The Founding Of Thebes

11” X 14”

400.00

After Zeus, in the guise of a white bull, carried off Europa, her brother Cadmus was charged by their father Agenor to bring her back, or never return. The Oracle of Delphi advised him to abandon his mission, and instead seek out a cow with a moon shaped mark on her flank, follow it until it lay down to rest, and found his city on the site. Cadmus carried out the task, and prepared to offer the cow to Athena, sending his men to to a nearby spring for water, a task from which they did not return. Cadmus found the Serpent of Ares feeding on what was left of his comrades, and killed the creature in retaliation. Athena appeared, and bid him to plant half the dragon’s teeth in the ground. The Spartoi, armed and armored warriors emerged from the ground. Cadmus threw a stone among them, and they fought until only five remained. They would go on to help Cadmus found Cadmea, which would later be called Thebes. As penance for killing the serpent, Cadmus served Ares for eight years, and when his service was concluded, he was allowed to marry the daughter of Ares and Aphrodite, Harmonia, in a wedding attended by the Gods of Olympus. Despite the blessings he had received, Cadmus encountered many hardships during his life and reign, and it could be said that despite his years of servitude, he was never truly freed from the wrath he incurred by slaying the child of an Olympian, a curse manifested as plagues, improprieties in the rule of subsequent Theban kings, and one particularly inauspicious creature sent to sow fear into the city he founded.