8 Apollo’s journeys in Northern Greece (206-245)

The Deeds of Apollo

Of what glorious accomplishment will I now sing which could add to your praise,

when all the deeds praised by song are already yours?[1]

[Since we judge the glory of a deed through the quality of our opponents]

Should I sing of

your many romantic contests?

of those glorious heroes in rivalry with you

as a young man,

enflamed by the passions of love?

Perhaps I should tell that most famous tale:

you in a lover’s pursuit of the daughter of Azan,

[Coronis?]^[1]

[Though of all women you had chosen her and she had welcomed you

she was justly punished for her betrayal and her deceit]

Your rival for her affection was Ischys:  210

like-a-god, at least in his appearance,

overly fond of his sleek and expensive chariot,

heir to Elatus’ wealth.

Or would it be pleasing for me to sing of your relationship with that son of Triopas?

Phorbas?

[Slayer of the great serpent]

[Your rival in love? Or perhaps,

you were in love with your rival?]

Or your rivalry against great Ereutheus?

Or your competition against Leucippus?^[2]

In a race for his very wife

though he was racing with horses, you challenged him on foot —

his accomplishments rivaled even that famous victory of Triopas.

Or perhaps I should again sing of

firsts?

[of how things came to be as they are…]

how and where you first sought a site

for your first and greatest oracle,

which brought order to all the lands of humanity.

 [And the glorious deeds which you accomplished along the way?]

[And from this moment,^[3] from your every step,

your rule and influence over mortals spreads

until it reaches every land:

[the rich Peloponnese

across Europa (Thrace and Thessaly)

throughout the water-circled Aegean islands.

But here, we trace your power as it spreads across Europa.]

The Domains of Apollo (II)

Northern  Greece

Apollo whose-arrows-travel-far, you far-traveled across the earth…  215

after descending from Olympus you came to Pieria

then headed south,

over the sands of Lektos

over the nomadic territories of the Ainianes and the Perrhaebians

passing through Thessaly and the territory around Iolkos.

You then crossed to cape Cenaeon

in the north of coastal Euboea,

–famous-for-its-ships–

Here,

pausing. Considering for a moment

a barren place devoid of humans:

the Lelantine plain.            220

But ultimately it brought no joy to your heart

to establish your first temple and sacred forested groves

there, on that land.

[Though one day it would hold your Daphnêphorion, the laurel temple,

which some claim as your first temple]

Apollo whose-arrows-travel-far, ever-further you traveled…

You went west from Euboea, crossing the Euripus Strait

climbing the holy, green hills of Messapio

swiftly passing Mycalessos and grassy Teumessos.

Here,

you landed, pausing. Considering for a moment

Thebes:

but found a busy city-center populated

 only by trees.        225

In that most ancient, sacred city

no mortals were dwelling.

For it had not been founded.

Not yet.

There were not any roads — or even any paths —

across Thebes’ wheat-bearing fields.

The city which would one day be ancient

was then, just a blanket of wild forest.

[Though it would one day be the site of your Ismenios temple, the oracle by fire

which some claim as your first temple.]

Apollo, whose-arrows-travel-far, you left and went further yet…

You came south into Boetian Onchestos,

a rite of passage through the famous bright grove of

Poseidon      230

whose-roaring-waves[are as the roar of young men competing] and

the salt-swells are as young colts striving but crashing upon the shore]

The Grove of Poseidon

[Make the grove present in your mind]:

a colt, just recently broken-in, breathes in sharply

pulling a heavy weight

behind: an impressive chariot.

See now:  the driver.

He leaps out of the chariot box

— by the grace of his motions, one can tell he is of true nobility —

His feet hit the ground.

He walks along the remaining road,

leaving behind the chariot.

The horses

now pull the car all on their own,

The cart

it swerves and rattles dangerously

suddenly free of its customary weight

without the guiding hand of the driver

[through a field littered with obstacles.]

[But why?]

This has always been the sacred ritual of the grove —

[a rite of passage for young men into adulthood]

done now even as it was at the first. 

[If the chariot leaves the grove intact, the lucky driver remounts and departs but]

if the unguided chariot of youth breaks before leaving the shady grove  235

the horses:

untied and

taken back into the care their owner but

the chariot itself:

turned over,

abandoned wherever it fell

[to be mourned amidst the graveyard of other chariots]

The concern of humans:

only the prayers and hopes for the future

 they offer to the godly-king here, nothing more.

The god’s holy concern:

the ultimate fate and honour of the chariot.

Apollo-whose-arrow-travels-far, from there you went further yet:

south, you came to the clear-flowing river Cephissus 240

whose beautiful water flows towards Lilaia.

After crossing this,

king

whose-deeds-are-far-known,

you went over the many towers of Okalea

and passed towards grassy Haliartos.

There, you walked towards

Telphousa.

There,

It finally brought joy to your heart,

to establish your first temple and sacred forest groves

over her.  245