ACTAEUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Actaeus was one of the earliest kings recorded in Greek mythology, ruling in the land that would become known as Attica.
Actaeus the Autochthonous
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Actaeus is regarded as one of the Autochthonous, one of the “sons of the soil”, mean who came from the ground with no father or mother.
Whilst some say that a man called Colaenis ruled in the area that would become Attica, but most tell of Actaeus being the first king. The name Actaeus is normally translated as “coast man”, and the land he ruled was known as Acte (Coast). |
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King Actaeus
Actaeus would become father to four daughters, Aglaurus, mother of Alcippe, Herse, mother of Cephalus, Pandrosos mother of Ceryx, and Phoenice.
The mother of Actaeus’ daughters is not named.
Actaeus was said to have given his daughter, Agraulus in marriage to another Autochthonous, Cecrops. Cecrops would succeeded Actaeus as king, and renamed the land as Cecropia. Whilst Athens was named in the time of Cecrops, the renaming of Acte, or Cecropia, as Attica was done so in the time of CranaUs, when it was named after CranaUs’ daughter, Atthis.
All of these events were said to have occurred before the Deluge.
The mother of Actaeus’ daughters is not named.
Actaeus was said to have given his daughter, Agraulus in marriage to another Autochthonous, Cecrops. Cecrops would succeeded Actaeus as king, and renamed the land as Cecropia. Whilst Athens was named in the time of Cecrops, the renaming of Acte, or Cecropia, as Attica was done so in the time of CranaUs, when it was named after CranaUs’ daughter, Atthis.
All of these events were said to have occurred before the Deluge.
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Colin Quartermain - Actaeus - 4th October 2025