1 Introduction

In 1750 BC, a great flood occurred in the upper reaches of the Cephisus River near Mount Parnassus. [1]

Ectenes, who lost their home by a flood, moved to the vicinity of Lake Copais, led by Ogygus, the ancestor of the Athenians. [2]

In 1580 BC, the Ectenes, leaving some behind, migrated from the area near Lake Copais to other parts of the country. [3]

1.1 Migration to Thessaly

Led by the grandfather of Hellen's father, Deucalion, some Ectenes migrated from the area near Lake Copais to Thessaly. They were the first Greeks to inhabit Thessaly.

The later marriages of Hellen's brother Amphictyon and Hellen's son Xuthus to the daughters of the king of Athens prove that they belonged to the same Ectenes.

It is likely that Deucalion's grandfather and the father of Cecrops, the first king of Athens, were brothers.

1.2 Migration to Egypt

Cranaus' grandfather, likely the father of Cecrops, the first king of Athens, migrated to the Nile Delta in Egypt and founded Sais. [4]

The 4th-century BC historian Callisthenes of Olynthus and the 3rd-century BC historian Phanodemus of Athens note that the Athenians were the ancestors of the people of Sais. [5]

At the time of the migration, Cecrops was estimated to be 16 years old. He spoke a language other than Greek and was given the nickname Diphyes (two-formed), which means "two-tongue speaking." [6]

The "other language" Cecrops spoke is likely to have been Phoenician language.

The Greek inhabitants of the Nile Delta had ties to Phoenicia, located on the sea route from Greece to Egypt. Four factors suggest this connection:

1) Cecrops' daughter, Herse, married into Tyre in Phoenicia. [7]

2) Phoenix, son of Agenor, married Perimede, daughter of Oeneus, who is believed to be a descendant of Herse. [8]

3) Phoenix was king of Tyre. [9]

4) After being driven out of Egypt, Agenor's family settled in Sidon, near Tyre. [10]

Cecrops' ties to Boeotia are also suggested by the fact that he is said to have founded the cities of Eleusis and Athens on the Triton River in Boeotia. [11]

Cecrops' father also had a brother named Ogygus, who founded Thebes in Egypt. [12]

Thebes, where Cadmus was born, is believed to have been located in the Nile Delta. [13]

2 Age of Cecrops, the First King of Athens (1561-1511 BC)

2.1 Migration from Egypt

In 1562 BC, Cecrops landed in the coastal town of Myrrinous, located approximately 25 km north of Cape Sunium at the southeastern tip of Attica. [14]

The following suggests that Cecrops' migration was due to the loss of his habitation due to a tsunami.

1) Cecrops came to Attica from Sais in Egypt. [15]

2) Sais was located on the coast. [16]

3) Cecrops migrated to Attica after a major disaster. [17]

4) Cecrops ascended to the throne of Athens in 1561 BC. [18]

5) A large eruption is known to have occurred on Thera around 1560 BC. [19]

Cecrops is believed to have migrated with many people.

Colaenus, who lived in the city of Myrrinus, migrated to the Messenia region and founded Colonides on a peninsula west of the entrance to the Gulf of Messenia. [20]

Cecrops married Agraulus, daughter of King Actaeus of Athmoneis, about 15 km northeast of Athens. [21]

2.2 Reign of Cecrops

In 1561 BC, Cecrops founded Cecropia (later the Acropolis of Athens). [22]

Later, Cecrops founded the cities of Eleusis and Athens near the Triton River near the city of Alalcomenae in Boeotia. [23]

2.3 Erysichthon, son of Cecrops

Erysichthon died on his way back to Attica after a ritual on Delos. He was buried in Prasiae, just south of Myrrinous. [24]

The ancient name of Delos, Ortygia, was given by Erysichthon. [25]

Erysichthon brought back a wooden statue of the goddess Eileithyia from Delos and dedicated it to the temple of Eileithyia in Athens. [26]

2.4 Herse, daughter of Cecrops

In 1562 BC, Cecrops' daughter Herse was married to a Tyrian man in Phoenicia while traveling from Egypt to Athens. [27]

