Erichthonius
Earth-born king of Athens raised by Athena, credited with inventing the four-horse chariot
The Legend of Erichthonius
Erichthonius was born from the earth itself when Hephaestus attempted to force himself on Athena. She fended him off, and his seed fell upon Gaia, who bore the child. Athena took responsibility for the infant, placing him in a chest guarded by serpents and entrusting the chest to the three daughters of Cecrops with strict instructions not to open it. Aglauros and Herse disobeyed, saw the snake-legged child within, and were driven mad, leaping from the Acropolis to their deaths. Erichthonius grew up in Athena's temple, eventually became king of Athens, and introduced the worship of Athena on the Acropolis. He invented the four-horse chariot and established the Panathenaic festival.
Parents
Gaia (from the seed of Hephaestus)
Children
Pandion I
Symbols
Fun Fact
He was born from the earth itself, making him literally an autochthon — a child of the land he would rule
Explore Further
Erichthonius
🗡 heroAthens, earth-born
Earth-born king of Athens raised by Athena in secret.
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Erichthonius
🗡 herobirth
Child born from the earth after Hephaestus attempted to assault Athena and his seed fell on the ground.
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🗡 heroNone recorded
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Agraulos
🗡 heroNone recorded
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🗡 heroNone recorded
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🗡 herokingship
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🗡 heroNone recorded
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