
of the deed. On her trial she was acquitted by the Argives, and to commemorate her escape she dedicated an
image [in the shrine of Apollon Lykios] of Aphrodite Nikephoros (the Bringer of Victory).Within the temple is a statue
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APOLLO CULT 2 - Ancient Greek Religion
(ApollonCult3.html#Akhaia)
Arcadia, Southern Greece
(ApollonCult3.html#Arkadia)
Boeotia, Central Greece
(ApollonCult3.html#Boiotia)
Euboea, Central Greece
(ApollonCult3.html#Euboia)
Phocis, Central Greece
(ApollonCult3.html#Phokis)
Part 4: Cult of Apollo 4
(ApollonCult4.html)
Aetolia, Central Greece
(ApollonCult4.html#Aitolia)
Acarnania, Central Greece
(ApollonCult4.html#Akarnania)
Leucas, Central Greece
(ApollonCult4.html#Leukas)
Epirus, Northern Greece
(ApollonCult4.html#Epeiros)
Illyria, North of Greece
(ApollonCult4.html#Illyria)
Thessaly, Northern Greece
(ApollonCult4.html#Thessalia)
Delos, Greek Aegean
(ApollonCult4.html#Delos)
Ceos, Greek Aegean
(ApollonCult4.html#Keos)
Lesbos, Greek Aegean
(ApollonCult4.html#Lesbos)
Chios, Greek Aegean
(ApollonCult4.html#Khios)
Samos, Greek Aegean
(ApollonCult4.html#Samos)
Chalcia, Greek Aegean
(ApollonCult4.html#Khalkia)
Rhodes, Greek Aegean
(ApollonCult4.html#Rhodos)
Thera, Greek Aegean
(ApollonCult4.html#Thera)
Part 4: Cult of Apollo 5
(ApollonCult5.html)
Troad, Anatolia
(ApollonCult5.html#Troad)
Teuthrania, Anatolia
(ApollonCult5.html#Teuthrania)
Lydia, Anatolia
(ApollonCult5.html#Lydia)
Caria, Anatolia
(ApollonCult5.html#Karia)
Lycia, Anatolia
(ApollonCult5.html#Lykia)
Phrygia, Anatolia
(ApollonCult5.html#Phrygia)
Cyprus, Mediterranean
(ApollonCult5.html#Kypros)
Egypt, North Africa
(ApollonCult5.html#Egypt)
Campania, Southern Italy
http://www.theoi.com/Cult/ApollonCult2.html
11/11/16, 9'50 am
of Ladas, the swiftest runner of his time, and one of Hermes with a tortoise which he has caught to make a lyre.
Before the temple is a pit with a relief representing a fight between a bull and a wolf, and with them a maiden
throwing a rock at the bull. The maiden is thought to be Artemis. Danaos dedicated these, and some pillars hard by
and wooden images of Zeus and Artemis.
Here are graves; one is that of [the infant] Linos, the son of Apollon by Psamathe, the daughter of Krotopos; the
other, they say, is that of Linos the poet . . .
After these is an image of Apollon Agyieus (God of Streets), and an altar of Zeus Heutios (God of Rain), where those
who were helping Polyneikes in his eorts to be restored to Thebes swore an oath together that they would either
capture Thebes or die. As to the tomb of Prometheus [also located within the sanctuary of Apollon Lykis], their
account seems to me to be less probable than that of the Opountians, but they hold to it nevertheless."
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 24. 1 :
"The citadel [of Argos] they call Larisa, after the daughter of Pelasgos . . . As you go up the citadel you come to the
sanctuary of Hera Akraia (of the Height), and also a temple of Apollon, which is said to have been first built by
Pythaios when he came from Delphoi. The present image is a bronze standing figure called Apollon Deiradiotes,
because this place, too, is called Deiras (Ridge). Oracular responses are still given here, and the oracle acts in the
following way. There is a woman who prophesies, being debarred from intercourse with a man. Every month a lamb
is sacrificed at night, and the woman, after tasting the blood, becomes inspired by the god."
Pausanias, Description of Greece 8. 40. 5 :
"They [the Olympic referees] gave the victory to the dead Kreugas [killed in a boxing match], and had a statue of him
made in Argos. It still stood in my time in the sanctuary of Apollon Lykeios [in Argos]."
Pausanias, Description of Greece 8. 46. 3 :
