Python: A Study of Delphic Myth and Its Origins

652 Pages·1980·137.659 MB·English

by  Joseph Fontenrose

PYTHON
A STUDY OF DELPHIC MYTH AND ITS ORIGINS
... through many a dark and drearie Vaile
they pass'd, and many a Region dolorous, ..
Where all life dies, death lives, and nature breeds,
Perverse, all monstrous, all prodigious things,
Abominable, inulterable, and worse
Then Fables yet have feign'd, or fear conceiv'd,
Gorgons and Hydras, and Chimeras dire.
MILTON, Paradise Lost, 1I;618-628
At which the universal Host upsent
A shout that tore Hells Concave, and beyond
Frighted the Reign of Chaos and old Night.
Ibid., 1,541-543
GLENDOWER. 1 can call spirits from the vasty deep.
HOTSPUR. Why, so can I, or so can any man;
But will t~ey come when you do call for them1
SHAKESPEARE,1 Henry IV,III, I 5J-55
J
PYTHON
A STUDY OF DELPHIC MYTH AND ITS ORIGINS
... through many a dark and drearie Vaile
they pass'd, and many a Region dolorous, ..
Where all life dies, death lives, and nature breeds,
Perverse, all monstrous, all prodigious things,
Abominable, inulterable, and worse
Then Fables yet have feign'd, or fear conceiv'd,
Gorgons and Hydras, and Chimeras dire.
MILTON, Paradise Lost, 1I;618-628
At which the universal Host upsent
A shout that tore Hells Concave, and beyond
Frighted the Reign of Chaos and old Night.
Ibid., 1,541-543
GLENDOWER. 1 can call spirits from the vasty deep.
HOTSPUR. Why, so can I, or so can any man;
But will t~ey come when you do call for them1
SHAKESPEARE,1 Henry IV,III, I 5J-55
J
A STUDY OF DELPHIC MYTH
AND ITS ORIGINS
JOSEPH FONTENROSE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIF9RNIA PRESS
BERKELEY, LOS ANGELES, LONDON
A STUDY OF DELPHIC MYTH
AND ITS ORIGINS
JOSEPH FONTENROSE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIF9RNIA PRESS
BERKELEY, LOS ANGELES, LONDON
TO
JANE, BOB, AND ANNE
WHO LIKE TO SEE THE DRAGON
GET HIS DUE
PREFACE TO
THE 1980 EDITION
Of the several books that I have written Python has given me
most pleasureandsatisfaction,and soI am happytosee itappear in
paperbound form. Paperbound publication would seem to mean
that a scholarly book has met with sufficient approval among ed
ucated readers and that its central thesis has stood the test of time.
My method ofmyth study is thematic. It has metobjections, but
itseems tome theonly method thatcan be used toshow the genetic
UNIVERSITY OF CAUFORNIA PRESS relationshipofseveral myths tooneanotherand thedescentofeach
BERKELEY AND LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA with modifications from a common original. It is a kind of struc
turalmethod,althoughnot Levi-Straussian. Historicalevidenceand
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS, LTD.
othermethodsmaysupplementit, but thismethod isindispensable.
LONDON, ENGLAND
A single theme may appear spontaneously in several places; a pat·
©
1959, BY THE REGENl'S OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
tern of themes must have a single origin.
FIRST PAPERBACK PRINTING 1980 Thereader should not suppose that the theme list on pages 9-11
CALIFORNIA LIBRARY REPRINT SERIFS EDITION 1980
isa "prearranged framework," as onereviewercalled it,as though I
ISBN 0-520-04091-0 PAPER had drawn it up when I began my study of the combat myth, and
0-520-04106-2 CLOTH
had then fitted every myth to it. In fact, the themesemerged in the
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOG CARD NUMBER: 59-5144
course of study. while I was preparing the first eight chapters; and
DESIGNED BY WARD RITCHIE I didnothaveall forty-three themesuntil ChapterVIIIwaswritten.
PRINTED I~ THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA After completing the book I placed the theme list after the In
troduction for readers' convenience, and inserted references to it
I 2 345 6 7 8 9 in the first eightchapters.
Norshould thereader takemyremarkson pages217-218,assome
reviewers have done, to mean that I find the origin of the combat
myth in some actual struggle of a prellistoric man with a savage
TO
JANE, BOB, AND ANNE
WHO LIKE TO SEE THE DRAGON
GET HIS DUE
PREFACE TO
THE 1980 EDITION
Of the several books that I have written Python has given me
most pleasureandsatisfaction,and soI am happytosee itappear in
paperbound form. Paperbound publication would seem to mean
that a scholarly book has met with sufficient approval among ed
ucated readers and that its central thesis has stood the test of time.
