---
title: Cadmus
author: Liana Miate
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Cadmus/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2023-07-21
---
# Cadmus
_Authored by [Liana Miate](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/lianamiate/)_
Cadmus is a Phoenician-born prince and the founder and king of [Thebes](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Thebes/) in Boeotia in [Greek mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Mythology/). He travelled to [Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/) from his home in [Tyre](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tyre/) in search of his sister [Europa](https://www.worldhistory.org/Europa/) who had been kidnapped by [Zeus](https://www.worldhistory.org/zeus/). His rescue mission was abandoned after the Delphic Oracle informed him that his destiny would be to found a [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/).
Cadmus faced a dragon and served eight years as a servant to [Ares](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ares/) before he founded Thebes. He is considered one of the first great heroes in [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) [mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/mythology/), alongside [Hercules](https://www.worldhistory.org/hercules/), [Perseus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Perseus/), and [Bellerophon](https://www.worldhistory.org/Bellerophon/). He was also credited with bringing the [alphabet](https://www.worldhistory.org/alphabet/) to the Greeks.
### Family
Cadmus is the son of King Agenor and Queen Telephassa of Tyre and the brother of Europa, Phoenix, and Cilix. He married Harmonia, the daughter of Ares and [Aphrodite](https://www.worldhistory.org/Aphrodite/), and together they had five children.
> To Cadmus, golden Aphrodite's child
> Harmonia was married and she bore
> [Ino](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ino/) and Semele, and the fair-cheeked
> Agave, and Autonoe, the wife
> Of Aristaeus with the flowing hair,
> And Polydorus, in high-towered Thebes.
> ([Hesiod](https://www.worldhistory.org/hesiod/), *[Theogony](https://www.worldhistory.org/Theogony/)*, 973-979).
Although Cadmus and Harmonia had divine ancestry and were loved by the gods, their descendants were cursed, with lives that were defined by violence and [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/).
### Cadmus' Travels
Zeus was in love with Europa, and disguised himself as a [white bull](https://www.worldhistory.org/White_Bull/), luring her away from her family and kidnapping her. King Agenor sent his sons to rescue their sister and ordered them not to return without her; otherwise, they would be exiled. Cadmus and his brothers travelled far and wide, searching for their sister, but were unsuccessful in locating her or were unwilling to cross Zeus. They each settled in other lands, fearing the anger of their father.
During his search for Europa, Cadmus travelled with his mother to Rhodes, where he built a temple dedicated to Poseidon and another one in [Thera](https://www.worldhistory.org/thera/). [Herodotus](https://www.worldhistory.org/herodotus/) (c. 484-425/413 BCE) claimed that Cadmus left some [Phoenicians](https://www.worldhistory.org/phoenicia/) on the island of Thera, where they remained for eight generations. They also visited Thrace, where Telephassa fell ill and died.
[  Europa & the Bull of Zeus Unknown Artist (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/9362/europa--the-bull-of-zeus/ "Europa & the Bull of Zeus")### Cadmus & the Delphic Oracle
After laying his mother to rest in Thrace, Cadmus decided to seek the wisdom of the Delphic Oracle.
> At last he visited [Delphi](https://www.worldhistory.org/delphi/),
> and kneeling down he questioned the [god](https://www.worldhistory.org/God/):
> 'What land must I live in?'
> Phoebus replied, 'If you make for the wilds,
> you will soon be met
> by a cow that has never been yoked or harnessed
> to draw a ploughshare.
> She is to guide your path, and where she settles for grazing,
> found a city with walls and name the region Boeótia.'
> ([Ovid](https://www.worldhistory.org/ovid/), *Metamorphoses*, 3.7-13)
Cadmus travelled to Phocis, where King Pelagon sold him a cow with moon-shaped markings on its body. He and his companions followed it closely until it grew exhausted and lay down. Cadmus knew that this was the site of the city he would build. He decided to sacrifice the cow to [Athena](https://www.worldhistory.org/athena/) and sent his men to gather water from the Spring of Ares, unaware that it was guarded by a fierce dragon.
[  Cadmus Asks the Delphic Oracle Where He Can Find his Sister, Europa Hendrik Goltzius (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17655/cadmus-asks-the-delphic-oracle-where-he-can-find-h/ "Cadmus Asks the Delphic Oracle Where He Can Find his Sister, Europa")### The Dragon & the *Spartoi*
The dragon attacked and was killed by Cadmus. After sacrificing the cow, Athena appeared to him and instructed him to bury the dragon's teeth in the soil. He obeyed her orders, and armed men known as the *Spartoi* sprung from the ground and began fighting each other. Some sources say that it was Cadmus who made them fight by throwing a stone at them. Once the [battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) ended, there were only five *Spartoi* left standing. They were known as Chthonius, Hyperenor, Pelorus, Udaeus, and the greatest of them all, Echion, whom Cadmus gave to his daughter Agave in marriage.
