Final answer:
Apollo cursed the House of Cadmus due to acts of hubris and the rejection of Dionysian worship, leading to divine retribution that is a hallmark theme in Greek mythology.
Step-by-step explanation:
Apollo cursed the House of Cadmus in Greek mythology because of various acts of hubris (or overweening pride) and defiance against the gods by Cadmus’ descendants. One notable figure from the House of Cadmus is King Pentheus who rejected the worship of Dionysus, god of wine and merrymaking, and refused to acknowledge his divinity. This led Dionysus to inflict a madness upon Pentheus and his mother Agave, culminating in Pentheus’ death at the hands of his own mother and aunts who were under the delusion that he was a mountain lion. The curse of Apollo upon the House of Cadmus is a classic example of the theme of divine retribution in Greek mythology.