< Erichthonius, son of Atthis >

1 Origin

Erichthonius was born in Sais, Egypt, in 1510 BC.

His mother was Atthis, daughter of Cranaus, the second king of Athens.

His father was Hephaestus.

Erichthonius was also called Erechtheus.

2 Family

Erichthonius married Praxithea.

Erichthonius had a son, Pandion.

Pandion became the fifth king of Athens.

Erichthonius had a daughter, Creusa.

Creusa married Xuthus, son of Hellen.

3 Others

3.1 Hephaestus

Hephaestus is thought to have been the son of Erysichthon, the son of Cecrops, the first king of Athens.

Apollodoros reports that Erysichthon had no children.

However, even with such a tradition, there are cases where he had children.

Apollodoros reports that Cychreus, the ruler of Salamis, had no children, so he gave the kingdom to Telamon.

However, Diodorus reports that Telamon married Cychreus' daughter Glauce and became king of Salamis.

The genealogy of the kings of Athens shows that Cranaus was succeeded by Amphictyon, who was succeeded by Erichthonius, the son of Cranaus' daughter Atthis.

However, Cranaus had a son Rharus and Rharus had a son Celeus.

It is believed that Erichthonius was able to become king of Athens over Cranaus' son and grandson because he was a direct male descendant of Cecrops, the first king of Athens.

3.2 Born in Egypt

In 1511 BC, Cecrops died, but his son Erysichthon had died before.

Hephaestus, who was married to Cranaus' daughter Atthis, should have succeeded Cecrops, but Cranaus became king of Athens.

Cranaus usurped the throne or Hephaestus had some other reason, so Cranaus became king of Athens.

Hephaestus and Atthis emigrated to Egypt, and had a son, Erichthonius.

3.3 Emigration from Egypt

In 1492 BC, Erichthonius, born in Egypt, appeared in Athens.

Erichthonius expelled Amphictyon and became the fourth king of Athens.