"The Argives down to the present still retain the images they took from Tiryns [during the Persian Wars]; one, a
wooden image, is by the Hera, the other is kept in the sanctuary of Apollon Lykeios."
II. MT. LYCONE (LYKONE) Mountain in Argolis
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 24. 5 :
"[Near the city of Argos] is Mount Lykone, which has trees on it, chiefly cypresses. On the top of the mountain is
built a sanctuary of Artemis Orthia (of the Steep), and there have been made white-marble images of Apollon, Leto,
and Artemis, which they say are works of Polykleitos."
III. EPIDAURUS (EPIDAUROS) Town in Argolis
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 27. 6 :
"A Roman senator, Antoninos, made in our own day [in Epidauros] . . . a temple to Hygeia (Health), Asklepios, and
Apollon, the last two surnamed Aigyptios (Egyptian)."
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 27. 7 :
"[By Epidauros, Argolis there is] mountain called Kynortion; on the latter is a sanctuary of Apollon Maleatos. The
sanctuary itself is an ancient one, but among the things [the Roman senator] Antoninos made for the Epidaurians are
various appurtenances for the sanctuary of [Apollon] Maleatos, including a reservoir into which the rain-water
collects for their use."
IV. TROEZEN (TROIZENOS) Town in Argolis
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 31. 6 :
"The sanctuary of Apollon Thearios [in Troizenos, Argolis], they told me, was set up by [the mythical king] Pittheus; it
is the oldest I know of. Now the Phokaians, too, in Ionia have an old temple of Athena . . . and the Samians also
have an old one of Apollon Pythios; these, however, were built much later than the sanctuary at Troizenos. The
modern image was dedicated by Auliskos, and made by Hermon of Troizenos."
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 32. 2 :
"Within this enclosure is a temple of Apollon Epibaterios (Disembarking on a Sea-Voyage) [at Troizenos, Argolis], an
oering of Diomedes for having weathered the storm that came upon the Greeks as they were returning from Troy.
They say that Diomedes was also the first to hold the Pythian Games in honor of Apollon."
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 34. 6 :
"As you go along the mountain road [from Troizenos to Hermione, in the Argolis] you reach a temple of Apollon
surnamed Platanistios (God of the Plane-tree Grove)."
V. HERMIONE Town in Argolis
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 35. 2 :
"Of Apollon there are three temples and three images [in the new city of Hermione, Argolis]. One has no surname;
the second they call Pythaeus, and the third Horios (of the Borders). The name Pythaeus they have learned from the
Argives, for Telesilla tells us that they were the first Greeks to whose country came Pythaeus, who was a son of
Apollon. I cannot say for certain why they call the third Horios, but I conjecture that they won a victory, either in war
or by arbitration, in a dispute concerning the borders (horoi) of their land, and for this reason paid honors to Apollon
Horios."
VI. MT. COCCYGUS (KOKKYGOS) Mountain in Argolis
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(ApollonTitles.html)
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Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 36. 2 :
"At the foot of Mount Kokkygos [near Mases, Argolis] is a temple, but there are no doors standing, and I found it
without a roof or an image inside. The temple was said to be Apollon's."
VII. DIDYMUS (DIDYMOS) Village in Argolis
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 36. 3 :
"Didymos [near Mases, Argolis] is twenty stades distant from here. There is here a sanctuary of Apollon."
VIII. ASINE Village in Argolis
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 36. 5 :
