Jason and Cadmus in Myth :: essays research papers

Cadmus in Myth Zeus, under the disguise of a bull, had carried away Europa, the little girl of Agenor, the King of Phoenicia. Agenor commanded his son Cadmus to go in attend of his sister, and not to return without her. Cadmus went and sought long and far for his sister, but could not find her, and not valiant to return unsuccessful, consulted the oracle of Apollo to know what country he should settle in. The oracle informed him that he should find a cow in the field, and should follow her wheresoever she might wander, and where she stopped, should build a city and call it Thebes. Cadmus had hardly left the Castalian cave, from which the oracle was delivered, when he saw a young cow slowly pass before him. He followed her close, offering at the same time his prayers to Apollo. The cow went on till she passed the shallow channel of Cephisus and came out into the plain of Panope. There she stood still, and nurture her broad forehead to the sky, filled the air with her lowings. Ca dmus gave thanks and, stooping down, kissed the foreign soil, then lifting his eyes, greeted the surrounding mountains. Wishing to offer a sacrifice to Zeus, he send his servants to seek pure water for a libation. Nearby there stood an ancient grove which had never been profaned by the axe, in the midst of which was a cave, dense covered with the g wrangleth of bushes, its roof forming a low arch, from beneath which burst forth a fountain of purest water. In the cave lurked a horrid snake in the grass with a crested head and scales glittering like gold. His eyes shone like fire, his body was swollen with venom, he vibrated a triple tongue, and showed a triple row of teeth. No sooner had the Tyrians dipped their pitchers in the fountain, and the ingushing waters made a sound, than the glittering serpent raised his head out of the cave and uttered a fearful hiss. The vessels fell from their hands, the blood left their cheeks, they trembled in every limb.The serpent, twisting his scal y body in a huge coil, raised his head so as to overtop the tallest trees, and while the Tyrians from terror could neither fight nor fly, slew some with his fangs, others with his folds, and other with his poisonous breath. Cadmus, having waited for the return of his men till midday, went in search of them.