In Greek mythology, the Spartes ("sown") were the men who grew from the sowing of dragon's teeth. See Cadmus for more details. Greek mythology consists of an extensive collection of narratives detailing the lives and adventures of a wide variety of gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines, which were first envisioned and disseminated in an oral-poetic tradition. ... Sowing is the process of planting seeds. ... Dragons teeth (German: Höcker, humps) were square-pyramidal fortifications of concrete used during the Second World War to impede the movement of tanks. ... Cadmus Sowing the Dragons teeth, by Maxfield Parrish, 1908 Cadmus, or Kadmos (Greek: ÎάδμοÏ), in Greek mythology, was the son of the king of Phoenicia and brother of Europa. ...
Only five survived the battle that accompanied their birth. They founded the city of Thebes. Their names were Chthonius, Hypernenor, Udaeus, Pelorus, and Echion. The latter married Cadmus' daughter, Agave. For the ancient capital of Upper Egypt, see Thebes, Egypt. ... Pelorus may have one of the following meanings. ... In Greek mythology, the name Echion referred to three different beings. ... Agave (illustrious) was the queen of Thebes in Greek mythology, mother of Pentheus and daughter of Harmonia and Cadmus. ...
They were slain by the spring's guardian water-dragon (compare the Lernaean Hydra), which was in turn destroyed by Cadmus, the duty of a culture hero of the new order.
By the instructions of Athena, he sowed the dragon's teeth in the ground, from which there sprang a race of fierce armed men, called Spartes ("sown").
By throwing a stone among them, Cadmus caused them to fall upon one another until only five survived, who assisted him to build the Cadmeia or citadel of Thebes, and became the founders of the noblest families of that city.