"The [historical] Argives, while levelling Asine [in Argolis] to the ground and annexing its territory to their own, left the
sanctuary of Apollon Pythaios, which is still visible."
CULT IN LACEDAEMONIA (SOUTHERN GREECE)
I. SPARTA Main City of Lacedaemonia (Lakedaimonia)
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 11. 9 :
"On their market-place the Spartans have images of Apollon
Pythaeus, of Artemis and of Leto. The whole of this region is
called Khoros (Dancing), because at the Gymnopaidiai, a
festival which the Lacedaemonians take more seriously than
any other, the lads perform dances in honor of Apollon. Not far
from them is a sanctuary of Ge (Earth) and of Zeus Agoraios . .
. and likewise one of Apollon and of Hera."
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 12. 8 :
"The Lakedaimonians [of Sparta] have an altar of Apollon
Akrites, and a sanctuary, surnamed Gasepton, of Ge (Earth).
Above it is set up [a statue of] Maleatian Apollon Maleatos."
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 13. 4 - 5 :
"Karneios [Spartan demi-god or hero], whom they surname
Oiketes (of the House), had honors in Sparta even before the
return of the Herakleidai, his seat being in the house of a seer,
Krios the son of Theokles. The daughter of this Krios was met
as she was filling her pitcher by spies of the Dorians, who
entered into conversation with her, visited Krios and learned
from him how to capture Sparta. The cult of Apollo Karneios
has been established among all the Dorians ever since
Karnos, an Akarnanian by birth, who was a seer of Apollon.
When he was killed by Hippotes the son of Phylas, the wrath
of Apollon fell upon the camp of the Dorians Hippotes went
into banishment because of the bloodguilt, and from this time
the custom was established among the Dorians of propitiating
the Akarnanian seer. But this Karnos is not the Lakedaimonian
Karneios Oiketes (of the House), who was worshipped in the
house of Krios the seer while the Akhaians were still in (../Gallery/S5.8.html)
possession of Sparta. The poetess Praxilla represents Apollo, Greco-Roman marble statue,
Karneios as the son of Europa, Apollon and Leto being his Pergamonmuseum
nurses. There is also another account of the name; in Trojan (http://www.smb.museum/en/museums-
Ida there grew in a grove of Apollon cornel-trees, which the institutions/pergamonmuseum/)
Greeks cut down to make the Wooden Horse. Learning that
the god was wroth with them they propitiated him with sacrifices and named Apollon Karneios from the cornel-tree
(kraneia), a custom prevalent in the olden time making them transpose the r and the a."
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 14. 6 :
"Farther away from the [race] Course [of Sparta] are sanctuaries of the Dioskouroi, of the Kharites (Graces), of
Eileithyia, of Apollon Karneios, and of Artemis."
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 16. 1 :
"[In Sparta, Lakedaimonia] is a sanctuary of Hilaeira and of Phoibe. The author of the poem Kypria calls them
daughters of Apollon. Their priestesses are young maidens, called, as are also the goddesses, Leukippides . . . Each
year the women weave a tunic for the Apollon at Amyklai, and they call Tunic the chamber in which they do their
weaving."
Suidas s.v. Gymnopaideia (trans. Suda On Line) (Byzantine Greek lexicon C10th A.D.) :
"Gymnopaidia, choruses of children in Sparta in Lakonike, singing hymns to the gods [Apollon] in honour of the
Spartiates who died at Thyraiai."
II. AMYCLAE (AMYKLAI) Town in Lacedaemonia
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Strabo, Geography 7. 1. 2 (trans. Jones) (Greek geographer C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"The festival Hyakinthia in the Amyklaion when the games were being celebrated."

