Kadmos and the Dragon

Site Library Library of Rome

Kadmos and the Dragon

Associated to Place: AncientWorlds > Hellas > Boiotia > Thebes > articles -- by * Damon Harmodios (11 Articles), Historical Article ₁ Featured January 28 , 2007

Kadmos Buries the Teeth

Legend tells that Thebes began as settlement of the mythical hero Kadmos. In search of his sister, abducted by Zeus, Kadmos sought the advice of the oracle at Delphi. Sibyl ordered the wanderer to cease his pursuit and instead follow a cow to the place where she lie exhausted, and there build a town. Kadmos followed the animal from Phokis into Boiotia, where finally it came to rest.

Seeking to sacrifice the cow to Athena, Kadmos sent his followers to the Castalian Spring to fetch water with which to cleanse the animal. Upon arrival, the people were killed by a dragon. Infuriated, Kadmos went forth and slay the beast, at which moment Athena appeared and instructed him to sow the dragon's teeth into the soil. Kadmos obliged the goddess, and immediately the earth spat forth a number of armed men. The threatened hero seized a number of stones and threw them at the warriors until but five remained. These men became the Spartoi, or sown men.

The Spartoi helped Kadmos build the Kadmeia, the ancient citadel of Thebes. The men thus became the founding nobles of the city. Kadmos sought to become king of Thebes, but was forced to wait until he had served eight years to Ares for the dragon's slaughter. Once his duties were complete, Kadmos was sent Harmonia, daughter of Ares and Aphrodite. The lavish wedding was attended by all the gods, and the mytholigical line of Theban kings was begun.

Sources:	Credits:
Wikipedia: Cadmus Plato & his Dialogues: Thebes	Cadmus Sowing the Dragon's Teeth by Maxfield Parrish, edited Source

Palace of the Empress of the Known Universe

~ Table of Contents ~

Early Claim
GRAND OPENING!
Thessalonike The Tragic Queen
Icelandic History
The Althingi
Byzantium before Constantine: The Greco-Roman City, 658 BCE - 330 CE
Odin's lament
A FATEFUL CHARIOT RACE: The STORY of PELOPS and OENOMAUS
Mastabas in the Vicinity of Unas Pyramid
Horemheb and His Contemporaries
Pepi I and His Consorts
Pepi II - an Unusually Long Reign
The Unas Pyramid and Surroundings.
The Last Royal Tombs of the Old Kingdom
The Step Pyramid of Djoser, Saqqara
Northern Saqqara - The Pyramids of Teti and Queens
Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep - Royal Manicurists and Prophets of Re.
Benu of Iunu - The Prototype Phoenix
Northern Saqqara - The Mastaba of Mereruka, His Wife & Son
Northern Saqqara - The Mastaba of Kagemni
Northern Saqqara III: The Tomb of Ankhmahor
Northern Saqqara IV: The Tomb of Akhethotep & Ptahotep
Northern Saqqara V: The Mastaba of Ti
Northern Saqqara VI: Early Dynastic & 3rd Dynastic Tombs
Northern Saqqara VII: The Serapeum
History of Devon
Styles of Houses in Ancient Egypt I
Styles of House in Ancient Egypt II
Styles of Houses in Ancient Egypt III
Northern Saqqara VII: Other Animal Burials
Calendar of Festivals of Aset
Aset Through History
Places of Worship
Aset in the Ancient Texts
Lady of Philae, Lady of Abaton

Posted Jan 20, 2007 - 16:51 , Last Edited: Jan 29, 2007 - 16:13