Branchus (; grc, Βράγχος, Brankhos) was the son of Smyrcus and a lover of the god

Apollo Apollo, grc, Ἀπόλλωνος, Apóllōnos, label=genitive , ; , grc-dor, Ἀπέλλων, Apéllōn, ; grc, Ἀπείλων, Apeílōn, label=Arcadocypriot Greek, ; grc-aeo, Ἄπλουν, Áploun, la, Apollō, la, Apollinis, label= ...

Greek mythology A major branch of classical mythology, Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the Ancient Greece, ancient Greeks, and a genre of Ancient Greek folklore. These stories concern the Cosmogony, origin and Cosmology#Metaphysical co ...

. Initially a shepherd in

Miletus Miletus (; gr, Μῑ́λητος, Mī́lētos; Hittite transcription ''Millawanda'' or ''Milawata'' (exonyms); la, Mīlētus; tr, Milet) was an ancient Greek city on the western coast of Anatolia, near the mouth of the Maeander River in a ...

, Branchus became a prophet after receiving prophetic abilities from Apollo. He introduced the worship of the god at

Didyma Didyma (; grc, Δίδυμα) was an ancient Greek sanctuary on the coast of Ionia in the domain of the famous city of Miletus. Apollo was the main deity of the sanctuary of Didyma, also called ''Didymaion''. But it was home to both of the tem ...

and founded a shrine for him at Miletus. His descendants, the Branchides, were an influential clan of prophets.

Mythology

Birth

Branchus was the son of Smyrcus and a distinguished Milesian woman. When giving birth, his mother had a vision of the sun entering her mouth, passing through her stomach and emerging from her genitals. The seers took this to be an excellent omen, and so her son was named Branchus, since the sun had passed through her ''bronchia'' (throat).

Conon Conon ( el, Κόνων) (before 443 BC – c. 389 BC) was an Athenian general at the end of the Peloponnesian War, who led the Athenian naval forces when they were defeated by a Peloponnesian fleet in the crucial Battle of Aegospotami; later he c ...

, ''Narrations'
33
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Encounter with Apollo

Branchus grew up to be the most handsome of men. One day, he came across

in the woods and, being enchanted with the beauty of the god, kissed him. Apollo embraced him and returned his affections. Later Apollo gave him a crown and a magical staff, and breathed the gift of prophecy into him. Having received these gifts, Branchus became a prophet and a priest of Apollo. He established the cult of Apollo at

. After Branchus suddenly disappeared, an altar was built on the place he kissed Apollo. A different story is given by

Callimachus Callimachus (; ) was an ancient Greek poet, scholar and librarian who was active in Alexandria during the 3rd century BC. A representative of Ancient Greek literature of the Hellenistic period, he wrote over 800 literary works in a wide variety ...

. One day, Apollo left

Delos The island of Delos (; el, Δήλος ; Attic: , Doric: ), near Mykonos, near the centre of the Cyclades archipelago, is one of the most important mythological, historical, and archaeological sites in Greece. The excavations in the island are ...

on a dolphin and reached a place called ''hiera hyle'' (sacred woods). It was there that he saw Branchus tending to his flocks and felt attracted to him. Wanting to seduce the mortal, Apollo appeared to him disguised as a goatherd. He first offered assistance in milking the goats, but the distracted god ended up milking a

billy goat The goat or domestic goat (''Capra hircus'') is a domesticated species of goat-antelope typically kept as livestock. It was domesticated from the wild goat (''C. aegagrus'') of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the a ...

. Embarrassed, Apollo revealed his divine nature. In order to persuade Branchus to abandon the herding and accompany him instead, Apollo guaranteed the safety and promised a supply of good grazing to the flocks. After they became lovers, Apollo taught Branchus the mantic arts. Apollo also looked after the flocks while Branchus practiced the art. On becoming a prophet, Branchus is said to have transplanted a shoot of the laurel tree at Delphi in the precinct of Didyma. The branches of this laurel tree were used by him to cure illness of the Milesians. Pfeiffer, Rudolf (1923) ''Callimachi fragmenta nuper reperta'' Milesians built temples dedicated to Branchus and Apollo and named them ''Philesia'', after the kiss of Branchus. There, the god was worshipped under the name ''Apollo Philesius'' (Apollo of the kiss). Temples dedicated to Branchus alone were called ''Branchiadon''. The oracles given by him were said to be second only to Apollo's oracles at

Delphi Delphi (; ), in legend previously called Pytho (Πυθώ), in ancient times was a sacred precinct that served as the seat of Pythia, the major oracle who was consulted about important decisions throughout the ancient classical world. The oracle ...

. The Branchides, who claimed descent from Branchus, were an important clan of prophets.Eddy Fontenrose, Joseph (1988), ''Didyma: Apollo's Oracle, Cult, and Companions''

Footnotes

References

{{Reflist Male lovers of Apollo Mythological Greek seers LGBT themes in Greek mythology Deeds of Apollo Classical oracles Greek mythology of Anatolia

Mythology

Birth

Encounter with Apollo

See also

Footnotes

References