Sandocus, son of Astynous, son of Phaethon, son of Tithonus, son of Cephalus, son of Herse, emigrated to Cilicia Tracheia and founded Celenderis. [28]

3 Age of Cranaus, the Second King of Athens (1511–1502 BC)

3.1 Migration of Cranaus

In 1511 BC, Cecrops died, and Cranaus, presumably his nephew, succeeded him. [29]

Cranaus was born in Egypt and emigrated from Egypt to Attica around 1515 BC. [30]

At the command of Cecrops, Cranaus founded the cities of Athens and Eleusis near the Triton River in Boeotia, where his ancestor Ogygus had once lived. [31]

3.2 Atthis, daughter of Cranaus

Cranaus' daughter, Atthis (also known as Athena), grew up near the Triton River. [32]

Homer adds Alalcomenae to Athena's name, and it is assumed that Atthis lived in Alalcomenae near the Triton River. [33]

Herodotus states that the inhabitants of Athens during Cranaus' time were Pelasgians called Cranaans. [34]

Cranaus was the son of Io, who migrated from Argos to Egypt. It is likely that the Pelasgians who migrated with Io to Egypt also migrated with Cranaus to Athens. [35]

Herodotus reports that Athena was born near Lake Tritonis, and that the inhabitants of the lake engaged in animal-like mating and shared women. [36]

The 7th-century chronicler John of Antioch wrote that while people had previously mated like beasts and had only one parent (mother), Cecrops established the concept of husband and wife, creating two parents (father and mother). [37]

Cecrops was from Sais in Egypt, and Cranaus' daughter, Atthis, is likely also born in the same town. [38]

3.3 Atthis's Husband

Cranaus was succeeded by Amphictyon, who in turn was succeeded by Erichthonius, the son of Cranaus's daughter.

However, Cranaus had a son, Rharus, who in turn had a son, Celeus. [39]

The reason Amphictyon was succeeded not by Cranaus' son but by the son of Cranaus' daughter is likely because Erichthonius was the great-grandson of Cecrops.

In other words, Atthis's husband and Erichthonius' father was presumably the son of Cecrops' son, Erysichthon. [40]

He is listed in the legend as Hephaestus. [40-1]

When Cecrops died in 1511 BC, his son Erysichthon had died earlier. [40-2]

Hephaestus, who was married to Cranaus' daughter Atthis, should have succeeded Cecrops, but Cranaus became king of Athens. [40-3]

3.4 Usurpation of the throne

The following suggests that Cranaus usurped the throne from Cecrops.

1) The flood during the reign of Deucalion occurred the same year Cranaus succeeded Cecrops as king of Athens. [40-4]

2) Deucalion fled the flood to Athens with his sons, Hellen and Amphictyon. [40-5]

3) Deucalion's tomb was in Athens. [40-6]

4) Amphictyon married Cranaus' daughter. [40-7]

In other words, the circumstances under which Cranaus succeeded Cecrops as king are presumed to be as follows:

In 1511 BC, Deucalion and his family, living in Thessaly, lost their home in a flood and sought refuge in Athens, seeking refuge with their relatives. With the help of Deucalion, Cranaus killed Cecrops and became the second king of Athens. Cranaus' daughter, Atthis, who was already married to Hephaestus, fled with her husband to Egypt, where their son, Erichthonius, was born. [40-8]

Cranaus gave his daughter in marriage to Deucalion's son, Amphictyon. [40-9]

Deucalion died in Athens. [40-10]

Cecrops was buried in Cecropia. [40-11]

3.5 Areopagus

Around 1510 BC, Halirrhothius humiliated Alcippe, daughter of Aglaurus, daughter of Cecrops, near a spring near the Acropolis, and Alcippe's father killed Halirrhothius.