Strabo, Geography 8. 5. 1 :
"Amyklai [in Lakedaimonia], where is the temple of Apollon."

Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 10. 1 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"[The historical Spartan king] Agesilaos again marched with an army against Korinthos, and, as the festival
Hyakinthia was at hand, he gave the Amyklaians leave to go back home and perform the traditional rites in honor of
Apollon and Hyakinthos."

Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 18. 9 - 19. 6 :

"Bathykles of Magnesia, who made the throne of [Apollon] Amyklaios (God of Amyklai) [for the shrine of the god at
Amyklai, Lakedaimonia], dedicated, on the completion of the throne, Kharites and an image of Artemis
Leukophryene. Whose pupil this Bathykles was, and who was king of Lakedaimon when he made the throne, I pass
over; but I saw the throne and will describe its details [a wide variety of myths are probably represented since
Apollon is the god of bards and story-tellling]. It is supported in front, and similarly behind, by two Kharites (Graces)
and two Horai (Seasons). On the left stand [the serpent-tailed] Ekhidna and Typhos, on the right [the fish-tailed]
Tritons. To describe the reliefs one by one in detail would have merely bored my readers; but to be brief and concise
(for the greater number of them are not unknown either) Poseidon and Zeus are carrying Taygete, daughter of Atlas,
and her sister Alkyone. There are also reliefs of Atlas, the single combat of Herakles and Kyknos, and the battle of
the Kentauroi at the cave of Pholos. I cannot say why Bathykles has represented the so-called Minotauros (Bull of
Minos) bound, and being led along alive by Theseus. There is also on the throne a band of Phaiakian dancers, and
Demodokos singing. Perseus, too, is represented killing Medousa. Passing over the fight of Herakles with the giant
Thourios and that of Tyndareus with Eurytos, we have next the rape of the daughters of Leukippos. Here are
Dionysos, too, and Herakles; Hermes is bearing the infant Dionysos to heaven, and Athena is taking Herakles to
dwell henceforth with the gods. There is Peleus handing over Akhilleus to be reared by Kheiron, who is also said to
have been his teacher. There is Kephalos, too, carried o by Hemera (Day) because of his beauty. The gods are
bringing gifts to the marriage of Harmonia. There is wrought also the single combat of Akhilleus and Memnon , and
Herakles avenging himself upon Diomedes the Thrakian, and upon Nessos at the river Euenus. Hermes is bringing
the goddesses to Alexandros to be judged. Adrastos and Tydeus are staying the fight between Amphiaraos and
Lykourgos the son of Pronax. Hera is gazing at Io, the daughter of Inakhos, who is already a cow, and Athena is
running away from Hephaistos, who chases her. Next to these have been wrought two of the exploits of Herakles -
his slaying the hydra, and his bringing up the Hound of Hell. Anaxias and Mnasinous are each seated on horseback,
but there is one horse only carrying Megapenthes, the son of Menelaos, and Nikostratos. Bellerophontes is
destroying the beast in Lykia, and Herakles is driving o the cows of Geryones. At the upper edge of the throne are
wrought, one on each side, the sons of Tyndareus [the Dioskouroi] on horses. There are sphinxes under the horses,
and beasts running upwards, on the one side a leopard, by Polydeukes a lioness. On the very top of the throne has
been wrought a band of dancers, the Magnesians who helped Bathykles to make the throne. Underneath the throne,
the inner part away from the Tritones contains the hunting of the Kalydonian boar and Herakles killing the children of
Aktor. Kalais and Zetes are driving the Harpyai away from Phineus. Peirithous and Theseus have seized Helene, and
Herakles is strangling the lion. Apollon and Artemis are shooting Tityos. There is represented the fight between
Herakles and Oreios the Kentauros, and also that between Theseus and the Bull of Minos. There are also
represented the wrestling of Herakles with Akhelous, the fabled binding of Hera by Hephaistos, the games Akastos
held in honor of his father, and the story of Menelaus and the Egyptian Proteus from the Odyssey. Lastly there is
Admetos yoking a boar and a lion to his chariot, and the Trojans are bringing libations to Hektor.
The part of the throne where the god would sit is not continuous; there are several seats, and by the side of each
seat is left a wide empty space, the middle, whereon the image stands, being the widest of them. I know of nobody
who has measured the height of the image, but at a guess one would estimate it to be as much as thirty cubits. It is
not the work of Bathykles, being old and uncouth; for though it has face, feet, and hands, the rest resembles a
bronze pillar. On its head it has a helmet, in its hands a spear and a bow. The pedestal of the statue is fashioned into
the shape of an altar and they say that Hyakinthos is buried in it, and at the Hyakinthia, before the sacrifice to
Apollon, they devote oerings to Hyakinthos as to a hero into this altar through a bronze door, which is on the left of
the altar. On the altar are wrought in relief, here an image of Biris, there Amphitrite and Poseidon. Zeus and Hermes
are conversing; near stand Dionysos and Semele, with Ino by her side. On the altar are also Demeter, Kore, Plouton,
next to them Moirai (Fates) and Horai (Seasons), and with them Aphrodite, Athena and Artemis. They are carrying to
heaven Hyakinthos and Polyboia, the sister, they say, of Hyakinthos, who died a maid . . . Wrought on the altar is
also Herakles; he too is being led to heaven by Athena and the other gods. On the altar are also the daughters of
Thestios [Althaia and Leda], the Mousai (Muses) and Horai (Seasons). As for Zephryos (the West Wind), how Apollon
unintentionally killed Hyakinthos, and the story of the flower, we must be content with the legends, although perhaps
they are not true history. Amyklai was laid waste by the Dorians, and since that time has remained a village . . . The
natives worship [Apollon] Amyklaios (the Amyklaian god) and Dionysos."
III. THORNAX Village in Lacedaemonia
Herodotus, Histories 1. 69 (trans. Godley) (Greek historian C5th B.C.) :
"The Lakedaimonians had sent to Sardis to buy gold, intending to use it for the statue of Apollon which now stands
on Thornax in Lakonia; and [the historic Lydian king] Kroisos, when they oered to buy it, made them a free gift of
it."

