Cadmus: the Non-Greek Hero of Greece
The Myth of the dragon-slaying, city-building ‘barbarian’
Dear Classical Wisdom Kids,
Today we will learn about one of the greatest ancient “Greek” heroes of all time.... Except, he wasn’t Greek! Nonetheless, he is absolutely critical to Greek mythology and may actually represent how the ancient Greeks accepted and incorporated Eastern traditions...
But before you learn about this important dragon-slaying, city-building ‘barbarian’, a quick note and thank you to our Classical KIDS who joined yesterday’s discussion on the Homeric Hymn to Demeter!
We talked about the myth, played some games and discussed its meaning... we even got into some ideas that are really, really hard - even for adults!
We’ll plan the next Classical KIDS get together soon - so watch this space.
In the meantime, who exactly was the hero Cadmus? Read on below to find out and KIDS club members, please enjoy the review, discussion and go further sections afterwards!
All the best,
Anya Leonard
Founder and Director
Classical Wisdom Kids
Cadmus: the Non-Greek Hero of Greece
by Ed Whelan
There are many heroes from Greek mythology like Achilles, Odysseus and Jason. Yet among these, there is a figure that is especially remarkable: Cadmus, the legendary founder of Thebes.
What makes Cadmus special is that he was a foreigner, or in Greek terms, a barbarian. Yet he is still considered by the Greeks as one of the greatest heroes before Heracles!
The Early Adventures of Cadmus
Cadmus was born in Phoenicia, and was the son of King Agenor, yet his real father may have been Zeus. His sister was the beautiful Europa, from whom we have the name Europe, and she was stolen away by Zeus. Cadmus was sent to find her and bring her home, but he had no success. So he visited the Oracle of Delphi for some help in his search.
He was told to stop his search, and instead focus on founding a city. The Oracle ordered him to follow a cow with unusual markings. Where she lay down, he was to find a city.
He followed the cow to Boeotia (land of cows), and she eventually lay down. Then he laid the foundation for the city of Thebes, one of the greatest cities in the Classical world.
During the construction of Thebes, the first people were threatened by a dragon from a nearby spring. Cadmus, like any hero, killed the dragon.
In Greek mythology, the teeth of dragons had special powers when they were sown in the ground. Cadmus sowed the earth with the slain dragons’ teeth, and from these grew armed warriors, who were called Sparti (or ‘the sown’ in Greek).
The warriors immediately started being violent, and killed each other until only five were left. These five were enlisted by Cadmus and helped him to build a citadel in Thebes. The descendants of the five Sparti became the leading families of Thebes.
The Later Adventures of Cadmus
Yet all was not well. Cadmus had offended the god of war, Ares. The slain dragon was sacred to the god. As such, the hero had to serve Ares for eight years. After the eight years were finished, Ares gave his daughter Harmonia to Cadmus as his bride. Their wedding was attended by many of the gods. The couple had a son and four daughters, the last of which was Semele (who would become the mother of Dionysus, the god of wine).
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