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occurs in the margin of Act_16:16, a spirit of Python, where the text of the A. V. reads a spirit of divination. The word Python ( Ðýèùí in Greek mythology) is the name of a serpent, or dragon slain by Apollo, then transferred to Apollo himself; in later times used for diviners, soothsayers, held to be inspired of the Pythian Apollo (Plutarch, De Delect.; Orac. c. q.). The Pythones, like the obolth, “familiar spirits,” among the idolatrous Hebrews (Lev_19:31; 1Sa_28:3; 1Sa_28:7-9), were called ventriloquists because the god or spirit was supposed to be in them, and to speak from their bellies without any motion of the lips. SEE NECROMANCY.