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Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 10. 8 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"In Thornax [in Lakedaimonia], which you will reach as you go along, is an image of Apollon Pythaeus, made after
the style of the one at Amyklai; the fashion of it I will describe when I come to speak of the latter. For in the eyes of
the Lakedaimonians the cult of Amyklaios is the more distinguished, so that they spent on adorning the image in
Amyklai even the gold which Kroisos the Lydian sent for Apollon Pythaeus."
IV. CYTHIUM (KYTHION) Village in Lacedaemonia
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 21. 8 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"The people of Kythion [in Lakedaimonia] say that their city had no human founder, but that Herakles and Apollon,
when they were reconciled after their strife for the possession of the tripod, united to found the city. In the market-
place they have images of Apollon and of Herakles, and a Dionysos stands near them. In another part of the city is
[a sanctuary of] Apollon Karneios."

V. GERONTHRAE (GERONTHRAI) Village in Lacedaemonia

Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 22. 7 :
"On the citadel [of Geronthrai, Lakedaimonia] is a temple of Apollon with the head of an ivory image. The rest of the
image was destroyed by fire along with the former temple."
VI. DELIUM - EPIDELIUM (DELION - EPIDELION) Village in Lacedaemonia
Strabo, Geography 8. 6. 1 (trans. Jones) (Greek geographer C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"Among the places belonging to the Lakonians [of Lakedaimonia] is Delion, which is sacred to Apollon and bears the
same name as the place in Boiotia."

Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 23. 3 - 5 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"After doubling the point of Malea and proceeding a hundred stades, you reach a place on the coast within the
frontier of the Boiatai [in Lakedaimonia], which is sacred to Apollon and called Epidelion. For the wooden image
which is now here, once stood in Delos . . . [the historical Persian] Menophanes, an ocer of Mithridates, attacked it
[Delos] with a fleet . . . [and] razed Delos itself to the ground. As it was being sacked and pillaged, one of the
barbarians wantonly flung this image into the sea; but the wave took it and brought it to land here in the country of
the Boiatai. For this reason they call the place Epidelion."
VII. ZARAX Village in Lacedaemonia
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 24. 1 :
"There is nothing worth seeing in Zarax [in Lakedaimonia] except a temple of Apollon, with a statue holding a lyre, at
the head of the harbor."
VIII. MT. CNACADIUM (KNAKADION) Mountain in Lacedaemonia
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 24. 8 :
"On [Mount] Knakadion [near Las, Lakedaimonia] is a [sanctuary of] Apollon called Karneios."

IX. PYRRHICHUS (PYRRHIKHOS) Village in Lacedaemonia

Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 25. 3 :
"At Pyrrhikhos [in Lakedaimonia] . . . the sanctuaries of the gods, that they have in the country, are of Artemis, called
Astrateia, because the Amazones stayed their advance (strateia) here, and an Apollon Amazonios. Both gods are
represented by wooden images, said to have been dedicated by the women from Thermodon [the Amazones]."
X. OETYLUS (OITYLOS) Village in Lacedaemonia
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 25. 10 :
"In Oitylos [in Lakedaimonia] . . . in the market-place a wooden image of Apollon Karneios are worth seeing."
XI. LEUCTRA (LEUKTRA) Village in Lacedaemonia
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 26. 5 :
"[In Leuktra, Lakedaimonia] a temple and statue have been erected to Kassandra the daughter of Priamos, called
Alexandra by the natives. There are wooden images of Apollon Karneios according to the same custom that prevails
among the Lakedaimonians of Sparta."
XII. CARDAMYLE (KARDAMYLE) Village in Lacedaemonia
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 26. 7 :
"In the town [of Kardamyle, Lakedaimonia] is a sanctuary of Athena, and an Apollon Karneios according to the local
Dorian custom."

CULT IN MESSENIA (SOUTHERN GREECE)

I. MESSENE Main Town of Messenia
Pausanias, Description of Greece 4. 31. 10 :
"The most numerous statues [in Messene, Messenia] and the most worth seeing are to be found in the sanctuary of
Asklepios. For besides statues of the god and his sons, and besides statues of Apollon, the Mousai (Muses) [and
other gods]."

