1

I understand that this exam is subject to all academic integrity policies at the University of
Manitoba, and that my failure to abide by these policies will result in disciplinary action. All
work submitted has been completed by me alone, as per the guidelines for this exam. I
understand that exams will be checked against online and other sources for plagiarism or other
forms of academic dishonesty.

— Noah Trachtenberg, 8040240, December 17th, 2024

Beyond the Beast: Dragon Combat’s Mythic Meaning

Noah Trachtenberg

8040240

CLAS 1520: Greek and Roman Mythology

Instructor Keith Collins

December 17, 2024

Dragon combat is a familiar motif in Greek mythological tales. The action symbolizes the

struggle between order and chaos. Within the myths about dragon combat, gods or heroes are

depicted fighting the giant beasts whose presence brings destruction and doom. By analyzing

mythological tales of dragon-human combat, we gaze into the importance of the unfathomable

creatures, but also what the feat with the gods represents with their lessons. Dragon combat is

misleading in its depth of meaning on the surface, but when analyzed can be revealing how the

ancient Greek culture viewed the mythical dragon.

Dragon combat is the act of a hero or god physically battling a dragon to achieve a goal

such as restoration of order. The action is important because it serves as a rite of passage. It is

part of the hero’s journey to face a dragon and gain its knowledge. According to the textbook,

“the male hero establishes the world-order and his own permanent reign over the corpse of the

she-monster.”1Meaning that the trope is that the hero defeats the beast to re-establish order. The

word dragon originates from the Greek word drakon which was used to describe a serpent.

Forming connections to the ancient Greek nomenclature displays the imagery of dragons as

serpent-like creatures. They have many forms such as a serpent, the dragon of the sea, pythons,

snakelike creatures, hydras which are serpent-water creatures, and multi-headed typhons.

Dragons are described as sinister, malicious beasts who strive to harm everyone and everything

around them. However, some dragons signify more than just maliciousness; they represent

knowledge and power. Dragons were feared because of their destructive and creative power of

being connected to earth, fire, and water.

1
Barry B. Powell, Classical Myth, 9th ed (New York: Oxford University Press, 2020), p. 98
3

An important legend of dragon combat is the combat between Apollo and the Python.2

Python was a monstrous serpent born from the depths of the earth. There was a flood that

decimated many species, but the Python emerged from the opportunity, and caused mass

destruction near Delphi, a sacred region to Apollo. Apollo was distraught by Python’s uproar and

decided to kill him to reinstate order. Apollo pursued the serpent with his bow and arrows and

shot him numerous times until he died. When Python was finally dead, Apollo claimed Delphi as

his sacred site where he set up the Delphic Oracle. Mortals would come to this oracle to seek

prophecies. Apollo’s victory was rewarded by founding the Pythian Games, celebrated every four

years in honour of his triumph. The significance of the myth of Apollo and Python was that order

rules over chaos. Python symbolizes chaos and untamed forces of power. Apollo, the god of

order, prophecy and civilization, juxtaposes that with the representation of control and logic.

When Apollo defeats Python, he restores order and balance to Delphi, order over chaos. This

depicts a common moral in Greek mythology regarding the civilization maintained by the gods,

versus the untamed forces of nature represented by the monsters. Another outcome of the clash

between Apollo and Python is divine justice in it’s consequences. When Apollo rules over the

serpent, divine retribution persists. The gods often intervene when there is disorder in the world,

and Apollo and Python’s combat is an example of such divine intervention. At the time, this story

was a great depiction of what the ancient Greeks would have valued.

Another example of dragon combat in myth is Heracles and the Hydra, depicted in

Apollodorus’ version of Heracles’ twelve labours.3 The Hydra of Lerna was described as a water

2
Ovid, Metamorphoses 1.438-72

3
Apollodorus, The Library 2.5.2
4

snake with nine heads and deadly venom. Heracles began by shooting flaming arrows at its many

heads, but when one head is cut off, it regenerates, making its slaying utterly difficult. Initially,

Heracles came at the beast without a formidable plan and started slicing it’s heads off. The heads

began to regenerate, and Heracles felt defeated. He reformulated his plan and used his intellect to

devise a clever strategy, with the help of his nephew. They decided to cut off the heads one by

one and his nephew cauterized the wounds to prevent regeneration. This use of strength and

intellect allowed for the Hydra's defeat. When the goddess, Hera, sent a giant crab to halt

Heracles, he also defeated it. Finally, since the monsters Hydra and Crab were defeated, they

later were turned into constellations so their memories would maintain immortality. There are

multiple meanings of the tale of Heracles and the Hydra of Lerna. Initially, it means the

overcoming difficult challenges with assistance from others. Heracles did not defeat the dragon

with strength alone. He used strategy, planning and wisdom. One can learn from this that

reoccurring problems of human life have to be faced from various angles to be put to rest.

