Cadmus

Who is Cadmus? In my search for information on this mythical/historical character, I

found that information on him is hard to find. My greatest source of information
comes from the Nonnus Dionysica (henceforth called Nonnus). For anyone that is
just curious, or just having trouble finding information on him, I am going to share
with you what I have found. Let me start with the basics, Cadmus is the Son of
Agenor and Telephassa from Tyre, Lebanon. He is sent out to look for his sister
Europa whom was taken by a bull.

Cadmuss Origins

What is Cadmoss origin? I havent found the place of his birth, but I do know more
than what Wikipedia is telling. According to Nonnus, Agenor lived in Memphis,
Egypt for 9 years and then founded Thebes, Egypt: Nonnus Book 4[260] But Cadmos
brought gifts of voice and thought for all Hellas; he fashioned tools to echo the
sounds of the tongue, he mingled sonant and consonant in one order of connected
harmony. So he rounded off a graven model of speaking silence; for he had learnt
the secrets of his countrys sublime art, an outside intruder into the wisdom of
Egypt, while Agenor dwelt nine years in Memphis and founded hundred-gated
Thebes. Nonnus Book 4 [293]: (Talking to Cadmus) No, let pass your regret for your
Tyrian father, and abide among foreigners; found a city with the name of Egyptian
Thebes your home, in the place where the cow of fortune shall sink and rest her
heavy knee foot.

Agenor in Phoenician means Leader of Men. In Nonnus, he is said to have founded

100 gated Thebes. When you look up Thebes, Thebes includes Karnak and Luxor.
The King of Thebes was Amun. The triad in Thebes was Amun, Mut, and Khonsu.
Khonsu is considered to be a moon god, and his name means traveler. Khonsu
was adopted by Mut, which is important to remember as I connect Cadmus to
Poseidon. I also realize he is said to be the son or grandson of Poseidon and I will
come back to this later as I connect the dots for you.

Island of Rhodes

Cadmus is the Son of Agenor and Telephassa from Tyre, Lebanon. He is sent out to
look for his sister Europa whom was taken by a bull. Diodorus Siculus V5.58.2-4,
Cadmus, son of Agenor, having been dispatched by the king to seek Europe, put
ashore at Rhodes. He had been through severe tempest during his voyage and
vowed to make a temple to Poseidon at Rhodes. Cadmus is the one who creates a
sacred precinct to Poseidon on Rhodes. He leaves some of the Phoenicians that
came with him at Rhodes to serve as the temples overseers. 5.58.4: After these
happenings, the land of Rhodes brought forth huge serpents.

Before Cadmus goes to Rhodes, there was NO temple to Poseidon yet associated
with Rhodes, an island named after Poseidons daughter Rhodos with Halia daughter
of Thalassa. As I go, I am going to connect him to Poseidon and Astraeus, whom I
believe is Cadmus. So, bare with me, I will show you my findings.

Diodorus Siculus 5.55.1-4: The island of Rhodes was first inhabited by the people
who were known as Telchines, these were the children of Thalatta (Thalassa). Myth
has it, the telchines along with Capheira, daughter of Oceanus, nutured Poseidon,
whom Rhea committed as a babe to their care. Poseidon, the myth continues, when
he had grown to manhood, he became enamoured of Halia, the sister of the
Telchines, and lying with her he begat 6 boys and 1 daughter, Rhodes.

Typhon

In Cadmuss travels, he arrives at Aima, and Zeus needs help with an enemy called
Typhon. Nonnus Book 1 [363] But Typhoeus was no longer to hold the gear of Zeus.
For now Zeus Cronides along with Archer Eros left the circling pole, and met roving
Cadmos amid the mountains on his wandering search; then he devised with him an
ingenious plan, and entwined the deadly threads of Moiras spindle for Typhon. And
Goatherd Pan who went with him gave Zeus Almighty cattle and sheep and rows of
horned goats. Then he built a hut with mats of wattled reeds and fixed it on the
ground: he put on Cadmos a shepherds dress, so that no one could know him in
disguise, when he had clad his sham herdsman in this make-believe costume; he
gave clever Cadmos the deceiving panpipes, part of the plot to pilot Typhaon to his
death. [409] But Cadmos tuned up the deceitful notes of his harmonious reeds, as
he reclined under a neighbouring tree in the pasturing woodland; wearing the
country garb of a real herdsman, he sent the deluding tune to Typhaons ears,
puffing his cheeks to blow the soft breath.

Nonnus Book 2: [660] But Zeus Cronides did not forget Cadmos the mastersinger.
He dispersed the cloud of darkness which overshadowed him, and calling him, spoke
in this fashion: Cadmos, you have crowned the gates of Olympos with your pipes!
Then I will myself celebrate your bridal with heavens own Harp. I will make you
goodson to Ares and Cythereia; gods shall be guests at your wedding-feast on the
earth!

I realize between the two parts that I had just shown you there is a bit of
information missing on the defear of Typhon. It is a very long winded, confusing
version of they won. Book 1 does go into detail on Zeus getting back his sinus.
You are more than welcome to get Nonnus Dionysica Volumn 1 and read it for
yourself. Infact, if you go to Theoi.com, they let you read Volumn 1 (books 1-14).
Theoi.com has some great information regarding Greek Mythology and the such.

