πύθων, -ωνος, ὁ

__1. in cl. Python, a serpent slain by Apollo, who is hence surnamed the Pythian.

__2. In Plut. (ii, 414 E), a name given to ventriloquist soothsayers (ἐγγαστρίμυθοι; cf. Lev.19:31 20:6, 27, 1Ki.28:7), and perhaps in this sense πνεῦμα πύθωνα, a python-spirit: Act.16:16.†

(AS)