Telphusa
nymphA spring nymph of Boeotia who tricked Apollo into building his oracle at Delphi instead of at her spring.
The Myth
When Apollo was searching for the perfect site to build his oracle, he came first to the spring of Telphusa in Boeotia. The location was beautiful: a clear spring flowing from rocks, surrounded by groves, far from the noise of cities. Apollo announced his intention to build there.
Telphusa did not want a god's temple overshadowing her spring. She would lose her autonomy, her quiet, her worshippers. So she lied — gracefully. She told Apollo that the site was too busy, that horses and mules drinking at her spring would disturb his sacred rites, and that a far better site existed at Crisa, below Mount Parnassus. Apollo believed her and went to Crisa, where he killed the dragon Python and established the oracle at Delphi.
But Apollo eventually realised he had been manipulated. He returned to Telphusa, furious, and buried her spring under a heap of rocks. He built an altar over it and declared that she would share her honour with him whether she liked it or not. The spring still flowed beneath the stones, but Telphusa's independence was broken. Apollo was worshipped there as Apollo Telphusius — wearing her name as a trophy.
Parents
Unknown; a Boeotian spring nymph
Symbols
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