Python is a primordial serpent or dragon in Greek mythology, best known as the guardian of the Delphic Oracle before being slain by Apollo. Dwelling at Delphi—then called Pytho—the creature was deeply tied to the earth and to ancient chthonic forces. The slaying of Python marks a mythic transition from primal chaos and earth-based divinity to Olympian order and solar rule, making it both a founding myth for Apollo and a symbolic shift in religious authority.
Meaning and Etymology
The name Python comes from the site Pytho, the original name of Delphi. Some ancient sources connect the name to the Greek verb pythein, meaning “to rot,” referring to the decay of the serpent’s body after Apollo’s victory. The term also gives rise to “Pythia,” the title of the Delphic priestess.
Description and Abilities
Python is typically described as a giant serpent or dragon, coiled around the slopes of Mount Parnassus or guarding the sacred spring of Castalia. In some accounts, it emits a poisonous breath and is capable of constricting or devouring intruders. As an earth-born creature, it is immortal and ancient, associated with prophecy, decay, and the raw power of the earth. Its role is less about combat and more about sacred dominion—Python is a force of nature, not a simple monster.
Origin and Family
Python is often considered a child of Gaia (Earth), created either to guard the omphalos—the navel of the world—or as a personification of the earth’s prophetic voice. Unlike many later monsters, Python has no known mate or offspring. Its identity is rooted in its function: guardian, symbol, and obstacle to the rise of Apollo.
Mythological Appearances
Homeric Hymn to Apollo – The most famous account of Apollo slaying Python with his golden arrows after seeking a place to establish his oracle.
Pausanias – Mentions the continued rituals at Delphi commemorating Python’s death.
Apollodorus – Records Python’s role in the early contests between the old earth-deities and the new Olympian gods.
Classical sources – Suggest that the killing of Python required Apollo to undergo ritual purification, as it was considered a miasma-inducing act despite the creature’s monstrous nature.
Modern Appearances
Literature
- The Song of Achilles – Contains allusions to Apollo’s violent beginnings, including the slaying of Python
- Circe by Madeline Miller – References the old prophetic traditions rooted in chthonic power before Apollo’s ascendancy
- Mythological essays and feminist retellings – Recast Python as a sacred guardian of the earth, slain to silence older, female-coded religious systems
Film and Television
- Clash of the Titans (1981) – While not named directly, serpentine monsters near prophetic sites recall Python’s image
- Kaos (Netflix, upcoming) – Anticipated to explore themes of divine violence and usurpation, possibly referencing Python
- Hercules: The Legendary Journeys – Includes dragon-serpent hybrids that draw on the Python myth
Video Games
- Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey – Delphi features prominently, with ruins and references to ancient serpents and Apollo’s conquest
- Smite – Apollo’s lore includes references to Python in ability descriptions and lore videos
- Age of Mythology – Python appears in campaigns or is reinterpreted as a guardian unit near temples
Other Media
- Magic: The Gathering – Serpent cards tied to prophecy and temples are often inspired by Python
- Dungeons & Dragons – Temple guardians and chthonic serpents frequently echo Python’s archetype
- Board Games – In games like Mythic Battles and Oracle Wars, Python appears as a boss linked to ancient prophecy
- Lego Mythical Sets – Fan creations feature coiled temple serpents based on Python’s form and mythic death