Erechtheus
heroLegendary king of Athens who sacrificed his own daughter to win a war and was killed by Poseidon's trident.
The Myth
He sacrificed his daughter to save Athens — and his other daughters killed themselves in solidarity. When Eumolpus of Thrace invaded Athens, Erechtheus consulted an oracle that demanded the sacrifice of one of his daughters. He complied. His remaining daughters had sworn a pact to die together and killed themselves. Athens won the war. Poseidon, father of Eumolpus, killed Erechtheus with his trident. Athena honored the dead daughters as the Hyacinthids. The Erechtheion on the Acropolis is named for him. Euripides wrote a lost play about the sacrifice. Erechtheus represents the Athenian ideal of civic duty above family — a king who gives everything, including his children, for the state.
Parents
Symbols
Fun Fact
The Erechtheion on the Acropolis — with its famous Caryatid porch — is named for this king.
Explore Further
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