Pythios is a male given name of Greek origin, used as an epithet of the god Apollo. It derives directly from the Greek place name Πυθώ (Pytho), the ancient name for the city of Delphi. This place name likely comes from the Greek verb πύθω (pythō), meaning "to rot," reflecting the myth in which Apollo slayed the serpent Python at Delphi, whose body was left to rot in the sun.Cultural and Religious SignificanceIn ancient Greece, Apollo Pythios was a central cult figure at Delphi, site of the famous Oracle. The Pythian Games, held every four years in Delphi, were second only to the Olympics in importance and were also named after him. The name thus carries twin associations: the omens and predictions from the Oracle and the victors' laurels at the games.Notable BearersHistorical bearers include Pythios of Athens, a Greek sculptor of the 4th century BCE who helped build the Temple of Athena Nike on the Acropolis. Another was Pythaeus (a variant), a temple architect in Priene. The Hellenistic poet Pythios of Pella also appears in records, though few details survive. In myth, the form Pytho itself once belonged to the serpent that prompted Apollo's epithet.Meaning: Epithet of Apollo associated with DelphiOrigin: Greek, from Pythṓ (Delphi) and pýthō (to rot)Type: Given name derived from a divine epithetUsage Region: Ancient Greece