Moustiers faience plate with Apollon and the snake Python, 18th century.

Plate with contoured edge in Moustiers earthenware with polychrome mythological decoration representing in the center in a medallion Apollo and the snake Python* surrounded by a band of flowers.
Marked Olérys-Laugier and the painter Salomé Cadet. 18th century.
D. 24,8 cm.
*Apollo and the Python after an engraving by Virgil Solis for book I of Ovid's Metamorphoses.
Apollo, son of Leto and Zeus, goes against Pyhton, a gigantic serpent living in Delphi and giving oracles. This one had persecuted relentlessly Leto, under the orders of Hera. Apollo chased the python and killed it with his golden arrows. He purified himself from this murder by washing himself in the waters of the river Penea. In memory of this victory, Apollo created the Pythian games.