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KEKROPS, first King of Attica
(the region where Athens is
located), is half man, half
serpent
The Athenian Myth of Ancestral Succession:
• 1.
Kekrops springs from the earth, is the first king of Athens, has three
daughters (Pandrosos, Aglauros, and Herse) and a son, who dies young without
issue.
• 2.
The kingdom passes to Kranaus (rocky), who springs from the earth,
has three daughters and no sons, and is driven out by his son-law Amphictyon.
• 3.
Amphictyon, who has also sprung from the earth, has no issue and is
expelled by Erichthonios,
• 4.
Erichthonios, both sprung from the earth and the child of a sexual
transaction, has one son, Pandion, by Praxithea.
• 5.
Pandion has two sons and two daughters by Zeuxippe.
• 6.
Pandion’s son, Erechtheus, has three sons and four daughters by
Praxithea II.
• 7.
Erechtheus’ son, Kekrops II, has one son by Metiadusa.
• 8.
Kekrops II’s heir, Pandion II, has four sons by Pylia.
Erichthonios is both
autochthonous (born
from the earth itself)
and the product of a
sexual transaction.
Gaia, the earth,
shown here handing
the baby over to
Athena.
Erichthonios/Erechtheus
Erichthonios is born on the Akropolis;
Erechtheus dies there: one is the miraculous
baby who founds the line; the other, the
father who insures the continuity and
safekeeping of the city and citizens.
The Athenian Akropolis (arrows indicate direction of
Panathenaic procession)
Reconstruction of the Athenian Akropolis
The Akropolis in full festive mode
Plan of the Parthenon
Centauromachy depicted on South Metopes
Another scene from the Centauromachy
West Pediment of Parthenon:
Contest between Athena and Poseidon over patronage
rights of Athens
East Pediment of Parthenon:
Birth of Athena from head of Zeus
Preserved scene from the Parthenon Frieze
Drawing of the Parthenon Frieze
Man (Erechtheus?) and boy
(Erichthonios?) preparing to
hand peplos (“robe”) over to
Athena in a yearly gesture
of renewal: just as the
goddess raised the first real
Athenian, Erichthonios, so
each Athenian thereafter will
renew his goddess in the
annual festival of the
Panathenaia
The 3 pivotal figures of the Athenian Myth of Succession: Kekrops (left), baby
Erichthonios (forever a child in myth), and Erechtheus (always a father). All 3 symbolize
Athenians as autochthonous, sons of Athena, and devoted citizens (willing to sacrifice
even their own children to save Athens)