CADMUS, in Greek mythology the son of Agenor and grandson of Poseidon. With his brothers he was sent by his father to seek for his sister, Europa, who had been carried away by Zeus, and he was not to return without her. After several adventures, the oracle at Delphi commanded him to desist from further search, to entrust himself to the guidance of a heifer, and where she should stop to build a city. He accordingly went to Boeotia, where he wished to sacrifice the cow to Athena. But his com panions, attempting to bring water from the fountain of Ares for the purpose of the sacri fice, were slain by the dragon that guarded it. Cadmus killed the dragon, and, at the com mand of Athena, sowed its teeth in the earth; armed men immediately sprang up, whom he called Sparti (the sowed), but who perished in a contest with each other, excepting five. With the remainder he built the city of Cadmea, or Thebes (see THEBES). He became by his
marriage with Harmonia the father of Antinoe, Imo, Semele, Agave and Polydorus. After ril ing for a time the city which he had built, and the state which he had founded, he proceeded, at the command of Bacchus, with Harmonia to the Enchelx, conquered their enemies, the Illy rians, became their King, and begat another son, Illyrius. Tradition states that Cadmus came to Bceotia from Phoenicia, 1550 a.c., con quered the inhabitants who opposed him, and, in conjunction with them, founded the above mentioned city. To promote the improvement of his subjects he taught them the Phoenician alphabet, the employment of music at the festi vals of the gods, besides the use of copper, etc. Another Cadmus, of Miletus, a son of Pandion, was regarded among the Greeks as the first who wrote in prose. He lived about 600 a.c.