Nonnus Book 2:679 tells of Cadmuss wandering brothers, Cepheus, Thasos, Cilix,
and Pineas (Phineas). Zeus gave his sister to be wedded to Asterion of Dicte, King of
the Corybantian Ida.
Not sure if you have noticed from other Greek writings, they hide information from
you in the text that is relevant to other things. In Nonnus Book 13, it tells what
Cadmus really did to get Typhons attention. [464] There Typhoeus, spouting up the
hot stream of the fiery thunderbolt, had kindled the neighbouring country, and as
Typhon blazed amid clouds of smoke, the mountains were burnt to ashes, while his
heads melted in the limb-devouring flame. But the priest of Lydian Zeus left the
fragrant temple redolent of incense, and without steel made battle with piercing
words, a word for a spear, no cutting steel, and brought the Son of Earth to
obedience with his tongue; his bold mouth was his lance, his word a sword, his
voice a shield, and this was all that issued from his inspired throat Stand, wretch!
So, the flaming giant by magic art was held fast in chains of glammery by the
invincible word, and stood in awe of a man armed with a spear of the mind, while
the avenging sword shackled him in fetters not made of steel. That awful giant
towering high, trembled not so much as the Archer of Thunderbolts, as for the
battle crashing magician shooting bolts of speech from his tongue. He gave way, as
the sharp words pierced him with wounds speaking in quick words. Already
scorched with flame, thrust through with a redhot spear, Typhoeus gave way at the
other fire hotter still, a fire of the mind.

Amun

Remember, I showed you earlier that Cadmus, son of Agenor, grew up in Thebes,
Egypt. Amun and his wife Mut with their son Khonsu were the ruling deities at
Thebes and Karnak. Amun, worshipped by the Greeks as Ammon, had a temple and
a statue, the gift of Pindar (d. 443 BC), at Thebes, Greece, the inhabitants of which,
as Pausanias says, consulted the oracle of Ammon in Libya.

A statue of Amun was even located at Thebes, Greece, the city that Cadmus built.
Amun is depicted with ram horns, the ram is his symbol. The next thing I would like
to point out, the next section tells how at one time Cadmus was married to another
Charis. It really doesnt tell what happened to her, but it sounds like he built Libya in
remembrance or honor for her. Poseidon was married to someone named Libya.
Nonnus Book 13 [333] Libyans also joined the host, whose home was in the western
clime, the cities of wandering Cadmos near the clouds. For there on a time dwelt
Cadmos carried by contrary winds, on the voyage with his Sithonian bride Harmonia
still a maiden. The rumour of her beauty bred war and armed hostile neighbours.
The Libyan army named her Charis, for the Bistonian girl bloomed like another
Charis of this world and even more dainty, and the Graces Hill of Libya had its
name from her. So the Maurusian people of the desert because of her beauty were
stung with mad lust of robber warfare, and took arms, a horrible barbarian Ares wild
with passion. But Harmonias mate held his shield before her, grasping in hand the
spear of Libyan Athena50 to defend his beloved wife, and put to flight the whole
nation of western51 Ethiopians, with armed Zeus as ally, with Ares and Cythereia. And
there as they say, by the Tritonian lake, Cadmos the wanderer lay with rosycheek
Harmonia. Cadmos , in memory of the love of his wedded bride,(a wife before
Harmonia) paid his footing in the Libyan land by building a hundred cities, and he
gave to each lofty walls inaccessible, with towers of stone. With his memory in mind,
came warriors to the host, forefighters of Enyo when Bromios went to war: those
who dwell in settlements near the Moons birthplace, and the southern shelters of
Zeus Asbystes the horned prophet, where Ammon the Western Zeus has often
uttered oracles in the shape of a ram with three spiral horns.

Now getting back to Amun, the ram, whom is Cadmuss father. Amun always had
prophets and priests. The so-called Libyan Sibyl was identified with prophetic
priestess presiding over the ancient Zeus-Amon (Zeus represented with the horns of
Amon) oracle at the Siwa Oasis in the Western Desert of Egypt. The oracle here was
consulted by Alexander after his conquest of Egypt. The mother of the Libyan Sibyl
was Lamia, the daughter of Poseidon. Euripides mentions the Libyan Sibyl in the
prologue to his tragedy Lamia.

When Cepheus' proud wife Cassiopeia foolishly boasted that Andromeda was more
beautiful than the Nereids, not only the sea-nymphs themselves but also Poseidon
was angered. Thus, the sea god sent a flood and a sea monster Cetus to attack the
Aethiopian land. Cepheus and Cassiopeia then consulted a wise oracle of Ammon
(identified with Zeus), at the oasis of Siwa in the Libyan desert, who declared that
the calamity would not be brought to an end until their daughter Andromeda was
offered up to the monster. Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. 43 (trans. Aldrich)
(Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :

Cadmus consulted the oracle of Delphi. The most important oracles of Greek
antiquity were Pythia, priestess to Apollo at Delphi, and the oracle of Dione and
Zeus at Dodona in Epirus. Other temples of Apollo were located at Didyma on the
coast of Asia Minor, at Corinth and Bassae in the Peloponnese, and at the islands of
Delos and Aegina in the Aegean Sea.