Greek Myth VII: Hymns to Apollo, or Why Apollo’s Temples are In Pretty Places

Posted byTriumvir ClioPosted inGreek Myth, The Greeks

Some of my favorite places in Greece are where Apollo was revered. Delos is magnificently preserved, and Delphi, both the ruins and the modern city, are beautifully perched on the side of a mountain.

Temple on Delos
Delos – Image by Ben Lescure from Pixabay 
Temple of Apollo at Delphi
Temple of Apollo at Delphi – Image by Siggy Nowak from Pixabay
Discussion Prompts
  1. Why do you think the writer of Hymn 21 uses “Phoibos” instead of “Apollo”?
  2. What do you think the original purpose of Hymn 21 was?
  3. Do you think Hymn 3 is one poem or two? Why?
  4. Where do you think Ortygia is? Why?
  5. If you’ve been to both, which place do you like better: Delos or Delphi? Why?
  6. Why does it matter that Pytho is female? (And yes, it does matter.)
  7. Is the story of Typhaon important to this story? Why or why not?
  8. What do you think about Telphousa? Or Hera? Or Apollo?
  9. If Apollo is the god of prophecy, how is Telphousa able to trick him into going to Delphi to build his temple instead of building it at Telphousa?
  10. We normally think of the Oracle of Delphi, the female Pythia, but she is left out of Hymn 3. Why?

Published by Triumvir Clio

I have a BA in History and Classical Civilization from Loyola University Chicago and an MPH from Western Michigan University. I've been a geometry teacher, a religion teacher, a writing tutor. I'm a writer, a knitter, a dancer, a singer, an actor. And, yes, for fun I like to reread everything that was assigned while getting my classics degree.

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