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Glite Dictionary
Cadmus

Cadmus

1 9.9
A man in Greek mythology who founded Thebes and was Europa's brother
  • proper noun
  • /ˈkæd.məs/
  • Literature
: Cadmo
  • In Greek mythology, Cadmus is known for founding the city of Thebes.
  • the myth of Cadmus

Examples

  • Legends speak of its founding by the hero Cadmus and men born from Dragon's teeth.

  • According to Ovid's version of the fable, Cadmus, like Aeneas in later times, received Apollo's command to found a city.

    Academic text (2004)

  • And his brothers, Cadmus and Antioch, are thought to be the original owners of the Hallows and therefore the inspiration for the story.

    Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)

  • Cadmus, brother of Europa, faced many trials on his journey to establish Thebes.

  • The story of Cadmus teaches important lessons about courage and perseverance.

Surface Forms

Cadmus main

Etymology

Cadmus is the name of a hero in Greek myth who came from Phoenicia, is said to have brought the Phoenician alphabet to Greece, and became the legendary founder of Thebes. A helpful way to remember the name is to think of it as meaning 'from the east', which fits his story of arriving from the east and bringing writing to the Greeks.