Alcippe's father was tried on the hill of Ares and found innocent. [41]

This was Areopagus' first trial. [42]

4 Age of Amphictyon, son of Deucalion (1502-1492 BC)

In 1503 BC, another daughter of Cranaus married Amphictyon, son of Deucalion of Thessaly. [43]

This long-distance marriage was probably made possible by the blood relationship between Cranaus and Deucalion.

Cranaus' grandfather and Deucalion's grandfather were brothers, and are presumed to have emigrated from Boeotia to Egypt and Thessaly, respectively. [44]

In 1502 BC, Amphictyon banished his father-in-law Cranaus. Cranaus fled to Lamptrae, halfway between Athens and Cape Sunium, where he died. [45]

5 Age of Erichthonius, son of Atthis (1492-1442 BC)

5.1 Migration from Egypt

In 1492 BC, Erichthonius, son of Atthis, daughter of Cranaus, who had come of age in Egypt, emigrated from Egypt to Athens to avenge his grandfather. With the support of the Athenians, he banished Amphictyon and became king of Athens. [46]

5.2 The Founding of Tetrapolis

Hellen, son of Deucalion, who lived in Thessaly, had three sons, Aeolus, Xuthus, and Dorus. [47]

Aeolus, who succeeded Hellen, and Dorus banished Xuthus. [48]

In 1470 BC, Xuthus moved to Athens and married Creusa, daughter of Erechtheus. [49]

Xuthus was the nephew of Amphictyon, whom Erechtheus had banished.

In 1465 BC, Xuthus gathered people from the surrounding areas and founded four towns: Oenoe, Marathon, Probalinthus, and Tricorynthus. [50]

5.3 The Fate of Amphictyon

The fate of Amphictyon after leaving Athens is unknown.

Lycus, who wrote the history of Thebes, reported that Thebe, the daughter of Iodama, the daughter of Tithonus, the son of Amphictyon, married Aegyptus. [51]

If this Amphictyon is the same as the third king of Athens, Amphictyon, then Tithonus' mother is presumed to have been the daughter of Cranaus.

Aegyptus was the son of Belus, the son of Libya, the daughter of Epaphus, the son of Io.

Thebe was the daughter of Iodama, the daughter of Tithonus, the son of the daughter of Cranaus, the son of Io.

In other words, it is presumed that Amphictyon himself, or his son Tithonus, emigrated to Egypt. Amphictyon's wife, the daughter of Cranaus, was born in Egypt.

6 Age of Pandion, son of Erichthonius (1442-1402 BC)

6.1 Battle with Eumolpus

In 1415 BC, Eumolpus invaded Attica, and the Athenians fled to the vicinity of Tanagra in Boeotia. [52]

Xuthus' son Ion became a polemarchos with the support of the Athenians, and fought against Eumolpus, bringing about a truce. Since Eumolpus subsequently settled in Eleusis, it is assumed that Eumolpus prevailed. [53]

6.2 End of the Family Line

The sons of Pandion, son of Erichthonius, died out in this battle, and it is assumed that there was no son to succeed Pandion. The following is written in ancient historical sources as the reason for this:

1) Hyginus and Apollodoros write that Erechtheus, son of Pandion, died after fighting Eumolpus, and his line became extinct. [54]

2) Demosthenes, in a speech delivered shortly after the Battle of Chaeronea, writes that the line of Erechtheus became extinct after the sacrifice of Erechtheus' daughter. [55]

3) Tzetzes, a 12th-century AD rhetorician, writes that the Erecthids (or Erechtheidae) began with Erechtheus, the father of the second Cecrops. [56]

6.3 Erechtheus, who fought against Eumolpus

Castor, a chronicler of the 2nd century BC, tells us that Pandion, son of Erichthonius, had two sons, Erechtheus and Cecrops. [57]

Erechtheus sacrificed his daughters in hopes of victory, but he himself is thought to have died in the battle against Eumolpus. Pausanias, seeing a bronze statue of Erechtheus and Eumolpus fighting in Athens, writes that it is not Eumolpus but his son Immaradus. [58]

However, it is assumed that Erechtheus' opponent was Immaradus' father Eumolpus.

