The temple to the beautiful and accomplished son of Jupiter and Latona, the god of music and prophecy, as well as other things of equal or less consequence, was the fourth to be erected upon the same site on Mount Parnassus, in the ancient city of Delphi, known to the older poets as Pytho, a name derived from the serpent Python which Apollo slew. In this temple, which was the first of the four to be built with stone, the others having been constructed out of the branches of the bay tree and other equally perishable materials, dwelt the much respected and frequently consulted Delphic Oracle. The spot in the temple from which the prophetic vapor issued to inspire the priestess with second sight was said to be the central point of the earth, and that where the two eagles despatched by Jupiter to ascertain that point met and fell. Pythia, the priestess of Apollo, who gave mouth to the oracles, sat on a sacred tripod placed over the opening from which the vapor issued, and gave forth her words of wisdom in prose or poetry as the occasion demanded. If in prose, her prognostications would be immediately verified, and if in verse some time must elapse before they could be fulfilled. Pythia was not always on duty, but could be consulted only on certain days during the month of Busius in the spring. There is no doubt but that she made some very remarkable prophecies, but, alas! it is also recorded that, like some of the political oracles of these degenerate times, her prophetic vision was not infrequently influenced by “a previous interview.” A notable case of this kind was that in which the Alemæonidæ were entangled; who for political reasons and effect rebuilt the same temple after it was destroyed by fire in the year 548 B.C., as we shall see later. But we have drifted from the subject. It is claimed by some that Agamedes was the son of Stymphalus, who was murdered and had his body cut up in pieces, and a grandson of the old ancestor of the Arcadian Arcas, who in turn was a son of Zeus. Others say that the father of Agamedes was Apollo, and his mother was Epicaste, and still others are of the opinion that his parents were none other than Zeus himself and Iocaste, another name for Epicaste, and that Trophonius was his son. All this genealogy is, however, disturbed if we accept the more probable one, that he was a son of Erginus, king of Orchomenus, and that he was a brother of Trophonius. By the way, Trophonius is also said to have been a son of Apollo. When these two young men attained to manhood they became very expert in the art of building temples to the gods and palaces for kings. Thus having established enviable reputations in their profession, they were retained to plan and supervise the works mentioned.