Cadmus slays the dragon. and at the advice of Athena takes it's teeth
After sowing the dragon's teeth, several men (the Spartoi) spring from the ground.
An Autochthon, or Autochthonous (αὐτόχθων from Ancient Greek αὐτός autos "self," and χθών chthon "soil"; i.e. "people sprung from earth itself") being is an entity born of the soil. Autochthonous entities are most notably present in Greek mythology and were often kings or progenitors of their people. Many autochthonous rulers are present in the Athenian monarchy.
Since these beings are born from the earth itself they are considered sometimes to be the children of Gaia.
Greek rulers detailed as autochthonous represent a living link to the land and mark them as the indigenous population.
Mythology[]
Autochthons are reported in the mythology of the following regions:
- Attica: Amphictyon, Cecrops I, Cranaus, Erichthonius, Periphas, Phlyus and Actaeus?
- Boeotia: Ogygus, Alalcomenes, Phlegyas?, the Spartoi and the Ectenes
- Crete: Cres, Lycastus and the Eteocretans
- Peloponnese: Palaechthon and Argus Panoptes of Argos; Pelasgus, Lycaon, and Phigalus of Arcadia; Lelex of Laconia; Aras of Phliasia; Aegialeus of Sicyon; and Orus of Troezen?
- Phocis: Castalius
- Others regions: Coresus of Ephesus; Evenor of Atlantis; Indus of India; Merops of Cos; Pierus of Emathia; Tyllus of Lydia; the Caucones; and the Telchines
The practice in ancient Greece of describing legendary heroes and men of ancient lineage as "earthborn" greatly strengthened the doctrine of autochthony. In Thebes, the race of Spartoi were believed to have sprung from a field sown with dragons' teeth. The Phrygian Corybantes had been forced out of the hill-side like trees by Rhea, the great mother, and hence were called δενδροφυεῖς. It is clear from the Ancient Greek play Prometheus Bound, commonly attributed to Aeschylus, that primitive men were supposed to have at first lived like animals in caves and woods, until by the help of the gods and heroes they were raised to a stage of civilization.