6.4 Ion, son of Xuthus

After losing his sons in the battle against Eumolpus, Pandion entrusted the command of the Athenians to Ion, son of Xuthus. [59]

Ion was the son of Pandion's sister Creusa, and thus Pandion's nephew. [60]

Ion led the Athenians, as well as those who had migrated from Attica to Aegialus (later Achaia) with Xuthus. [61]

Ion's army also likely included the Achaeans, who had migrated from Thessaly some time earlier with Xuthus' son Achaeus. [62]

7 Age of Erechtheus, the 6th King of Athens (1402-1352 BC)

Ancient sources say that Erechtheus' father was Pandion, the 5th King of Athens, but as mentioned above, Pandion's family line became extinct.

Erechtheus could be Pandion's grandson or the husband of Pandion's granddaughter, but for the following reasons, it is assumed that he was the son of Pandion's daughter.

1) Since Pandion's nephew Ion did not succeed him, it is unlikely that the husband of Pandion's granddaughter, who was not related by blood, would have succeeded Pandion.

2) Since Erechtheus is the ancestor of the Erecthids, it is unlikely that the son of Pandion's son would have succeeded Pandion.

7.1 Praxithea, wife of Erechtheus

In 1392 BC, Erechtheus married Praxithea, daughter of Phrasimus and Diogenia. [63]

Diogenia's father Cephisus lived near what is now Tanagra. At the time, the Gephyraeans, who had migrated to Boeotia with Cadmus, lived there, and Cephisus is presumed to have been their leader. [64]

When Eumolpus invaded Attica, the Athenians took refuge in the Gephyraean settlement, and it is believed that this marriage was the result of this connection. [65]

The Gephyraeans, who migrated with Praxithea at the time of this marriage, brought the Phoenician letters to Athens.

7.2 Orithyia (or Oreithyia), daughter of Erechtheus

7.2.1 The legend of Boreas and Orithyia

There is a legend that Orithyia was kidnapped by Boreas. The philosopher Socrates understood this legend to mean that Orithyia was playing in the Ilissus River when she was blown by the north wind and fell off a rock to her death. Strabo also agrees with Socrates. [66]

However, the historical facts are assumed to have been as follows.

In 1390 BC, Orithyia, daughter of Erechtheus, set out from Athens with Boreas in search of a new land. They did not migrate south because of the north wind, but to the north, where the north wind lives.

Boreas traveled up the Hebrus River in Thracia and then up its tributary, the Rheginia River, to find a suitable place to migrate. The Rheginia River, formerly called the Erigon River, was located at the foot of Mount Haemon. [67] The settlement of Boreas was near now Ipsala in what is northwestern Turkey.

7.2.2 Relationship between the Hyperboreans, Delos, and Athens

7.2.2.1 Relationship from the perspective of the route of offerings

In 1365 BC, the sons of Boreas and Orithyia, Zetes and Calais, emigrated to Peuce, located in the Ister River (now the Danube River) on the west coast of the Black Sea. [68]

It was the land inhabited by the Hyperboreans, from which offerings were sent to Delos. [69]

The route of delivery via Dodona, as reported by Herodotus, passed through Carystus in southeastern Euboea. [70]

Carystus was founded in 1280 BC by Carystus, son of Scirus, father of Aegeus, who emigrated from Scyros. Zarex, son of Petraeus, son of Carystus, married Rhoeo (or Creousa), daughter of Staphylus, son of Ariadne, daughter of Minos, and had a son, Anius (or Anion), who became a priest of Apollo in Delos. [71]

Also, according to Pausanias, the route of communication from the Hyperboreans to Delos passed through Prasiae in Attica. [72]

In both routes, Athens was closely connected to the Hyperboreans and Delos.

