Home › Glossary › Letter C

Cadmus

Mythology
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

The legendary founder of Thebes in Greek myth, credited with introducing the Phoenician alphabet to the Greeks.

Detailed Definition
Cadmus, a Phoenician prince, slew a dragon and sowed its teeth to create Thebes’ first warriors. He married Harmonia and suffered familial tragedies tied to divine curses. In poetry, Cadmus represents civilization’s origins, the burden of founding, and the inescapable reach of fate across generations.
Example
Example in poetry:
Ovid’s Metamorphoses recounts Cadmus sowing dragon’s teeth to found Thebes; Euripides’ Bacchae presents Cadmus as grandfather of Pentheus; Apollodorus details his quest for Europa and transformation into a serpent; Virgil alludes to Cadmus in agricultural metaphors; Later poetry uses Cadmus as a founder-hero and civilizing figure.
Additional Notes
Cadmus, founder of Thebes, sows dragon’s teeth to create the Spartoi (sown men). His story (Ovid, Metamorphoses 3–4) links city-founding, violence, and transformation (he and Harmonia become serpents). Students should analyze him as a civilizing hero whose legacy is cursed (Theban cycle). His Phoenician origin also reflects Greek views of foreign wisdom. Related: Harmonia, Spartoi, Thebes, dragon-slaying.
Also Known As
Cadmus the Founder Sower of Dragon’s Teeth First King of Thebes Husband of Harmonia
Skip to main content