Cecrops I
Cecrops I ( Greek Κέκροψ, the caudate, latin Cecrops ) is a figure from Greek mythology and is considered the second king in Attica and founder of the dynasty of the Kekropiden. He was, according to legend, a autochthonous, ie born of the earth without biological parents. His figure was thought to be half man, half dragon. So it shows a vase painting of the National Museum in Palermo.
Family
Pausanias mentions as the first king of Attica Aktaios. Cecrops married Aglauros (also an epithet of Athena, with respect to the blessing of the Feldbaues ), the daughter of Aktaios, and thus gained the throne; they had four children, the Erysichthon that Aglauros, Herse and Pandrosos ( beings of divine nature, were with the service of Athena in context ). Since Erysichthon still died during the lifetime of Cecrops, Kranaos became his successor.
Deeds and myth
Cecrops united the original inhabitants of Attica and informed them on twelve demes (municipalities): Kekropia, Tetrapolis, Epakria, Dekelea, Eleusis, Aphidna, Thorikos, Brauron Kytheros, Sphettos, Kephisia and Phalerum. He conducted a census in which every inhabitant had brought a stone. Cecrops built the castle Kekropia ( Kekropia ) on the Acropolis, which is why he is regarded as the founder of Athens. He introduced the marriage, the first state institutions and the right to property. Cecrops ascribed to the introduction of bloodless sacrifice and burial of the dead.
As arbitrator in the dispute between Athena and Poseidon for the possession of Attica he determined the usefulness of a gift as decisive. Poseidon created the horse or by other ancient authors, a salt spring on the Acropolis; Athena planted on Pandroseion the all-important oil tree and got out the country to which they gave the name of Attica.
Cecrops was the hero of a altpelasgischen, spread over Attica, Boeotia and the neighborhood tribe; Egyptian origin, which they wanted to attribute to him is long since been disproved. Also, another legendary king of Attica Cecrops II bear this name.
His grave is located on the Acropolis of Athens under the Koren Hall of the Erechtheion. In Haliartus, a town in Boeotia, in ancient times there was a Heroon of Cecrops.