7.2.2.2 Relationship from the perspective of the Cult of Apollo and Eileithyia

When Leto's children Apollo and Artemis were born, Eileithyia assisted in the birth. [73]

The Hyperboreans sent offerings to Delos in gratitude. [74]

Erysichthon, son of Cecrops, the first king of Athens, brought a wooden statue of the goddess Eileithyia from Delos and dedicated it to the temple of Eileithyia in Athens. [75]

Erysichthon died on the return voyage from Delos and was buried at Prasiae in Attica, a stop on the route of communication reported by Pausanias. [76]

Eileithyia was born in Amnisus, near Cnossus in Crete. [77]

There was a cave of Eileithyia. [78]

From the cave, one can reach Delos by sailing about 230 km toward the North Star.

Delos was an important stop on the sea route between Crete and Athens. [79]

Theseus, son of Aegeus, also stopped off in Delos on his way back from Crete. [80]

7.2.2.3 Origin of Boreas

Based on the relationship between Athens and the Hyperboreans and the fact that the tomb of Eumolpus, the son of Boreas' daughter Chione, was in Eleusis, it is assumed that Boreas' father was Butes. Butes was the twin brother of Erechtheus, the sixth king of Athens, and became a priest of Athens. [81]

Orithyia and Boreas were therefore cousins.

7.3 Migration to Euboea

In 1360 BC, Erechtheus' son Pandorus migrated to Euboea and founded Chalcis. [82]

Later, Pandorus' brother Cecrops also migrated to Euboea, but it is assumed that Pandorus' migration was also due to a dispute between the brothers.

Pandorus was the "oldest inhabitant of Euboea" whose name is known.

8 Age of Cecrops, son of Erechtheus (1352-1312 BC)

8.1 Migration to Euboea

In 1320 BC, Cecrops emigrated to Euboea. [83]

The sudden migration of a ruler can be the result of internal conflict, as in the case of Abas, son of Lynceus, who emigrated to Phocis, and Abas, son of Melampus, who emigrated to Thessaly. [84]

Cecrops was banished from Athens along with his sons, Cychreus, Scyrius, and Pandion, due to a dispute with his brother Metion.

Cecrops emigrated to his brother Pandorus, who lived in Chalcis in Euboea. [85]

The dispute between Cecrops and Metion was the beginning of an internal conflict that lasted for generations. [86]

8.2 Migration to Megara, Salamis, and Scyros

The three sons of Cecrops, Cychreus, Scyrius (or Sciron, Chiron, Scirus), and Pandion, migrated to various places as follows:

8.2.1 Migration to Salamis

Cychreus migrated to Salamis. [87]

Later, Cychreus was revered by the Athenians as if he was a god. [88]

8.2.2 Migration to Scyros

Scyrius migrated to Scyros. [89]

Scyrius was the husband of Chariclo, the daughter of Cychreus, and their daughter Endeis (or Endais) married Aeacus. [90]

When Cychreus died without an heir in 1295 BC, Scyrius left Scyros to his son and migrated to Salamis.

Aegeus, son of Scyrius, was adopted by his uncle Pandion.[91] Aegeus' son Theseus fled from Athens to Scyros, where Aegeus's estates were located.[92]

8.2.3 Migration to Megara

In 1318 BC, Pandion emigrated to Pylas, son of Cleson, of Megara, and married his daughter Pylia. [93]

Before that, Pandion lived in Thoricus, Attica. [94]

8.3 Abolition of human sacrifice

Leos, one of the eponyms of the Ten Tribes of Athens, sacrificed his daughters to save the Athens from famine. Leos reportedly followed the example of Erechtheus, who sacrificed his daughters during the battle with Eleusis. [95]

Erechtheus' son Cecrops, seeing his sisters and the daughters of Leos sacrificed, began to sacrifice sweets instead of living things. [96]

The Athenians stopped practicing human sacrifice in the second half of the 14th century BC.

9 Age of Pandion, son of Cecrops (1312-1287 BC)

In 1312 BC, Pandion returned to Athens with the help of Pylas, father of his wife Pylia, and became the 8th king of Athens.

