APOLLONIA, feasts sacred to Apollo, instituted upon the following occasion. Apollo, having vanquished Python, went with his sister Diana to Egialea; but, being driven from thence, he removed to the island Crete. The Egialeans 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 Egialea; in memory of which, they dedicated a temple to Pitho, the goddess of perfusion; 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.