CECROPS I IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
In Greek mythology Cecrops was the founder of Athens, and therefore, the first of the city’s legendary kings.
The Earthborn Cecrops
Cecrops was said to be one of the autochthonous, earth born, mortals of Greek mythology, thus whilst sometimes classed as being a child of Gaia (Earth), he is also regarded as an indigenous resident of Greece.
Cecrops was not a normal man, and was thus not depicted as such, for it was said that whilst the top half of his body was human in appearance, his bottom half comprised a serpent’s tail, instead of legs.
Cecrops was not a normal man, and was thus not depicted as such, for it was said that whilst the top half of his body was human in appearance, his bottom half comprised a serpent’s tail, instead of legs.
The Cecrops Family Line
Cecrops home was to be Attica, a region ruled by King Actaeus. Cecrops would marry the daughter of Actaeus, Agraulos, and became father to a son, Erysichthon, who predeceased his father, and three daughters Agraulos, Herse and Pandrosos.
The daughters of Cecrops would appear in the tale of Erichthonius, for they were charged to look after the basket that contained the goddess’s foster son. These daughters of Cecrops were ordered not to look inside the basket, but this order was ignored with deadly results.
The daughters of Cecrops would appear in the tale of Erichthonius, for they were charged to look after the basket that contained the goddess’s foster son. These daughters of Cecrops were ordered not to look inside the basket, but this order was ignored with deadly results.
Cecrops Founder of Athens
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Whilst Actaeus might have built a city named Acte, it was generally considered that Cecrops was the first to build the 12 settlements of Attica that would, in the time of Theseus, come to be regarded as Athens as a whole.
The 12 towns and cities founded by Cecrops were; Cecropia, Tetrapolis, Epacria, Decelea, Eleusis, Aphidna, Thoricus, Brauron, Cytherus, Sphettos and Cephisia. Of these 12, Cecropia is arguably the most famous, for it was renamed, in the time of Cecrops, to Athens. |
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The renaming of Cecropia
Cecrops, as ruler of Cecropia, was said to have brought civilisation to the region, but is primarily remembered as the first king to end the practice of human, or live animal, sacrifices to the gods.
Cecropia prospered under Cecrops, and an argument developed between Athena and Poseidon about who should be worshipped by the city’s inhabitants.
The two gods offered up bribes to Cecrops, and the inhabitants of Cecropia.
Thus, in the centre of the Acropolis, Poseidon struck his trident into the ground, and from that place came forth the Erechthean Well, a salt-water well. Athena’s bribe came in the form of an olive tree planted upon the acropolis.
Cecrops would accept the olive tree, and from that day forth Athena became the main deity worshipped in the city, and the city was thus renamed Athens. An angry Poseidon, in retribution, would flood the Thriasian Plain, although Zeus would later have his brother ensure that the water receded.
It would seem that Cecrops had an easy decision to make for something of substance could be taken from the olive tree, whilst there was little use for a saltwater well, but the well and tree were said by some to be just symbols, for with the trident induced well, Poseidon was offering naval power, whilst the olive tree, was a promise of peace. Thus, Cecrops had chosen peace for his city.
Cecrops would be succeeded as king of Athens by another of the autochthonous, Cranaus
Cecropia prospered under Cecrops, and an argument developed between Athena and Poseidon about who should be worshipped by the city’s inhabitants.
The two gods offered up bribes to Cecrops, and the inhabitants of Cecropia.
Thus, in the centre of the Acropolis, Poseidon struck his trident into the ground, and from that place came forth the Erechthean Well, a salt-water well. Athena’s bribe came in the form of an olive tree planted upon the acropolis.
Cecrops would accept the olive tree, and from that day forth Athena became the main deity worshipped in the city, and the city was thus renamed Athens. An angry Poseidon, in retribution, would flood the Thriasian Plain, although Zeus would later have his brother ensure that the water receded.
It would seem that Cecrops had an easy decision to make for something of substance could be taken from the olive tree, whilst there was little use for a saltwater well, but the well and tree were said by some to be just symbols, for with the trident induced well, Poseidon was offering naval power, whilst the olive tree, was a promise of peace. Thus, Cecrops had chosen peace for his city.
Cecrops would be succeeded as king of Athens by another of the autochthonous, Cranaus
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Colin Quartermain - Cecrops I - 17th December 2017