The dragon was sacred to Ares, and he ordered Cadmus to be his servant for a 'great year' (believed to be eight years) in penance.
[  Cadmus Slaying the Dragon Bibi Saint-Pol (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/6229/cadmus-slaying-the-dragon/ "Cadmus Slaying the Dragon")### Marriage to Harmonia
After Cadmus was freed by Ares, he and the surviving *Spartoi* built a great citadel or [acropolis](https://www.worldhistory.org/Acropolis/), which was named Cadmeia after Cadmus. The walls of Thebes were built up around the citadel. After Thebes had been established, he married Harmonia, with some traditions saying that she was given to him by the gods. Their marriage was believed to have been a symbolic coupling of the Eastern (Phoenician) and Western (Greek) worlds.
Their wedding took place at Thebes and was a grand affair. It was the first wedding of mortals that the [12 Olympian gods](https://www.worldhistory.org/collection/58/the-12-olympian-gods/) all attended. In their honour, Cadmus had twelve golden thrones set up for them. The [Muses](https://www.worldhistory.org/muse/) entertained the guests with [music](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Music/), and all the gods brought gifts for the couple, including Aphrodite, who gave her daughter the golden necklace that would become known as the Necklace of Harmonia in Greek mythology and which bought bad luck to all who wore it, although other traditions state that Cadmus himself gave the necklace to his wife.
According to [Pausanias](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Pausanias/) (c. 115 to c. 180 CE) in his *Description of Greece*, the ruins of the house of Cadmus, where the wedding took place, could still be seen in the marketplace of Thebes. Cadmus and Harmonia had four daughters, Semele, Ino, Autonoë, and Agave, and a son called Polydorus.
[  The Sanctuary of the Kabeiroi, Thebes Athanasios Fountoukis (CC BY-NC-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15980/the-sanctuary-of-the-kabeiroi-thebes/ "The Sanctuary of the Kabeiroi, Thebes")### Later Life
Some traditions state that Cadmus locked his daughter Semele and her newborn son [Dionysos](https://www.worldhistory.org/Dionysos/) in a chest and set them out to sea to die. Dionysos was then brought up by Semele's sister Ino who was then driven to madness by [Hera](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hera/). Growing increasingly disillusioned, and with his city being embroiled in civil unrest, Cadmus blamed the death of the sacred dragon for his family's bad luck. He abdicated, and either his son Polydorus or his grandson Pentheus became king of Thebes in his place.
After the violent death of their grandchildren and daughter Ino, Cadmus and Harmonia travelled to Illyria, where he helped the Echeleans fight. Some sources state that he later founded the [cities](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) of Lychnidos and Bouthoe and became their king. One day he spoke aloud and said that if the gods were so worried about the life of a serpent, then he would like to become a serpent himself. His body immediately began to grow scales and change its form. Upon seeing her husband's transformation, Harmonia prayed to the gods that she would join her husband, and they granted her her wish.
In other traditions, Cadmus and Harmonia were transformed into serpents after their deaths, and the serpents watched over their tombs while their souls were sent to the Elysian Fields. In [Euripides](https://www.worldhistory.org/Euripides/)' (c. 484-407 BCE) [Greek tragedy](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Tragedy/), the *[Bacchae](https://www.worldhistory.org/Bacchae/)*, Dionysos tells Cadmus that both he and Harmonia will be turned into serpents before being brought to live in the Isles of the Blest.
> You will become a serpent, and your wife
> will also change her shape and be a snake,
> your wife Harmonia, human child of Ares.
> And as the prophecy of Zeus foretold,
> you and your wife will drive an oxcart, leading
> tribes of barbarians. With your vast army
> you'll sack a set of cities. But when they
> reach Delphi, they are doomed: no journey home!
> But Ares will protect you and Harmonia,
> and make you live forever with the gods.
> (Euripides, *Bacchae*, 1130-1339)
### The Alphabet
According to Herodotus in his *Histories*, and other ancient authors, the early [Greek alphabet](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Alphabet/) was derived from the Phoenician alphabet, and Cadmus is said to have introduced this alphabet to the ancient Greek world around the 8th century BCE. Although Cadmus changed the order of the letters, he kept alpha as the first letter because the Phoenician aleph means an ox and Boeotia was the land of the oxen. Herodotus wrote that he had seen this alphabet (mentioned as Cadmean [writing](https://www.worldhistory.org/writing/)) in the Temple of [Apollo](https://www.worldhistory.org/apollo/) at Thebes. The Greeks further adapted the alphabet by adding vowels and changing the shapes of some of the letters.