Sometimes, performing tasks alone is impossible and having another person to help is key. The

next theme is the duality of power and danger. When Heracles coated his arrows with the

Hydra’s poison, he changed the destructive weapon to a purposeful tool using his wisdom. This

is an allegory for evaluating challenges in different lights leads us to wield success. The third

takeaway from the myth is the creation of cosmic balance. When the Hydra was slain by

Heracles, he destroyed a monster who caused chaos and returned order to civilization. The moral

which can be seen from this is the Greek challenge to remain ordered and structured even though

forces which we cannot control present challenges.

The last combat is Cadmus and the dragon of Thebes.4 It began with Cadmus’s men who

searched for water and encountered a dragon in the cave. They were slain by the dragon, which

deeply hurt Cadmus. He then had a duel with the dragon, killing him by pinning the dragon

against an oak tree with a spear. After the defeat, Cadmus hears a prophetic voice that tells him

he will one day turn into a serpent. A goddess named Minerva appears and guides Cadmus to

bury the dragon’s teeth into the soil, and then warriors named Spartoi appear. The warriors who

arose from the earth duel each other to the death, and five survive in the end. The surviving men

become Cadmus’ allies and eventually assist in the building of the city of Thebes. The message

to be reaped from this story is of destiny, divine intervention and the foundation of civilizations.

First, the gods will alter those fates which are limited. Cadmus’ prophecy of the transformation

of a serpent was bound to happen until goddess Minerva intervened to help Cadmus build an

army. Meaning, that destiny has a greater plan for individuals even when the initial ideals are not

met. Next, mortality and its transformations are a crucial message. Cadmus’ prophecy of

mutating into a great serpent alludes to the fact that even heroic figures can be subject to death

and or transformation. Another key takeaway is that when violence occurs it acts as a disease.

When the Spartoi rise from the dragon’s teeth, they immediately begin to brutally kill each other.

This means that conflict breeds violence and mutual destruction is inevitable and part of human

nature. The last element of the story is sacrifice. When Cadmus slays the dragon, it is a sacrifice

for the death of his men. The Spartoi killing each other is also a trade-off for new beginnings,

such as the building of Thebes later on. With high benefits, the cost is always reaped along the

way; violence is a part of any breakthrough.

4
Ovid, Metamorphoses 3.446-75.
6

It is not always fair to generalize the meanings of dragons. Each dragon encountered

during a myth has different roles, values, and contexts. On one hand, dragons represent

destruction, disorder, and chaos, and on the other hand, they represent guardians of knowledge,

treasures or power. The trope is as follows; the hero either defeats the dragon due to its chaotic

nature, (Apollo and Python),5 or defeats the dragon to yield power or wisdom, (Heracles and the

Hydra).6 Greek mythic tales are open to interpretation. If one person reads a story and views the

dragon as a monstrous beast, another may read it and see the dragon as a victim who feels the

need to protect its property.

Dragon combat reflects the struggle to bring order from chaos and achieve progress.

These myths mirror authentic universal challenges in everyday life of overcoming tribulations

and achieving order. Apollo’s slaying of Python at Delphi represents bringing balance and

enlightenment to a place of disorder. Heracles’ battle with the Hydra teaches the reader that

strategy and preplanning take precedence over brute force. On a similar note, Cadmus's battle

with the dragon of Thebes symbolizes that even when successful in putting adversities behind

oneself, tragedy and issues can still happen, like when warriors rose from the ground. Regardless

of the conflict, Thebes was created from chaos, becoming an example of a civilizations which

arose from destruction. These myths pertain to higher meanings of life depicting the human

ability to turn hardships into moments of growth. The dragons of ancient Greek mythology often

exemplify disorder but overcoming them signifies human power to be resilient and maintain

order to evolve in mental and physical states.

5
Ovid, Metamorphoses 1.438-72
6
Apollodorus, The Library 2.5.2
7

I understand that this exam is subject to all academic integrity policies at the University of
Manitoba, and that my failure to abide by these policies will result in disciplinary action. All
work submitted has been completed by me alone, as per the guidelines for this exam. I
understand that exams will be checked against online and other sources for plagiarism or other
forms of academic dishonesty.

