< Erechtheus, father of Cecrops >
1 Origin
Erechtheus was born in Athens in 1425 BC.
2 Family
2.1 Wife
In 1392 BC, Erechtheus married Praxithea, daughter of Phrasimus and Diogenia.
Diogenia's father Cephisus lived near what is now Tanagra. At the time, the Gephyraeans, who had migrated to Boeotia with Cadmus, lived there. Cephisus is presumed to have been the leader of the Gephyraeans, a branch of the Phoenicians.
When Eumolpus invaded Attica, the Athenians took refuge in the area inhabited by the Gephyraeans.
It is believed that this was the basis for the marriage between Erechtheus and Praxithea.
The Gephyraeans, who migrated with Praxithea at the time of this marriage, brought the Phoenician letters to Athens.
2.2 Children
Erechtheus had a son, Cecrops, who became the seventh king of Athens.
Erechtheus had a son, Metion.
Erechtheus had a son, Pandorus, who founded Chalcis in Euboea.
Erechtheus had a daughter, who married Marathon, son of Epopeus.
Erechtheus had a daughter, Orithyia (or Oreithyia).
3 Others
3.1 Genealogy of Erechtheus
Erechtheus became the sixth king of Athens, succeeding Pandion, the fifth king of Athens.
During the time of Pandion, Eumolpus invaded Attica.
In the battle with Eumolpus, Pandion's sons died, and the line of succession from father to son came to an end.
Erechtheus could be Pandion's grandson or the husband of Pandion's granddaughter, but for the following reasons, he is presumed to be the son of Pandion's daughter.
1) Pandion's nephew Ion did not succeed Pandion. Therefore, it is unlikely that the husband of Pandion's granddaughter, who was not related by blood, succeeded Pandion.
2) Since Erechtheus is the ancestor of the Erecthids, it is unlikely that the son of Pandion's son succeeded Pandion.
Erechtheus was one of the eponymous tribes of Athens.
The Erecthids (or Erechtheidae) began with Erechtheus.
3.2 Battle with Eleusis
In 1352 BC, Erechtheus fought with Immaradus, son of Eumolpus of Eleusis, and both died.
The battle was caused by a dispute between the Eleusinians and the Athenians over the cult of Eleusis.
The battle ended with Eleusis in the lead, and it was decided that Eleusis would perform the mysteries on its own.
3.3 Four Erechtheus of the Athens royal family
In ancient historical sources, three other Erechtheus appear in the genealogy of the kings of Athens.
3.3.1 Erichthonius, the fourth king of Athens
The following Erechtheus was another name for Erichthonius, the fourth king of Athens.
1) Erechtheus raised by Athena
Homer tells us that Erechtheus was raised by Athena.
This Erechtheus was Erichthonius, the son of Atthis, the daughter of Cranaus, the second king of Athens.
It was also said that Erichthonius' mother was Athena.
2) Erechtheus, father of Creusa
Erechtheus was the father of Creusa, who married Apollo.
Creusa's husband was Xuthus, son of Hellen, and Creusa's father Erechtheus was another name for Erichthonius.
3.3.2 Erechtheus, son of Pandion, the fifth king of Athens
Erechtheus, who fought against Eumolpus, was the son of Pandion, the fifth king of Athens.
Erechtheus sacrificed his daughters to Eumolpus and died in battle.
3.3.3 Pandion, the 8th king of Athens
Erechtheus, mentioned next, was another name for Pandion, the eighth king of Athens.
1) Erechtheus, father of Orneus
Orneus, son of Erechtheus, gave his name to Orneae in Argolis.
Castor and Plutarch, like Pausanias, also tell of a lineage that goes back to Menestheus, son of Peteus, son of Orneus, son of Erechtheus.
Peteus, son of Orneus, emigrated from Athens to Phocis after being chased by Aegeus. Orneus's migration was also due to being chased by Aegeus.
Therefore, Erechtheus, father of Orneus, is thought to be another name for Pandion, the 8th king of Athens.
2) Erechtheus, father of Procris
It is said that Cephalus' wife was Procris, daughter of Erechtheus.
However, Hyginus reports that Procris' father was Pandion.
3) Erechtheus, father of Merope
Daedalus' mother is reported to have been Merope, daughter of Erechtheus.
However, since Daedalus was a cousin of Theseus, son of Aegeus, Erechtheus is also likely to have been another name for Pandion.
4) Erechtheus, ancestor of Thespius
Erechtheus, ancestor of Thespius of Thespiae in Boeotia, is also likely to have been another name for Pandion.
Diodorus reports that Thespius was the son of Erechtheus.
However, Stephanus reports that Thespius was the son of Teuthrantos, son of Pandion.