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)