Some scholars believe that the legend of Cadmus introducing the alphabet to the Greek world reflects older traditions about the origins of [Linear B](https://www.worldhistory.org/Linear_B_Script/) writing in ancient Greece. The Phoenician alphabet was believed to have been younger than Thebes itself, and the ancient Greeks already had the Linear B writing system, which was derived from the [Linear A](https://www.worldhistory.org/Linear_A_Script/) writing system that originated from the Minoans. This is further evidenced by the number of Linear B tablets that have been excavated in Thebes.
[  Linear B Clay Tablet vintagedept (CC BY) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/3390/linear-b-clay-tablet/ "Linear B Clay Tablet")### Origins of Cadmus
Over the years, there has been some debate about the true origins of Cadmus. Some scholars believe that Cadmus was originally a Boeotian and that it was only in later times that Cadmus became a traveller from [Phoenicia](https://www.worldhistory.org/phoenicia/) who introduced the Phoenician alphabet to the Greeks.
In his *Description of Greec*e, Pausanias mentioned that some people even believed Cadmus originally came from [Egypt](https://www.worldhistory.org/egypt/). However, Pausanias disputed this by saying that the statue of Athena, which was dedicated by Cadmus, was originally named Onga – the Phoenician name for Athena.
### Worship & Legacy
As mentioned in Pausanias' *Description of Greece*, in [Sparta](https://www.worldhistory.org/sparta/), there is a painted meeting house with a shrine dedicated to the divine hero Cadmus located next to it. In modern-day Lebanon, Cadmus is still celebrated as being the 'carrier of the letter' to the world.
#### Editorial Review
This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).
## Bibliography
- [Apollodorus & Hard, Robin. *The Library of Greek Mythology .* Oxford University Press, 2008.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0199536325/)
- [Daly, Kathleen N. & Rengel, Marian. *Greek and Roman Mythology A to Z.* Facts on File, 2023.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0816051550/)
- [Graves, Robert. *The Greek Myths\[May 15, 2018\] Graves, Robert.* Viking, 2018.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0241982359/)
- [Herodotus & Marincola, John M. & Marincola, John M. & de Sélincourt, Aubrey & Marincola, John M. & Radice, Betty. *The Histories.* Penguin Classics, 2003.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0140449086/)
- [Hesiod & Theognis & Wender, Dorothea & Wender, Dorothea. *Hesiod and Theognis .* Penguin Classics, 1976.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0140442839/)
- [Menoni, Burton. *Kings of Greek Mythology.* Lulu.com, 2016.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1329854276/)
- [Ovid & Raeburn, David & Feeney, Denis. *Metamorphoses .* Penguin Classics, 2004.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/014044789X/)
- [Pausanias & Newberry, John & Levi, Peter & Levi, Peter. *Guide to Greece, Vol. 2.* Penguin Classics, 1984.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/014044226X/)
- [Pausanias & Peter Levi. *Guide to Greece, Vol. 1.* Penguin Classics, 1984.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0140442251/)
- [Roman, Assistant Professor of Classics Luke & Roman, Monica. *Encyclopedia of Greek and Roman Mythology .* Facts on File, 2010.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0816072426/)
- [Sophocles & Aeschylus & Euripides & Lefkowitz, Mary & Romm, James. *The Greek Plays.* Modern Library, 2017.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0812983092/)
## About the Author
Liana is the Social Media Editor for Ancient History Encyclopedia. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in ancient Greece, Rome & Late Antiquity. She is particularly passionate about Rome and Greece, and anything to do with mythology or wo
- [Linkedin Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lian)
## Questions & Answers
### What is the story of Cadmus in Greek mythology?
The story of Cadmus in Greek mythology includes the search for his sister Europa, who had been kidnapped by Zeus, and the founding of Thebes.
### What is the meaning of the word Cadmus?
The meaning of the word Cadmus is from the East'.
### What is the story of Cadmus and the dragon?
The dragon was guarding the spring of Ares and had killed Cadmus' companions, who were collecting water. Cadmus killed the dragon and then had to spend 8 years serving Ares in penance.
## Cite This Work
### APA
Miate, L. (2023, July 21). Cadmus. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Miate, Liana. "Cadmus." *World History Encyclopedia*, July 21, 2023. .
### MLA
Miate, Liana. "Cadmus." *World History Encyclopedia*, 21 Jul 2023, .
## License & Copyright
Submitted by [Liana Miate](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/lianamiate/ "User Page: Liana Miate"), published on 21 July 2023. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.