Erechtheus
Legendary king of Athens who sacrificed his own daughter to win a war and was killed by Poseidon's trident.
The Legend of Erechtheus
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
Pandion
Symbols
Fun Fact
The Erechtheion on the Acropolis — with its famous Caryatid porch — is named for this king.
Explore Further
Pandion
🗡 herokingship
King of Athens who married off his daughters Procne and Philomela, both of whom suffered terribly at the hands of Tereus.
Neleus
🗡 herokingship
Son of Poseidon and Tyro, founder of Pylos, father of Nestor, killed by Heracles for refusing purification.
Tenes
🗡 heroPurity, Betrayal, Apollo
Prince of Colonae and first ruler of Tenedos, killed by Achilles despite his divine protection by Apollo.
Leucippus of Messene
🗡 heroFatherhood, Daughters, Spartan Rivalry
Messenian king whose daughters Hilaeira and Phoebe were carried off by Castor and Polydeuces.
Cepheus
🗡 herotragedy
Ethiopian king who chained his own daughter Andromeda to a rock to appease Poseidon's sea monster.
Icarius
🗡 heroNone recorded
A legendary king of Sparta and father of Penelope who tried to prevent his daughter from leaving with Odysseus after her marriage
Macaria
🗡 heroSelf-Sacrifice, Female Heroism, Heraclidae
Daughter of Heracles who voluntarily sacrificed herself so that the Heraclidae could defeat Eurystheus.
Pelias
🗡 herousurpation
Usurper king of Iolcus who sent Jason on the quest for the Golden Fleece hoping he would die, and was later boiled alive by his own daughters.
Polyxena
🗡 herosacrifice
Trojan princess sacrificed on Achilles's tomb after the fall of Troy to appease his ghost.
Aepytus
🗡 heroKingship, Arcadia
Arcadian king who was killed by a serpent while attempting to enter the forbidden sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi
Busiris
🗡 heroNone recorded
Egyptian king who sacrificed strangers to Zeus until Heracles broke free and killed him
Megara
🗡 heroNone recorded
First wife of Heracles, given to him as a reward and later killed in his madness