In Greek mythology Cadmus was reputed founder of the Greek city of Thebes. In Greek myth, Zeus stole Europa. Cadmus went on search of her. Cadmus travelled to Greece where he founded the city of Thebes.
In legend, he created a seven sided citadel, Archeologist have uncovered the ruins of a seven sided building in Thebes that bears an inscription with name of Camus.
Thebes was known for its first-rate army, which included a strong Cavalry arm, and throughout its history the city usually dominated all of Boeotia.
Before to its destruction by Alexander the Great in 335 BC, Thebes was a major force in Greek history and was the most dominant city-state at the time of the Macedonia conquest of Greek.
During the Persian Wars, the Thebans allied with many Greek city-states to fight against an invading army at the battle of Thermopylae, in 480 BC.
However, shortly after the battle they changed sides and joined with Persians to fight against Athens and Sparta.
In 479 BC at the battle of Plataea they were defeated. Later in the century Thebes was drawn into the struggles of Sparta against Athens for control of Greece.
In the summer of 371 BC, the Thebans defeated the Spartans at the battle of Leuctra, near Thebes. By crippling Sparta, the Theban leader, Epaminondas raised Thebes to a position of supremacy.
However, Epaminondas did not establish a powerful kingdom. When he died in 363 BC, he left Greece open to outside invasion and domination..
In 338 BC an elite military unit The Scared Band of Thebes fell at the battle of Chaeronea against Philip II and Alexander the Great.
Greek city of Thebes