In 1295 BC, Pandion was driven out of Athens by Metion's sons and went into exile in Megara. [97]

Given that Pandion's tomb was in Megara, it was only after Pandion's death that Pandion's sons returned to Athens and drove out Metion's sons. [98]

10 Age of Aegeus, adopted son of Pandion (1287-1239 BC)

In 1287 BC, Pandion died, and Aegeus, the eldest of his sons, succeeded him as king of Athens in Megara. [99]

In 1285 BC, Aegeus returned to Athens and expelled Metion's sons. [100]

10.1 Internal conflict

In 1277 BC, a conflict arose between Aegeus and his adopted brothers.

Aegeus was the eldest of Pandion's sons, but he was adopted. [101]

Pandion's sons, pursued by Aegeus, migrated to various places as follows:

10.1.1 Migration to Lycia

Pandion's son Lycus fled to Aphareus, son of Perieres, in Arene, Messenia, and then migrated to Lycia. [102]

Lycus performed the Mysteries in Andania, Messenia. [103]

10.1.2 Migration to Argolis

Orneus, son of Pandion, emigrated to the vicinity of Phlius in Argolis and founded Orneae. [104]

10.1.3 Migration to Phocis

Peteus, son of Oeneus, son of Pandion, emigrated from Styria in Attica to Phocis and founded Stiris. [105]

10.1.4 Migration to Boeotia

Lebadus, probably the brother of Peteus, emigrated to Midea in Boeotia, where the town became known as Lebadeia. [106]

Teuthrantus, son of Pandion, emigrated to Boeotia and founded Thespiae. [107]

10.1.5 Migration to Arcadia

Some people emigrated to Arcadia and settled in Caphyae. [108]

10.1.6 Migration to Acarnaia

10.1.6.1 Father of Cephalus

Cephalus, husband of Pandion's daughter Procris, was also exiled by Aegeus.

Most traditions say that Cephalus' father was Deion (or Deioneus). Hyginus says that Cephalus, son of Deion, was king of the Athenians. Cephalus was king of Thoricus. [109]

Thoricus was one of the twelve towns that were united by Theseus, son of Aegeus, and Pandion lived in that town. [110]

Hyginus states that Nisus, king of Megara, who is said by many traditions to be the son of Pandion, was the son of Deion. [111]

Thus, Cephalus' father was Pandion, king of Athens, also called Deion (or Deioneus).

10.1.6.2 Migration to Cephallenia

Cephalus, together with Amphitryon, son of Alcaeus, made an expedition to the land of Teleboans. [112]

Cephalus emigrated to the largest island in the Ionian Sea, which became known as Cephallenia. [113]

10.1.7 Migration to Crete

Daedalus, son of Eupalamus, son of Metion, emigrated from Athens to Crete, pursued by Aegeus. [114]

Along with Daedalus, the son of Pallas, son of Pandion, also emigrated to Crete, where he is presumed to have been friendly with Androgeus, son of Minos.

10.2 Battle with Minos

In 1264 BC, Androgeus, son of Minos of Crete, was killed at Oenoe, at the foot of Mount Cithaeron, on his way to the funeral games of Laius, son of Labdacus, held in Thebes. [115]

Diodorus reports that Androgeus was killed because he was close to the sons of Pallas, Aegeus's political rival. [116]

Hyginus reports that Androgeus died during a battle between Aegeus and Minos. [117]

Probably after a battle between Aegeus and his stepbrothers, the next generation of Pallas' sons challenged Aegeus to battle with Androgeus, with the help of Minos.

After a full-scale invasion by Minos, Aegeus was driven out of Athens by the sons of Pallas and fled to Megara, where his stepbrother Nisus lived. Megara was a place of exile from the time of Pandion, and it is believed that Aegeus had many allies in there. [118] However, after Nisus was killed in battle with Minos, Aegeus fled to Pittheus in Troezen. [119]

10.3 Exile to Troezen

Aegeus chose Pittheus of Troezen as his asylum for two reasons.

1) Marital relations

Pittheus' daughter Henioche was the wife of Canethus, the brother of Chalcodon of Chalcis.

Chalcodon's daughter Chalciope was the wife of Aegeus. [120]

So Aegeus probably sought refuge in Pittheus, the father of his wife Chalciope's cousin.

