Python or the Python or the python?

When referred to the monster slayed by Apollo Python, should we use the definite article "the"? I came across these two sentences under the Wikipedia entry the "Pythian Games":

Pythian Games - Wikipedia

1) In legend they were started by Apollo after he killed Python and set up the oracle at Delphi.
2) According to Ovid, the python was produced spontaneously by Gaea (mother earth) at the beginning of primordial time and was a threat to human beings.

I noticed that in the second sentence, the letter "p" is in small letter, so it means a serpent in a normal sense, rather than a specific reference. But then I did a Google Search, and found many instances of "the Python", with the capitalized letter "p".

So here is my question:

Which is correct? "Python" (zero article), "The Python", "the python", when used to referred to the Greek mythical creature?

It should probably be capitalized, with no article, in the Greek context.

avidsuper said:

So here is my question:

Which is correct? "Python" (zero article), "The Python", "the python", when used to referred to the Greek mythical creature?

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An initial capital is only needed when referring to the mythological “serpent or monster killed by Apollo near Delphi”: Python. It’s normally treated as the name of the creature, without an article.

The capitalised word has, however, been “borrowed” for various other purposes, most notably as the name of a computer programming language.

Without a capital, the word python means that type of snake/ (Dictionary.com also lists it as meaning a spirit or demon, or someone possessed by such a spirit, but this use is so rare as to not be worth worrying about.)

NB: Note that the Wikipedia article you’ve linked to does not include “the Python” at all. Its only reference to “the python” is in lower case!

A list of uses can be found here: Python - Wikipedia

avidsuper said:

Which is correct? "Python" (zero article), "The Python", "the python", when used to referred to the Greek mythical creature?

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Capital and zero article: it's the name of the specific snake killed by Apollo.

NB:

avidsuper said:

the monster slayed slain by Apollo Python

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RM1(SS) said:

NB:

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Thank you for pointing this out.

It seems that "slayed" and "slain" are both acceptable as the past participle for "slay".

Here is what is found in the free online dictionary:

slay​

(slā)
tr.v. slew (slo͞o) or slayed or slain (slān) or slayed, slay·ing, slays

avidsuper said:

Thank you for pointing this out.

It seems that "slayed" and "slain" are both acceptable as the past participle for "slay".

Here is what is found in the free online dictionary:

slay​

(slā)
tr.v. slew (slo͞o) or slayed or slain (slān) or slayed, slay·ing, slays

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Which online dictionary? Wiktionary notes slayed as (chiefly US, uncommon)
slayed - Wiktionary

AutumnOwl said:

Which online dictionary? Wiktionary notes slayed as (chiefly US, uncommon)
slayed - Wiktionary

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Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary
This one

avidsuper said:

Thank you for pointing this out.

It seems that "slayed" and "slain" are both acceptable as the past participle for "slay".

Here is what is found in the free online dictionary:

slay​

(slā)
tr.v. slew (slo͞o) or slayed or slain (slān) or slayed, slay·ing, slays

Click to expand...

I've certainly never seen it before.