Erechtheus
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Erechtheus (Ἐρεχθεύς) in Greek Mythology was the name of a king of Athens, and a secondary name for two other characters
- In Homer's Iliad the name is applied to the earth-born son of Hephaestus mostly called Erichthonius by later writers. Accordingly this Erichthonius is sometimes called Erechtheus I.
- A second Erechtheus was son and heir to King Pandion I of Athens by Zeuxippe, this Pandion being son of Erichthonius/Erechtheus I. This later king Erechtheus distinguished as Erechtheus II
- Poseidon in Athens was generally known as Poseidon Erechtheus and the vestibule of Poseidon's temple was named the Erechtheion.
The remainder of this article describes Erechtheus II.
According to Apollodorus, Erechtheus II had a twin brother named Butes who married Erechtheus' daughter Chthonia. Erechtheus and Butes divided the royal power possessed by Pandion, Erechtheus taking the physical rule but Butes taking the priesthood of Athena and Poseidon, this right being passed on to his descendants.
Erechtheus was father, by his wife Praxithea, of several daughters: Procris, Creusa, Chthonia and Oreithyia.
His reign was marked by the war between Athens and Eleusis when the Eleusians were commanded by Eumolpus of Thrace, who (accepting the most common genealogy) was son of Poseidon by Chione daughter of Boreas by Oreithyia daughter of Erechtheus and was therefore Erechtheus' own great-grandson. An oracle declared that Athens' survival depended on the death one of the three daughters of Erechtheus. Perhaps three unmarried daughters is meant. But in one version it is Chthonia who is sacrificed. In another both Protogeneia and Pandora, the two eldest, offer themselves up. In any case the remaining sisters, or at least some of them, are said to kill themselves. These unfortunate daughters of Erechtheus became the Hyacinthides upon their death.
In the following battle between the forces of Athens and Eleusis, Erechtheus slew Eumolpus but then himself fell in battle, struck down by Poseidon's trident according to fragments of Euripides' tragedy Erechtheus. Or Zeus slew him with a thunderbolt at Poseidon's request.
Erechtheus is succeeded by Cecrops II, his brother according to a fragment from the poet Castor but his son according to Apollodorus (3.15.1).
Other sons of Erechtheus sometimes mentioned are Orneus, Metion, Pandorus, Thespius, and Eupalamus.
| Preceded by Pandion I |
King of Athens | Succeeded by Cecrops II |
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