Divine Canines: Cadmea and Laelaps

 

In Greek mythology, there is a story about two animals who became entwined and forever fated together. Firstly the city of Thebes had a king named Laius, who was the father of Oedipus. King Laius was paranoid and believed in a prophesy that his son will one day kill him. He tried to send newborn Oedipus away, but once the boy grew up into a man, he found his father. Upset when his father killed his horse, things went downhill and Laius was no more. While the king was missing, a regent took over Thebes, and he was named Creon. 

It was during the regency period of Creon, that something happened. Outside of Thebes was a village named Teumessus and a field. This is where a giant monstrous fox appeared. It was in the form of a vixen and she was named Cadmea. She was also known as the Cadmean Vixen and later called the Teumessian Fox. People were afraid of her. Cadmea ate humans and she devoured those who were near and unaware of her hiding. Men skilled at hunting were sent out to kill Cadmea and get rid of her tyranny. No weapons had an effect on Cadmea, and she couldn't even be caught in traps made to catch her. 

Regent Creon announced to give offerings of human sacrifice to please the Cadmean Vixen. This means that every thirty days, a victim of sacrifice that was usually a child, would be given to Cadmea. A visiting man named Amphitryon, who was the grandson of the hero Perseus, promised to help Thebes get rid of the Cadmean Fox. He sought out a hunting dog named Laelaps who never failed to catch prey. The dog Laelaps once belonged to King Minos and eventually ended up with Caphalus of Phocis. Eventually Laelaps was taken to Thebes and let loose from its leash. Laelaps went off running after Cadmea, who then turned and fled. However, Cadmea was destined to never get caught. 

The hunting dog who was always destined to catch its prey was running after Cadmea, the vixen who was destined to never get caught. The ruling god of Olympus, Zeus, had observed this unusual cycle that never seemed to end between Laelaps and Cadmea. So he turned both dog and fox into stones. Then he transferred them into the sky where they became stars. Cadmea became Canis Minor, and Laelaps became Canis Major, stars that are still seen today.    

Posted by

She Wolf Night