APOLLONIA, feasts sacred to Apollo, instituted upon the following occasion. Apollo, having vanquished Python, went with his sister Diana to Ægialea; but, being driven from thence, he removed to the island Crete. The Ægialeans were soon after visited with a plague; upon which, consulting the soothsayers, they were ordered to send seven young men, and as many virgins, to appease those deities and bring them back into their country. Apollo and Diana being thus appeased, returned to Ægialea: in memory of which, they dedicated a temple to Pitho, the goddess of persuasion; whence a custom arose of choosing every year seven young men, and as many virgins, to go as it were in search of Apollo and Diana.