Cecrops

🗡 heroΚέκροψ

Athens, civilization

Half-serpent first king of Athens who judged the contest between Athena and Poseidon.‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‌‌

The Legend of Cecrops

The first king of Athens, Cecrops was autochthonous — born from the earth of Attica with a human torso and a serpent's tail.‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‌‌ When Athena and Poseidon contested for patronage of the city, Cecrops served as judge. Poseidon struck the Acropolis with his trident, producing a salt spring; Athena planted an olive tree. Cecrops ruled in Athena's favour, and she gave the city her name. He established marriage, burial rites, and literacy. His legacy links Athens to Hephaestus through Erichthonius and to the mythic founding that shaped the city Zeus himself recognised.

Children

Erysichthon, Aglauros, Herse, Pandrosus

Symbols

serpent bodyolive tree

Fun Fact

An olive tree still grows on the Acropolis today, said by tradition to descend from the one Athena planted in the contest Cecrops judged.

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fire, civilization

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Erichthonius

🗡 hero

None recorded

Earth-born king of Athens raised by Athena, credited with inventing the four-horse chariot