- Origin
- Greek Myth
- Source
- The Serpent's Teeth: The Story of Cadmus
- Penelope Farmer
- Illustrated by Chris Connor
- Harvourt Brace Jovanovich: New York, 1971
- The Story
- Cadmus's sister Europa is kidnapped by the White Bull --
which is in reality Zeus. Cadmus, denounced by his father unless he can
find Europa and bring her back, sets out on the journey. Goddess Athene
comes to his aid. With her help and instructions, Cadmus kills the
poisonous serpent and sows its teeth. These teeth grow to be armed
men. When Cadmus causes these men to fight against each other, only five
of whom remain. These five strongest men thus build Cadmus the City of
Thebes and Cadmus, the first of its mighty kings.
- Comments
- The monster here is a 3-headed serpent, instead of a dragon.
(See comparative note below.) Farmer's intended audience is children and
her telling is clear and concize.
Comparative Note:
| There are many different elements
in this telling and The Dragon of
Boeotia. In this telling, the dragon becomes a
three headed serpent. In Eidth Hamilton's
Mythology this monster is a dragon. Cadmus is
portrayed here not as a meek, non-atheletic youth but
a brave and stern young man from the very beginning. The adviser/helper
here is Goddess Athene and not Prometheus. Cadmus is
the first King of Thebes that is built by the Dragon
Teeth men. In the other telling, Cadmus dies
creating the alphabet. |
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Introduction/Index