Cecrops I

Cecrops I

Cecrops (in Greek, polytonic|"Κέκρωψ", "Kékrōps") was a mythical king of Athens. The name means 'face with a tail': it is said that, born from the earth itself, he had his top half shaped like a man and the bottom half in serpent or fish-tail form. He was the founder and the first king of Athens itself, though preceded in the region by the earth-born king Actaeus of Attica. Cecrops is said to have ruled Athens 1556–1506 BCE. Cecrops was a culture hero, teaching the Athenians marriage, reading and writing, and ceremonial burial.

During his reign, Athena became the patron goddess of the city of Athens in a competition with Poseidon which Cecrops judged. They agreed that each would give the Athenians one gift, and Cecrops would choose whichever gift they preferred. Poseidon struck the rock of the Acropolis with his trident and a spring sprang up; the water was salty and was not thought very useful, whereas Athena struck the rock with her lance and an olive tree sprung up. Cecrops judged the olive tree to be the superior gift, for the olive tree brought wood, oil and food, and consequently accepted Athena as their patron. Poseidon, in a rare show of magnanimity, decided to grant his gift regardless, although its nature was initially misunderstood: it was meant to represent sea power, which Athens was to exercise gloriously in the future.

The Acropolis was also known as the Cecropia in his honor.

Cecrops I was the father of three daughters: Herse, Pandrosus and Aglaurus. To them was given a box or jar containing the infant Erichthonius to guard unseen. They looked, and terrified by the two serpents Athena had set within to guard the child, they fled in terror and lept from the Acropolis to their deaths. Some accounts say one of the sisters was turned to stone instead.

Apparently Cecrops married Aglaurus, the daughter of Actaeus (former king of the region). It is unknown if this woman was the mother of Cecrops's son Erysichthon. Erysichthon predeceased him, and he was succeeded by Cranaus.

Trivia

A fictional version of Cecrops I was portrayed by the actor Tony Todd in an episode of the popular TV series "", in which Gabrielle encounters Cecrops who was cursed by Poseidon to travel the seas for choosing Athena over him. The curse was said to last until "love has redeemed him" and was granted immortality by Athena which he regrets, until Poseidon tries to claim his ship after realizing that Cecrops' curse is soon to end.


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  • CECROPS — primus Atheniensium Rex. Euseb. in Chron. l. 1. Οἱ δὲ οὖν κατα τὸν Ω῎γυγον, καὶ τὸν κατακλυσμὸν, βαςιλεῖς; εἰςἱν ὅι δέ. Πρῶτος Κέκροψ, ὁ Διφυής. Iohannes Tzetzes, Chil. 5. Hist. 18. Πρῶτος ἁπάντων Α᾿ττικῆς ὁ Κέκροψ βαςιλεὑει, Apollodotus, l. 3.… …   Hofmann J. Lexicon universale

  • Cecrops — Cécrops Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Dans la mythologie grecque, ce nom est porté par deux rois légendaires d’Athènes : Cécrops l autochtone, fondateur mythique de la cité ; …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Cecrops — [sē′kräps΄] n. 〚Gr Kekrops〛 Gr. Myth. the first king of Attica and founder of Athens, represented as half man, half dragon * * * ▪ Greek legendary figure       traditionally considered the first king of Attica in ancient Greece. Cecrops succeeded …   Universalium

  • Cecrops II — (Κέκρωψ Β ) was the legendary or semi legendary son of Pandion I and inherited the Athenian throne from his brother Erechtheus. He was succeeded by his son Pandion II (though Pandion II has also been said to be his nephew, the son of… …   Wikipedia

  • Cecrops [1] — Cecrops (a. Gesch.), s. Kekrops …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Cecrops [2] — Cecrops (C. Leach.), Gattung aus der Ordnung der kopflosen Krustenthiere u. der Familie der Flußfischläuse (Angulina, Caligida Cuv.), Hinterleib eiförmig, ohne Anhänge, am hintern. Rande 4 ungleiche nach hinten ausgeschweifte Schuppen, 2 kleine… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Cecrops — Cecrops, s. Kekrops …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Cecrops — Cecrops, der Stifter des atheniensischen Staates. Er wanderte 1550 vor Christus aus Aegypten ein, brachte den wilden Bergbewohnern Religion und Cultur, lehrte sie Ackerbau treiben, pflanzte den Oelbaum, den er der Minerva weihte, erbaute Athen,… …   Damen Conversations Lexikon

  • Cecrops — CECROPS, ŏpis, Gr. Κεκροψ, οπος, (⇒ Tab. XXIX.) 1 §. Namen. Daß dieser nicht Griechisch sey, haben schon die Alten erkannt, ob sie gleich nicht sagen können, aus welcher Sprache er entlehnet sey. Strabo L. VII. p. 321. Einige machen solchen Namen …   Gründliches mythologisches Lexikon

  • Cecrops — Cecrops,   griechischer Mythos: Kekrops …   Universal-Lexikon

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