The Dragon's TeethThe Dragon's Teeth
While The Dragon's Teeth: A Mythological Prophesy contains theological, philosophical and political opinions of the state of matters in 1911, much of the volume contains stories from folklore about dragons, including the most famous one from Greek mythology about Europa, Zeus and the dragon's teeth.
According to the myth, King Agenor's daughter, Europa, was kidnapped by Zeus, disguised as a white bull. The king sent his sons to find her, with instructions not to return unless they did. One of them, Cadmus, traveled to the oracle at Delphi in an attempt to learn Europa's whereabouts, but the oracle advised Cadmus to give up the search. The oracle instead instructed Cadmus to find a cow, follow it until it fell of weakness, and then build a city where it lay.
Cadmus did as the oracle instructed and built Thebes. One day, he sent some of his men to fetch water from a well guarded by a fierce dragon. When the dragon killed many of his men, Cadmus slew it. Suddenly, Athena appeared and instructed Cadmus to plant the dragon's teeth in the ground as if they were seeds.
After Cadmus followed the goddess's command, armed men sprang up ready to fight from the earth. Cadmus threw stones at them until only five remained able to battle. As if things could not get any worse, Ares, the god of war, seeks out Cadmus for killing his precious dragon. In a dramatic twist of fate, Cadmus marries the lovely maiden Harmonia, and each of the Olympians attend their wedding.
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- New York : Broadway Publishing Co., 1911.
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