Cadmean victory

Cadmean victory

A Cadmean victory, from the Greek "Kadmeia nike", is a reference to a victory involving one's own ruin [Liddell & Scott] , from Cadmus (Greek "Kadmos"), the legendary founder of Thebes in Boeotia and the mythic bringer of the alphabet to Greece. [p.105, Howatson] On seeking to establish the city, Cadmus required water from a spring guarded by a monster snake. He sent his companions to slay the snake, but they all perished. Although Cadmus eventually proved victorious, the victory was at the cost of lives of those who were to benefit from the new settlement. [p.4, Morford & Lenardon]

References

* Liddell, Henry George (Compiler), Scott, Robert (Compiler), Jones, Henry Stuart (Editor), McKenzie, Roderick, "A Greek-English Lexicon", 9th ed., Oxford University Press, New York, 1995
* Morford, Mark P. O. & Lenardon, Robert J., "Classical Mythology", 7th edition, Oxford University Press, New York, 2002
* Howatson, M. C., (Ed.), "The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature", 2nd edition, Oxford University Press, New York, 2006


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  • Cadmean victory — Cadmean Cad*me an (k[a^]d*m[=e] an), a. [L. Cadmeus, Gr. Kadmei^os, from Ka dmos (L. Cadmus), which name perhaps means lit. a man from the East; cf. Heb. qedem east.] Of or pertaining to Cadmus, a fabulous prince of Thebes, who was said to have… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Cadmean victory — c.1600, from Gk. Kadmeia nike victory involving one s own ruin [Liddell & Scott], from Cadmus (Gk. Kadmos), legendary founder of Thebes in Boeotia and bringer of the alphabet to Greece. Probably a reference to the story of Cadmus and the Sown Men …   Etymology dictionary

  • Cadmean victory — n. a victory won with great losses to the victors: see CADMUS …   English World dictionary

  • cadmean victory — n. = pyrrhic victory (see PYRRHIC(1)). Etymology: L Cadmeus f. Gk Kadmeios f. Kadmos Cadmus: see CADMIUM * * * noun Usage: usually capitalized C Etymology: translation of Greek Kadmeia nikē; from the mutual slaughter of all but five of the armed… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Cadmean victory — a victory attained at as great a loss to the victor as to the vanquished. Cf. Pyrrhic victory. [1595 1605] * * * …   Universalium

  • Cadmean victory —  One that leaves the victor ruined. See also Pyrrhic victory …   Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

  • Cadmean — Cad*me an (k[a^]d*m[=e] an), a. [L. Cadmeus, Gr. Kadmei^os, from Ka dmos (L. Cadmus), which name perhaps means lit. a man from the East; cf. Heb. qedem east.] Of or pertaining to Cadmus, a fabulous prince of Thebes, who was said to have… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pyrrhic victory — Synonyms and related words: Cadmean victory, KO, ascendancy, championship, conquest, easy victory, grand slam, knockout, landslide, landslide victory, mastery, moral victory, picnic, pushover, runaway victory, subdual, subduing, success, total… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • Pyrrhic victory — a victory or goal achieved at too great a cost. Cf. Cadmean victory. [1880 85; < Gk Pyrrikós; after a remark attributed by Plutarch to PYRRHUS, who declared, after a costly victory over the Romans, that another similar victory would ruin him] * * …   Universalium

  • Snake — Ophidian redirects here. For the professional wrestler, see The Osirian Portal. This article is about the animal. For other uses, see Snake (disambiguation). Snakes Temporal range: Early Cretaceous – Recent, 112–0 Ma …   Wikipedia

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