How Athens Altered Its Founding Myth During Its Cultural Peak

Publish date: 2024-04-12

The story of Cecrops is recorded in the "Bibliotheca" of Pseudo-Apollodorus, a compendium of myths gathered around the 2nd century CE based on stories from earlier centuries. As Theoi records, Cecrops was, like Erechtheus, born from the Earth itself and snake from the waist down, allowing the Athenians to maintain their autochthonous origins even as they shifted away from the more unsavory aspects of Erechtheus' birth. 

After Cecrops becomes the first king of Attica (where Athens is) and names the place Cecropia after himself, the gods Athena and Poseidon come down, each claiming the place as their own holy city because it is so great. To this end, Poseidon offers Cecrops as a gift a saltwater spring that he makes bubble up from the ground with his trident, while Athena attempts to sway him with the invention of the olive tree, which would go on to provide the Greeks with essential wood, food, and oil. Long story short, Athena wins and the city is renamed Athens after her.

While Cecrops maintains some of the monstrous appearance of the earlier culture hero Erechtheus, importantly he is a figure of civilizing influence for the people of Attica. He is credited with the invention of marriage (a metaphoric reflection of his own double-bodied nature), organizing Athens into 12 political divisions, and updating sacrifices to Zeus from bloody animal slaughter to the offering of special cakes to represent bulls, among other advancements. In the updated myth, Athena gives the care of her foster-son Erichthonius over to Cecrops' daughters, where he later ascends to the throne of Athens.

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