Cadmus facts for kids

In Greek mythology, Cadmus was a famous Greek hero. He was known for founding the city of Thebes in Boeotia. Cadmus was one of the greatest heroes who fought monsters before Heracles came along.

He was a prince from Phoenicia, a son of King Agenor and Queen Telephassa of Tyre. His siblings included Europa, Cilix, and Phoenix. Cadmus's family history went back to the gods Poseidon and Libya.

Cadmus was first sent by his parents to find his sister Europa. She had been taken by Zeus from the shores of Phoenicia. Cadmus was told not to return without her. He eventually founded the Greek city of Thebes. The main part of the city, its acropolis, was even named Cadmeia in his honor.

He also helped start several cities in Illyria, like Bouthoe and Lychnidus. Ancient stories say that Cadmus and his wife Harmonia ended up among the Illyrian people.

Cadmus and the Alphabet

Sowing the Dragon's teeth. Artwork by the Workshop of Rubens

The Greek historian Herodotus said that Cadmus brought the Phoenician alphabet to the Greeks. The Greeks then changed it to create their own Greek alphabet. Most modern experts agree with Herodotus that the alphabet came from the Phoenicians.

Herodotus thought Cadmus lived about 1600 years before his time, around 2000 BC. He even saw writing from Cadmus's time in a temple in Thebes. This writing was on tripods and looked like early Greek letters.

However, this timeline is a bit tricky. The earliest Greek writing we know of looks like Phoenician letters from the late 800s or 900s BC. The Phoenician alphabet itself didn't fully develop until around 1050 BC. So, while Cadmus is linked to bringing writing, the exact timing is a bit of a mystery.

Some experts think the story of Cadmus bringing the alphabet might be about an older writing system called Linear B. This system was used in Greece during the Bronze Age.

Cadmus's family ruled Thebes for many generations. This included the time of the famous Trojan War.

What His Name Means

The exact meaning of Cadmus's name is not fully clear. Some think it comes from a Semitic word, qdm, which means "the east." This would suggest he came from the east.

Others believe his name is Greek. It might come from the word kekasmenos, which means "excellent." So, his name could mean "He who excels" or "from the east."

Cadmus's Journeys

Searching for Europa

After his sister Europa was taken by Zeus, Cadmus's father sent him to find her. He was told not to come back without her. Cadmus couldn't find her, or perhaps he didn't want to go against Zeus. So, he traveled to Samothrace, an island important to ancient gods.

Cadmus didn't travel alone. His mother Telephassa and his nephew Thasus were with him. Thasus later gave his name to the nearby island of Thasos. On Samothrace, Cadmus met Harmonia, who he later married.

Their wedding was special. It was said to be the first wedding on Earth where the gods themselves brought gifts and ate with the couple.

Building Thebes

Cadmus and the Serpent (around 100 BC)

During his travels, Cadmus went to Delphi. He asked the oracle for advice. The oracle told him to stop looking for Europa. Instead, he should follow a special cow with a half moon on its side. He was to build a city where the cow lay down to rest.

A king named Pelagon gave Cadmus the cow. The cow led him to Boeotia, where he founded the city of Thebes.

Cadmus wanted to sacrifice the cow to the goddess Athena. He sent some friends to get water from the nearby Ismenian spring. But a fierce water-dragon, sacred to the god Ares, guarded the spring. The dragon killed Cadmus's friends.

Cadmus, being a hero, fought and killed the dragon. Athena then told him to plant the dragon's teeth in the ground. From these teeth, a group of strong, armed men called the Spartoi (meaning "sown men") grew.

To stop them from fighting him, Cadmus threw a stone among them. The Spartoi thought another had thrown it, so they started fighting each other. Only five survived. These five helped Cadmus build the main part of Thebes, called the Cadmeia. They became the founders of the city's most important families.

Because the dragon was sacred to Ares, Cadmus had to serve Ares for eight years. After this time, the gods gave him Harmonia as his wife. Harmonia's name means "harmony" or "good assembly."

In Thebes, Cadmus and Harmonia started a royal family. They had a son, Polydorus, and four daughters: Agave, Autonoë, Ino, and Semele. Some stories say they had six daughters.

At their wedding, all the gods were there. Harmonia received special gifts, including a beautiful cloak from Athena and a necklace made by Hephaestus. This necklace, known as the Necklace of Harmonia, was said to bring bad luck to anyone who owned it.

Even with a divine marriage and kingdom, Cadmus faced many troubles. His family suffered great misfortunes, and his city had civil unrest. Cadmus eventually gave up his throne to his grandson Pentheus. He and Harmonia then went to Illyria.

One day, Cadmus felt very sad about the bad luck that followed him because he had killed the sacred dragon. He wished he could be a serpent. Immediately, he began to change, growing scales. Harmonia saw this and asked the gods to let her share his fate. The gods granted her wish, and she also turned into a serpent.

Another version of the story says that after they died, their bodies changed into serpents. These serpents guarded their tomb, while their souls went to a blessed place.

Family Tree

Cadmus had a divine family background. His grandfather was the sea god Poseidon. He was also related to Nilus, the god of the Nile River.

His Children

With Harmonia, Cadmus had several children: Semele, Polydorus, Autonoe, Agave, and Ino. Their youngest son was Illyrius. In Greek myths, Cadmus is seen as the ancestor of the Illyrians and the kings of Thebes.

Trivia

The city of Al-Qadmus in Syria is named after Cadmus.

Images for kids

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  Lee Lawrie, Cadmus (1939). Library of Congress John Adams Building, Washington, D.C.

See also

In Spanish: Cadmo para niños

• Cadmium
• Cadmus of Miletus
• Cadmean victory
• Cadmean vixen
• Theban kings in Greek mythology