The design on this kylix shows the god Apollo, god of the sun, poetry, music, healing and prophecy. Young Apollo had to earn his place among divinities, and so he traversed the world seated on a golden, winged tripod, which skimmed the waves like a flying fish. And everywhere he went, dolphins and fish would play around him, and jump out of the water to greet him.

Apollo needed to choose a place to make his own, and after looking at some islands, he found a quiet place where a small spring came out of the ground. The spring was occupied already by a nymph, Telphusa. The nymph, wanting to discourage him from taking her place, suggested a more remote spot, where horses wouldn't come to drink, and where people would come only to make offerings and ask for help.

Apollo followed her directions, and came to a rocky mountain, that gave way to acres of trees with the sea beyond. He found a small cave, and a cave, with it's opening into the deep Earth was a con connection with Mother Earth. This cave had a spring, and emitted strange vapors and fogs- surely a sign the Mother was near. A fierce dragon was guarding the cave, but Apollo shot it with his arrows, and killed at the entrance to the cave.

Apollo had a temple built, shanghaied some worshippers from a passing Cretan ship, and had priestesses sit in a cell under the temple, breathing in the strange vapors that were emitted from the cave. The priestesses would then speak in unrecognizable languages which only Pan could interpret. Apollo asked Pan to train his priest and priestesses, and from then on they were able to interpret the answers from Oracle. The tripod remained as a sacred seat for interpreter of the Divine Oracle.