spartoi

Spartoi, from the Greek sparti meaning "sown," are figures in Greek mythology described as the warriors who sprang from the teeth of a slain dragon that Cadmus sowed into the earth in Boeotia. According to the myth, after Cadmus killed the dragon guarding the sacred precinct of Ares, he was advised (often by Athena) to sow the dragon's teeth. The teeth sprouted into an armed multitude that immediately began fighting each other.

The battle continued until all had slain one another except a handful; five or six Spartoi survived. These survivors joined Cadmus in building the city of Thebes, and their descendants formed part of Thebes’ early aristocracy. In some tellings, the Spartoi married into Cadmus's line, thereby shaping the dynastic and noble houses of Thebes; in others, they later faced further conflict or dispersion.

Names of the Spartoi vary by source; some authors list individual members, but there is no single canonical roster. The myth is often interpreted as an etiological tale explaining the origin of noble families in Thebes and illustrating themes of seed, growth, and the dangers of meddling with divine signs. The Spartoi appear across various ancient Greek texts and later classical adaptations, serving as a foundational motif in Theban founding narratives.