My method ofmyth study is thematic. It has metobjections, but
itseems tome theonly method thatcan be used toshow the genetic
UNIVERSITY OF CAUFORNIA PRESS relationshipofseveral myths tooneanotherand thedescentofeach
BERKELEY AND LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA with modifications from a common original. It is a kind of struc
turalmethod,althoughnot Levi-Straussian. Historicalevidenceand
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS, LTD.
othermethodsmaysupplementit, but thismethod isindispensable.
LONDON, ENGLAND
A single theme may appear spontaneously in several places; a pat·
©
1959, BY THE REGENl'S OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
tern of themes must have a single origin.
FIRST PAPERBACK PRINTING 1980 Thereader should not suppose that the theme list on pages 9-11
CALIFORNIA LIBRARY REPRINT SERIFS EDITION 1980
isa "prearranged framework," as onereviewercalled it,as though I
ISBN 0-520-04091-0 PAPER had drawn it up when I began my study of the combat myth, and
0-520-04106-2 CLOTH
had then fitted every myth to it. In fact, the themesemerged in the
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOG CARD NUMBER: 59-5144
course of study. while I was preparing the first eight chapters; and
DESIGNED BY WARD RITCHIE I didnothaveall forty-three themesuntil ChapterVIIIwaswritten.
PRINTED I~ THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA After completing the book I placed the theme list after the In
troduction for readers' convenience, and inserted references to it
I 2 345 6 7 8 9 in the first eightchapters.
Norshould thereader takemyremarkson pages217-218,assome
reviewers have done, to mean that I find the origin of the combat
myth in some actual struggle of a prellistoric man with a savage
vi PREFACE TOTHE 1980 ED IT ION
beast or brigand. What I say there is that actual combatssuggested
thecentral themeofcombat. Astorytellercouldnot imagineacom·
bat if nobody had ever fought one. And these remarks should not
be combined with those on page 464 concerning the earliest folk
narratives: they are not limited to the combat myth, which could
have been a myth to begin with. Certainly the reader should not
suppose that the process by which the combat myth wasdeveloped
wasrepeatedinthedevelopmentofeachvariant.Thatwouldhardly
be consistent with agenetic relationship. Each variant is the myth
itself, modified in transmission over space and time and affected by
local circumstances. PREFACE
Pythonrevealsthewaysofmyth, and it ismyhope thatthepaper
bound edition will make these known to many more readers.
Berkeley JosephFontenrose My interest in the Delphic oracle, which began more than
August14,1979 twenty years ago, and my interest in Greek mythology, which I
have had since childhood, have led me inevitably to a study of
the combat of Apollo with the dragon Python, the origin myth
of Apollo's Delphic shrine. I have found it a profitable and excit
ing study. It has carried me to the myths, legends, and folktales of
many lands, of Greece, Anatolia, Canaan, Mesopotamia, Egypt,
India, China, Japan, Germanic Europe, medieval Christendom,
even of Central America and the Pacific Coast.
This book, I hope and believe, will be useful not only to classi
cists and orientalists, but also to folklorists, anthropologists. and
all readers who like myths and folktales. I have therefore tried to
suit it to intelligent readers who may have little or no knowledge
of ancient or Asiatic languages. In chapters vii, viii, and ix and
appendix 3,which deal with Oriental myths, I have cited not only
editions of the original text and Orientalists' trflnslations of them
into German, French, or English, but also semipopular English
translations and summaries. For example, I refer to Donald Mac
kenzie's books on Babylonian, Egyptian, and Indian myths,
which, though the works ofa nonspecialist, now outdated in some
particulars, are competent, interesting. and not likely to mislead
the reader. Such books, moreover, may be found in many publ"ic
and private libraries; whereas the text editions, commentaries,
and specialists' translations are available only in a few university
or other learned libraries.
vi PREFACE TOTHE 1980 ED IT ION
beast or brigand. What I say there is that actual combatssuggested
thecentral themeofcombat. Astorytellercouldnot imagineacom·
bat if nobody had ever fought one. And these remarks should not
be combined with those on page 464 concerning the earliest folk
narratives: they are not limited to the combat myth, which could
have been a myth to begin with. Certainly the reader should not
suppose that the process by which the combat myth wasdeveloped
wasrepeatedinthedevelopmentofeachvariant.Thatwouldhardly
be consistent with agenetic relationship. Each variant is the myth
itself, modified in transmission over space and time and affected by
local circumstances. PREFACE
Pythonrevealsthewaysofmyth, and it ismyhope thatthepaper
bound edition will make these known to many more readers.