— Noah Trachtenberg, 8040240, December 17 th, 2024

Thrones of Fate: Power Struggles in Greek and Roman Myth

Noah Trachtenberg

8040240

CLAS 1520: Greek and Roman Mythology

Instructor Keith Collins

December 17, 2024

The plots of many Greek and Roman of mythology depict gruelling struggles for the

throne, portraying the complex nature of leadership and controversial methods of obtaining it.

Gods, heroes, and kings alike, battle for the rule of the throne and have to make sacrifices often

at a personal cost. Both Roman and Greek myths share the virtues of leaders and triumph. While

exploring multiple myths of each culture, audiences can understand the societal ideals which

they promoted. It becomes clear that these myths of both cultures not only act as a cautionary

tale for greed, power, and violence, but it becomes evident that the myths shaped their societies

by acting as moral compasses. Through the securing of the throne, messages of political

undertones are conveyed which are relevant universally.

Concerning Greek variations of mythology, there are significant occasions of struggles

for the throne. Beginning with Oedipus, depicted in Sophocles’ play, Oedipus Rex or Oedipus

the King,7 is a twisted story involving tragedy and prophecy. The beginning of Oedipus’ rise to

the thrown began when the city of Thebes was experiencing a devastating plague caused by the

Sphinx. There was a riddle posed by the creature and it felt impossible for anyone to solve until

Oedipus discovered it. Oedipus fled from his homeland of Corinth to avoid the prophecy that he

would marry his mother and kill his father. He cleverly solved the riddle and defeated the beast

Sphinx, saving Thebes, and becoming a hero. Oedipus was made the new king, married the wife

of the previous king and unknowingly fell into the trap of his prophecy. Many years pass and a

plague sweeps over Thebes again, which causes Oedipus to discover his past, when he killed the

previous king, his biological father, and married his mother. This leads to his downfall when he

reflects on his previous securing of the throne. He then exiles himself from Thebes and lives the

7
Sophocles, Oedipus Rex 1.45-55.
9

rest of his days in misery. The play reflects various themes of accountability in leadership, divine

prophecy and truth. First, it shows that prophecy is inevitable. When Oedipus’ father sends him

away to avoid the prophecy, it doesn’t work, as Oedipus comes back later and kills him anyway.

Then simultaneously, Oedipus’ prophecy comes true when he marries his mother and kills his

father. This shows that even though both figures tried to avoid their fates, they happened

anyway. Fate does not care what measures are thrust in its midst; it will always prevail. Another

valuable lesson in this story is a leader is to be accountable. When Oedipus rules, his sole goal is

to better Thebes. His qualities of character exemplify the leader's duties. However, his downfall

illustrates that even though Oedipus was a good leader, he had issues. When he decided to banish

himself, it made him a martyr for responsibility of his actions even if he didn’t mean to do

undesirable things. Accountability was the key lesson learned. The last outcome is human

control. Even though Oedipus had confidence in his power to take the throne through the riddle,

his inability to escape his fate of prophecy makes him subject to the lack of control as he was just

a mortal. This message’s key takeaway is the fact that overestimating your power and believing

yourself to be immortal can end up tragically, as even kings falter to divine will. Oedipus’ story

of becoming king highlights the importance of the political responsibilities of leaders.

Roman myths that depict struggles for the throne follow similar themes and political

lessons, but with different characters and outcomes. The story of Romulus and Remus, depicted

by Livy, is as follows.8 The brothers’ fight for the throne begins with the founding of Rome.

They overthrew their great-uncle and restored their grandfather to the throne of Alba Longa.

Then the twins decided it was time to establish their very own city. However, an argument arose

8
Livy, The History of Rome 1.6-1.7.
10

over where their city should be located, and which twin should rule. This disagreement

highlighted their growing rivalry. To settle their differences, they consulted the gods, who

advised them to interpret the flight of the birds. During the process, Romulus was victorious

because he counted twelve birds, but Remus contested his victory because he believed it was

unfair. When Romulus declared his victory, he began to construct the walls of the setting he

chose for his city, Palatine Hill. In defiance, Remus jumps over the wall as an insult, which

enraged Romulus. Romulus, in an angered fury, killed Remus, securing his throne over the city

of Palatine Hill. Rome was then founded, with a new ruler, Romulus. He named the city after

himself, establishing social and political structures. He then invited people to populate his new

city. There were many themes in this story. Initially, the first theme was creating order out of

chaos. The Roman value of overtaking disorder is reflected by the twins' conflict. It highlights

the importance of strong leadership and its necessity in founding a new civilization.

