Dragon's teeth (mythology)
Planted teeth that sprout into armed warriors.
Dragon's teeth are objects in Greek mythology that, when planted in the ground, grow into fully armed warriors. They appear in the stories of Cadmus and Jason, where they are sown and produce fierce fighting men.
Quick Facts
- Greek term
- ὀδόντες (τοῦ) δράκοντος, odontes (tou) drakontos
- Spartoi meaning
- sown men
- Names of surviving spartoi
- Echion
- Udaeus
- Chthonius
- Hyperenor
- Pelorus
- Jason's opponent
- King Aeëtes of Colchis
Facts from the source article.
Myths
Cadmus, after killing the sacred dragon of Ares's spring, was given half its teeth by Athena and told to sow them. Armed men called Spartoi rose from the furrows. Fearing them, Cadmus threw a stone; the Spartoi fought each other, believing one of their own had thrown it, until only five remained: Echion, Udaeus, Chthonius, Hyperenor, and Pelorus. These five helped found Thebes, but Cadmus served Ares for eight years as atonement. Hellanicus records that only five Spartoi appeared, with no battle; Zeus intervened to save Cadmus from Ares. Echion later married Cadmus's daughter Agave, and their son Pentheus became king. Some sources say all Spartoi descendants bore a dragon-like mark. In Jason's quest, King Aeëtes set him to sow dragon's teeth from Athena. Medea advised Jason to throw a stone among the resulting warriors, who fought and killed each other, leaving Jason unharmed.
Modern references
The phrase 'to sow dragon's teeth' has come to mean fomenting disputes. In Swedish, 'draksådd' (dragon-seed) refers to spreading corrupting ideas or actions with dire consequences. John Milton, in Areopagitica, compared books to dragon's teeth, saying they are 'as lively, and as vigorously productive' and may 'spring up armed men'.
More in Objects in Greek Mythology
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