Berkeley JosephFontenrose My interest in the Delphic oracle, which began more than
August14,1979 twenty years ago, and my interest in Greek mythology, which I
have had since childhood, have led me inevitably to a study of
the combat of Apollo with the dragon Python, the origin myth
of Apollo's Delphic shrine. I have found it a profitable and excit
ing study. It has carried me to the myths, legends, and folktales of
many lands, of Greece, Anatolia, Canaan, Mesopotamia, Egypt,
India, China, Japan, Germanic Europe, medieval Christendom,
even of Central America and the Pacific Coast.
This book, I hope and believe, will be useful not only to classi
cists and orientalists, but also to folklorists, anthropologists. and
all readers who like myths and folktales. I have therefore tried to
suit it to intelligent readers who may have little or no knowledge
of ancient or Asiatic languages. In chapters vii, viii, and ix and
appendix 3,which deal with Oriental myths, I have cited not only
editions of the original text and Orientalists' trflnslations of them
into German, French, or English, but also semipopular English
translations and summaries. For example, I refer to Donald Mac
kenzie's books on Babylonian, Egyptian, and Indian myths,
which, though the works ofa nonspecialist, now outdated in some
particulars, are competent, interesting. and not likely to mislead
the reader. Such books, moreover, may be found in many publ"ic
and private libraries; whereas the text editions, commentaries,
and specialists' translations are available only in a few university
or other learned libraries.
viii PREFACE PREFACE ix
I have usually translated Greek and Latin words, phrases, and treated. My own study of the sources has led me to every conclu
sentences quoted in the text, and I have usually written single sion expressed in this book, though I may not be the first to have
Greek words in Roman rather than Greek letters. In the text I reached any particular conclusion. I have tried to give credit
have spelled Oriental names in a manner that the nonspecialist where credit is due; but it may well be that 1have overlooked an
reader can easily pronounce, provided that he give vowels their earlier expression of some view which I have expressed-such
Italian values, and that in Indian names he be willing to pro oversight has been unintended.
nounce f like sh and c like ch in church (9aci is pronounced With great pleasure I acknowledge my gratitude to several
Shachi), since I wish to distinguish (in spelling) the palatal sibi persons and institutions for assisting me in writing and publishing
lant (f) from the lingual sibilant ($), for which I use sh, and the Python. Since my Delphic and Ovidian studies meet in this book,
palatal surd (c) from the corresponding surd aspirate, which is I must thank the American Council of Learned Societies for a
commonly transliterated ch; in the notes, however, I transliterate fellowship which allowed me to visit the ruins of ancient Delphi
the names according to a system which many English and Ameri as part of my earliest study of the Delphic oracle, Yale University
can Indologists employ, and which.makes use of diacritical marks. Graduate School for a Sterling Fellowship which allowed me to
In this book I have abandoned my former practice of Latin continue my Delphic studies, and the American Academy in
ising all Greek names. I have come to believe that such forms as Rome for a senior fellowship in Classics which enabled me to
Cronus) Cadmus) Heracles) misrepresent the Greek name to Eng spend a year up?n the study of the text of Ovid's Metamorphoses.
lish readers (and two of these three names have no existence in I am grateful to the University of California for research grants
Latin literature); and so I now spell them in their directly trans which enabled me to pay for photographs and drawings of art
literated forms: Kronos) Kadmos) Herakles (I certainly don't works, map-making, typing, and some checking of references; to
believe in c for kappa, when we have a perfectly good k in our the British Museum for photographs of art works reproduced in
alphabet). Then the name is the same whether spelled in Greek or my figures 5, 9, 14, 18, and for permission to publish them; to the
e Chicago Oriental Institute for a photograph of the seal cylinder
Roman letters (only in special circumstances do I use and 0 to
distinguish eta and omega from epsilon and·omicron). 1 retain reproduced in figure 19, and for permission to publish it; to
Viking Press for permission to quote from John Steinbeck's The
only those Latinised forms which are long established in English
(e.g., Aeschylus, Apollo) and which would look very strange if Forgotten Village)' to Random House for permission to quote
from Robinson Jeffers' Hungerfield.
directly transliterated (but if the only difference between the
To my colleagues Ivan Unforth, Louis Mackay, and William
Greek and Latinised forms is -os> -us, there is no good reason
why the name should not be spelled with -os, e.g., Herodotos). Helmbold I owe a great debt of gratitude for their careful reading
of my entire manuscript and for their many valuable comments
I have also taken care to keep certain authors' names in their
Latinised spelling, e.g., Callimachus, since librarians list their and suggestions. My debt is also great to J~rgen Laess~e and
Murray Emeneau for reading chapters vii-ix in manuscript and
works under the Latinised names. But though I write Lykia for
for the help that they gave me in finding or suggesting relevant
the country's name, I use the adjective Lycian)' since the suffix is
sources of information. My thanks also to Peter Boodberg and
English, Lykian is a hybrid form. However, perfect consistency
Edward Schafer for help in dealing with Chinese mythology; to
in this matter is neither possible nor desirable.
