THE STORY OF APOLLO DELPHINOS (from the Homeric Hymn to Apollo)
After Phoebus Apollo had first established the temple site at Delphi, he pondered in his spirit what people he would lead in as ministers who would serve in rocky Pytho.
Stirring up these thoughts, he noticed on the wine-dark sea a swift ship. In it were many brave sailors, Cretans from Minoan Knossos, who would soon conduct sacrifices and announce the ordinances of Phoebus Apollo, whatever he spoke in prophesying from the laurel beneath the hollows of Parnassos. They were sailing in a black ship, headed for sandy Pylos and to the people born on Pylos for business and goods.
But Phoebus Apollo, who had other ideas, met them. On the sea he likened his body to a dolphin and rushed upon the their swift ship and lay upon it, a huge and dreadful beast.
Whoever of them thought in his spirit to return home, the dolphin would shake all over and rattle the ship's timbers. They sat on the ship in silence and fear, and did not loosen the sheets throughout the hollow black ship or the sail of ship with a black prow.
But as they had first set it up with ox-hide ropes, so they kept sailing. A rushing south wind drove the swift ship from the stern. First they passed by Maleia and Lakonia and reached the sea-garlanded city and land of Helios who delights the hearts of all, Tainaros, where always graze the deep-fleeced sheep of lord Helios, and he has this pleasant land.
They wanted to beach the ship and disembark and think over the great wonder and see with their eyes whether the monster would remain on the deck of the hollow ship or leap into the briny swell teeming with fish. But the well-built ship did not obey the rudder, but past wealthy Peloponnesos, it held its course.
With a breeze lord far-darting Apollo easily directed it, and it made its way past a number of places.
But when they had passed by the Peloponessos, then Krisa's boundless gulf came into sight. A wind came up, a strong and clear west wind at Zeus's decree that cuts off the fat Peloponnesos, a powerful wind, rushing from the upper air, so that quickly the running ship might make end to the sea's salty water. Then they sailed back toward dawn and sun, and their pilot was Apollo.
They reached Krisa, visible from afar and covered with vines, and its harbor. Here the sea-faring ship slid up the sand. Then there leaped from the ship, lord far-darting Apollo, like a star at mid-day. Sparks flew from him, and then brilliance mounted to the heavens. He entered his shrine between priceless tripods.
Then he kindled a flame, revealing his shafts and their brilliance gripped all Krisa. the wives of Krisians and beautiful-girded daughters cried out at Phoebus' rushing, for he instilled in each a great awe. He sprang up like a thought to fly to the sky, likened to a vigorously strong man in the prime of life, hair covering his broad shoulders.
Then he spoke and addressed them with winged words:
"O strangers, who are you? Where do you sail the watery ways from? On what business do you roam aimlessly like pirates over the sea who wander, staking their lives and bringing evil to foreigners. Why ever do you sit there in terror and not go out onto the land and stow your black ship's gear? This is the way of sea-farers, that whenever they come from the sea to land in a black ship, having their fill of weariness, at once the desire for sweet food seizes them about the heart."
Thus he spoke and instilled courage in their breasts.
The captain of the Cretans answered him and said:
"Stranger, since you are not at all like mortals, not in body and not in stature, but like immortal gods, hail to you, and may the gods give you happiness. Tell me this truly so I may know. What country is this? What land? What mortals live here? We were sailing the main with another purpose, bound to Pylos from Crete, where we boast to be from. Now we have come here by ship, not at all willingly but wanting our homecoming by another voyage and other ways. Someone of the immortals brought us here against our will."
Then answering thus spoke far-darting Apollo:
"Strangers, who haunted wooded Knossos before, now you shall no longer be returning, each one, to your lovely city and beautiful homes and wife, but here you will hold my fat temple that is honored by many. I am the son of Zeus. I am Apollo. I brought you here over the great main of the sea, not in ill intent toward you, but so that you will hold my fat temple that is honored by all. You shall know the plans of the immortals, by whose pleasure you shall always be honored continually all your days. Well, then, do as I say. Loosen the sheets, and lower the sail. Drag your swift ship up onto the land. Remove your possessions and the ship's tackle. Build an altar on the breakers of the sea, light a fire, and offer white barley. Stand around the altar and pray. Since I first leaped on your swift ship likened to a dolphin on the dark sea, pray to me as Delphinios. The altar itself will always be Delphinios and Visible From Afar. Then take your dinner beside the swift black ship, and pour libations for the blessed gods who hold Olympos. But after you have put away your desire for sweet food, pray to me, and hymn me as Ie paieon until you come to where you will hold my fat temple."
Thus he spoke, and they heard and obeyed. First, they lowered the sail and loosened the sheets. They drew the mast near its slot by its forestays. They went out on the breakers of the sea and dragged the swift ship from the sea onto land, high up on the sand, and fixed long stays under it. They built an altar on the breakers of the sea. Lighting a fire, they offered white barley and, standing around the altar, they prayed as he ordered. Then they took dinner beside the swift black ship and poured libations for the blessed gods who hold Olympos.
But after they had put aside their desire for drink and food, they set out. And their leader was Apollo, who held in his hand a lyre and played it beautifully as he stepped high and grandly. They followed in rhythmic beat to Pytho, the Cretans, and say "Ie paieon" like the festive singers of Crete in whose breasts the goddess Muse placed honeyed-voiced song.
Tireless in foot, they approached the ridge and came straightway to Paranassos and the lovely place where he was going to dwell, honored by many.
He led the way and showed them his holiest shrine and fat temple. The spirit welled up in their breasts, and the captain of the Cretans asked him, saying:
"O lord, since you have brought us far from kinsmen and our father land-it suited your spirit-- how will make a living now? Please tell us. This lively land does not bear vines or meadows that we may live well and serve people."
He smiled and spoke, did Zeus' son Apollo, "Foolish men and poor wretches, you who wish for painful anxieties and toil and hard straits. Easily, will I say a word to you and you lay it to heart. Although each one of you with a knife in his right hand were to slaughter sheep constantly, there will always be an unbegrudging supply that the renowned tribes of people shall bring me. Guard my temple, and welcome the tribes of all who gather here and especially in my direction. If you return to the land you once called your home, your word or deed shall be vain and outrage, as is the custom of mortals, other people will be your bosses beneath whose necessity you will cower every day. All has been said, you guard it in your hearts."
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