Additionally, Romulus's superiority alludes to the Roman virtues of resilience, strength, and

determination. It reinforces the idea that Romulus was the rightful leader of Rome due to the

qualities that the Roman people admired in their administration. Although the victory of

Romulus was achieved by his strength, divine favour was involved. The role of interpreting the

gods' signs through the flight of the birds aided his victory. This exemplifies the fact that divine

will legitimizes someone’s power, and the Roman belief that their leaders were to rule in tandem

with the gods’ support to maintain authority. Lastly, the killing of brother by brother shows the

reality of ruling. This displays that even though they were family, it was necessary for Romulus

to violently kill Remus to achieve greatness, implying that sacrifices are non-negotiable to

achieve victory. Throughout this Roman myth, the key takeaway is that conflicts often lead to

progress and unity, once solved, as an element of Roman society.

After learning about these myths of Roman and Greek origin, the political messages

follow a theme for the hearers. Both the Greek myth of Oedipus the King9 and the Roman myth

of Romulus and Remus,10 share messages for their audiences, transcending the individual

cultures. Initially, the rulers each face different adversities and triumph in the end. Oedipus

becomes king after solving the riddle of the Sphinx, but his unknowing of his past identity leads

to his exile and the suffering of Thebes. His myth serves as a tale to deter audiences from acting

without full knowledge of and consequences of prophecy. Romulus’ story is different in that he

is victorious with the slaying of his brother in a violent struggle. This symbolizes the cost of

ambition but highlights the Roman political value of strength and knowing thyself as ideal for

leadership. Next, both myths tell that conflict is needed to pave the path from instability to

civilization. In Romulus’ story, the brother's rivalry leads to the founding of Rome. Their tale

embodies the theme that violence is necessary in the creation of civilizations. On the other hand,

in Oedipus’ myth, he discovers his crimes and brings sorrow to himself but ultimately restores

order to the city of Thebes, by exiling a morally ambiguous leader. The playwright highlights

that for political stability to be maintained, the truth needs to be exposed in order to introduce

justice. Finally, both myths display leaders who are subjected to fate and the divine will of the

gods. Oedipus, even though attempting to avert his prophecy, is subdued in the end. To ancient

Greek audiences, this shows that rulers must obey their destiny and respect divine order. In

Romulus’ story, his leadership is approved by the gods during the flight of the birds, legitimizing

his authority, which illustrates the belief of the ancient Romans that divine favour validates

9
Sophocles, Oedipus Rex 1.45-55.
10
Livy, The History of Rome 1.6-1.7.
12

political position. With all that was said, these political messages can be applied to various Greek

and Roman myths.

The struggle for the throne in Greek and Roman myths depicts valuable lessons about

justice, ambition and leadership. The Greek and Roman myths of Oedipus 11 and Romulus and

Remus,12 share ideas that for a goal to be reached, violence and hardships must occur along the

path to victory. Collectively, these Roman and Greek myths convey to audiences the fact that

leadership requires resilience, moral responsibility and understanding one’s place in the context

of divine fate and prophecy. For ancient Greek societies, Oedipus’ playwright13 acts as a

mechanism for understanding divine prophecy, taking accountability for your actions, and how

power is fragile and should be handled responsibly. Alternately, Romulus' victory depicts

strength, decisiveness, and sacrifices made by leaders for the greater good of society, as valued

by ancient Roman societies. Progress can only come by overcoming obstacles. By analyzing

Oedipus’s play14 and the story of Romulus and Remus,15 it is noted that the political lessons

share universal messages, but each story hones into distinct virtues of ancient Roman and Greek

societies. These messages are still applicable in today's political landscape.

11
Sophocles, Oedipus Rex 1.45-55.
12
Plutarch, Plutarch’s Lives 6.2.
13
Sophocles, Oedipus Rex 1.45-55.
14
Sophocles, Oedipus Rex 1.45-55.
15
Livy, The History of Rome 1.6-1.7.
13

Bibliography

Apollodorus. The Library. Translated by James G. Frazier. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard

Ovid. Metamorphoses. Book 1, 3. Translated by John Dryden and Sir Samuel Garth. London:
Jacob Tonson, 1717.

Livy. The History of Rome. Book 1. Translated by Canon Roberts. Ottawa: East India Publishing
Company, 2022.

Plutarch. Parallel Lives. Translated by Bernadotte Perrin. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard

Powell, Barry B. Classical Myth. 9th Edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 2020.

Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. Translated by Robert Fagles. New York: Penguin Classics, 1984.