I have arranged footnotes, citations, and bibliography in a man Robert Heizer and Jacques Schnier for reprints of articles; to
ner which, I think, avoids cumbrousness without sacrifice of use~ Ben Meritt for a copy of the inscription from Apollo's cave on
the Acropolis of Athens; to H. R. W. Smith for valuable help in
fulness and clarity. I have tried to cite all relevant sources and
finding vase paintings and other art works; to other friends who
all important scholarly works which have dealt with the subjects
viii PREFACE PREFACE ix
I have usually translated Greek and Latin words, phrases, and treated. My own study of the sources has led me to every conclu
sentences quoted in the text, and I have usually written single sion expressed in this book, though I may not be the first to have
Greek words in Roman rather than Greek letters. In the text I reached any particular conclusion. I have tried to give credit
have spelled Oriental names in a manner that the nonspecialist where credit is due; but it may well be that 1have overlooked an
reader can easily pronounce, provided that he give vowels their earlier expression of some view which I have expressed-such
Italian values, and that in Indian names he be willing to pro oversight has been unintended.
nounce f like sh and c like ch in church (9aci is pronounced With great pleasure I acknowledge my gratitude to several
Shachi), since I wish to distinguish (in spelling) the palatal sibi persons and institutions for assisting me in writing and publishing
lant (f) from the lingual sibilant ($), for which I use sh, and the Python. Since my Delphic and Ovidian studies meet in this book,
palatal surd (c) from the corresponding surd aspirate, which is I must thank the American Council of Learned Societies for a
commonly transliterated ch; in the notes, however, I transliterate fellowship which allowed me to visit the ruins of ancient Delphi
the names according to a system which many English and Ameri as part of my earliest study of the Delphic oracle, Yale University
can Indologists employ, and which.makes use of diacritical marks. Graduate School for a Sterling Fellowship which allowed me to
In this book I have abandoned my former practice of Latin continue my Delphic studies, and the American Academy in
ising all Greek names. I have come to believe that such forms as Rome for a senior fellowship in Classics which enabled me to
Cronus) Cadmus) Heracles) misrepresent the Greek name to Eng spend a year up?n the study of the text of Ovid's Metamorphoses.
lish readers (and two of these three names have no existence in I am grateful to the University of California for research grants
Latin literature); and so I now spell them in their directly trans which enabled me to pay for photographs and drawings of art
literated forms: Kronos) Kadmos) Herakles (I certainly don't works, map-making, typing, and some checking of references; to
believe in c for kappa, when we have a perfectly good k in our the British Museum for photographs of art works reproduced in
alphabet). Then the name is the same whether spelled in Greek or my figures 5, 9, 14, 18, and for permission to publish them; to the
e Chicago Oriental Institute for a photograph of the seal cylinder
Roman letters (only in special circumstances do I use and 0 to
distinguish eta and omega from epsilon and·omicron). 1 retain reproduced in figure 19, and for permission to publish it; to
Viking Press for permission to quote from John Steinbeck's The
only those Latinised forms which are long established in English
(e.g., Aeschylus, Apollo) and which would look very strange if Forgotten Village)' to Random House for permission to quote
from Robinson Jeffers' Hungerfield.
directly transliterated (but if the only difference between the
To my colleagues Ivan Unforth, Louis Mackay, and William
Greek and Latinised forms is -os> -us, there is no good reason
why the name should not be spelled with -os, e.g., Herodotos). Helmbold I owe a great debt of gratitude for their careful reading
of my entire manuscript and for their many valuable comments
I have also taken care to keep certain authors' names in their
Latinised spelling, e.g., Callimachus, since librarians list their and suggestions. My debt is also great to J~rgen Laess~e and
Murray Emeneau for reading chapters vii-ix in manuscript and
works under the Latinised names. But though I write Lykia for
for the help that they gave me in finding or suggesting relevant
the country's name, I use the adjective Lycian)' since the suffix is
sources of information. My thanks also to Peter Boodberg and
English, Lykian is a hybrid form. However, perfect consistency
Edward Schafer for help in dealing with Chinese mythology; to
in this matter is neither possible nor desirable.
I have arranged footnotes, citations, and bibliography in a man Robert Heizer and Jacques Schnier for reprints of articles; to
ner which, I think, avoids cumbrousness without sacrifice of use~ Ben Meritt for a copy of the inscription from Apollo's cave on
the Acropolis of Athens; to H. R. W. Smith for valuable help in
fulness and clarity. I have tried to cite all relevant sources and
finding vase paintings and other art works; to other friends who
all important scholarly works which have dealt with the subjects