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II. PHARAE (PHARAI) Village in Messenia

Pausanias, Description of Greece 4. 31. 1 :
"Not far from Pharai [in Messenia] is a grove of Apollon Karneios
and a spring of water in it."
III. OECHALIA (OIKHALIA) Village in Messenia
Pausanias, Description of Greece 4. 33. 4 :
"Facing the plain is a site anciently called Oikhalia [in Messenia], in
our time the Alsos Karnasion (Carnasian grove), thickly grown with
cypresses.There are statues of the gods Apollon Karneios and
Hagne [Persephone], also Hermes carrying a ram. [N.B. Mysteries
of Demeter and Kore were held in the grove.]"
IV. CORONE (KORONE) Village in Messenia
Pausanias, Description of Greece 4. 34. 7 :
"Some eighty stades beyond Korone [in Messenia] is a sanctuary
of Apollon on the coast, venerated because it is very ancient
according to Messenian tradition, and the god cures illnesses.
They call him Apollon Korynthos. His image is of wood, but the
statue of Apollo Argeotas, said to have been dedicated by the
Argonautoi, is of bronze."
V. ASINE Village in Messenia
Pausanias, Description of Greece 4. 34. 11 :
"But the men of Asine [in Messenia] take the greatest pleasure in
being called Dryopes [a tribe who once lived between Mt
Parnassos and Mount Oita near Malis], and clearly have made the
most holy of their sanctuaries in memory of those which they once
had, established on Parnassos. For they have both a temple of
(../Gallery/S5.6.html)
Apollon and again a temple and ancient statue of Dryops, whose
rites they celebrate every year, saying that he is the son of "Apollo Cithaorodos", Greco-Roman marble
statue, Istanbul Archaeology Museums
Apollon."
(http://www.istanbularkeoloji.gov.tr/)
VI. CYPARISSIA (KYPARISSIA) Village in Messenia
Pausanias, Description of Greece 4. 36. 7 :
"There is a shrine of Apollon in Kyparissia [in Messenia]."

CULT IN ELIS (SOUTHERN GREECE)

I. ELIS Main Town of Elis
Pausanias, Description of Greece 6. 24. 6 :
"The most notable things that the Eleans have in the open part of the market-place [of the city of Elis, in Elis] are a
temple and image of Apollon Akesios (Healer). The meaning of the name would appear to be exactly the same as
that of Alexikakos (Averter of Evil), the name current among the Athenians."

II. OLYMPIA Town & Sanctuary in Elis

Pausanias, Description of Greece 5. 7. 10 :
"[Zeus] held the [first Olympic] games in honor of his victory over Kronos. The record of victors include Apollon, who
outran Hermes and beat Ares at boxing. It is for this reason, they say, that the Pythian flute-song is played while the
competitors in the pentathlon are jumping; for the flute-song is sacred to Apollon, and Apollon won Olympic
victories."

Pausanias, Description of Greece 5. 14. 8 :

"[Amongst the altars at Olympia in Elis there is] an altar of Apollon and Hermes in common, because the Greeks
have a story about them that Hermes invented the lyre and Apollon the lute."

Pausanias, Description of Greece 5. 15. 4 :

"Before what is called the Front Seats [of Olympia in Elis] stands an altar of Apollon surnamed Pythios."

Pausanias, Description of Greece 5. 15. 7 :

"After re-entering the Altis [at Olympia in Elis] by the processional gate there are behind the Heraion altars of the
river Kladeos and of Artemis; the one after them is Apollon's, the fourth is of Artemis surnamed Kokkoka, and the
fifth is of Apollon Thermios (Of the Lupines). As to the Elean surname Thermios, the conjecture occurred to me that
in the Attic dialect it would be thesmios (god of laws)."

Pausanias, Description of Greece 5. 17. 3 :

"[In the temple of Hera at Olympia are statues of] Apollon and Artemis stand opposite each other."

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Pausanias, Description of Greece 6. 2. 5 :

"The [ocial] diviners [of Olympia, Elis] called Iamidai are descended from Iamos, who, Pindaros says in an ode, was
a son of Apollon and received the gift of divination from him."

Pausanias, Description of Greece 6. 19. 6 :

"[Amongst the contents of the Treasuries at Olympia :] There stands also a box-wood image of Apollon with its head
plated with gold. The inscription says that it was dedicated by the Lokrians who live near the Western Cape, and
that the artist was Patrokles of Krotona, the son of Katillos."

SOURCES

GREEK
Callimachus, Fragments - Greek Poetry C3rd B.C.
Strabo, Geography - Greek Geography C1st B.C. - C1st A.D.
Pausanias, Description of Greece (../Text/Pausanias1A.html) - Greek Travelogue C2nd A.D.

BYZANTINE
Suidas, The Suda - Byzantine Greek Lexicon C10th A.D.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page. (../Bibliography.html)

Theoi Project Copyright 2000 - 2016 Aaron J. Atsma, New Zealand

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