2) Introduction from Alcathous

The tomb of Pyrgo, the first wife of Alcathous, son of Pelops, was in Megara. [121]

After Nisus, son of Pandion, was killed in battle against Minos, Alcathous inherited Megara. [122]

From the above, it is assumed that Pyrgo was the daughter of Sciron, the son of Pylas, the son of Cleson, who once competed with Nisus for the kingship. [123]

The husband of Sciron's daughter, Alcathous, who was given command during the war, must have been in Megara, which was under attack by Minos. [124]

It is assumed that Alcathous introduced his brother Pittheus to Aegeus. [125]

During this exile, Aegeus met Pittheus' daughter Aethra, but Aegeus, who was then estimated to be 54 years old, and Aethra were not officially married. [126]

It is believed that later, when Aegeus had no heir, he summoned his son Theseus, born to Aethra, to Athens. [127]

10.4 Return to Athens

In 1262 BC, Aegeus returned from Troezen to Athens. Two sons of Troezen, brother of Pittheus, Anaphlystus and Sphettus, helped Aegeus return. Two towns named after them were founded in Attica. [128]

Sphettus is included in the twelve towns that Strabon reports Theseus grouping together, but Anaphlystus is not. Strabon lists only eleven towns, and the other one is probably Anaphlystus. [129]

Aegeus improved relations with Minos by promising tribute, but the conflict with the sons of Pallas continued. [130]

10.5 Sons of Aegeus

The only son of Aegeus reported is Theseus. Aegeus is said to have married at least three women and cohabited with many others. [131]

Peteus, whom Aegeus banished, was the son of Aegeus's brother-in-law, Oeneus (Orneus). [132]

Aegeus was older than Oeneus, so it is not surprising that Aegeus had sons of the same age as Peteus.

Aegeus probably had many unnamed sons who died in battles with his brothers-in-law.

11 Age of Theseus, son of Aegeus (1239-1209 BC)

11.1 Before the Ascension of King of Athens

11.1.1 The age of Troezen

Theseus was born in Troezen in 1263 BC and was raised by his grandfather Pittheus. When Theseus was about 7 years old, Heracles visited Pittheus' house. [133]

Pittheus, son of Pelops, was the brother of Lysidice (or Eurydice), mother of Alcmena, mother of Heracles. [134]

This means that Theseus, Heracles' second cousin, was present when Heracles visited his grandmother's brother. It was then that Theseus saw Heracles for the first time. Heracles was 19 years old at the time and was deeply impressed by Theseus, and Heracles' subsequent exploits made Theseus his follower. [135]

11.1.2 Migration to Athens

Theseus was summoned to Athens by the olderly and heirless Aegeus. [136]

Theseus was 16 years old at the time. [137]

Theseus appears in the story of the Argonauts' expedition as a participant from Troezen. [138]

Theseus also appears in the story of the Calydonian boar hunt as a participant from Athens. [139]

Theseus and his two events took place during Heracles' three-year service under Omphale of Lydia. [140]

Thus, the story of the Argonauts' expedition took place in 1248 BC, the story of the Calydonian boar hunt took place in 1246 BC, and Theseus' migration from Troezen to Athens took place in 1247 BC.

11.1.3 Marriage alliance with Crete

In 1241 BC, Theseus married Minos' daughter Phaedra. Shortly after Minos died, his eldest son Deucalion, who succeeded him, gave his sister Phaedra to Theseus in marriage to form an alliance with Aegeus. [141]

The marriage alliance between Theseus and Phaedra appears to have abolished Athens' tribute to Crete.

Young men and women were sent from Athens to Crete to serve as servants to the winners of the games. Their descendants, led by Botton, emigrated to Macedonia near Pella and became known as Bottiaeans. Aristotle says that the young men and women were sent to Crete as slaves. [142]

Botton settled near Pella because there were already people related to the Athenians living there. Europus, near Pella, was founded by Europus, son of Oreithyia, daughter of Cecrops, father of Pandion, the foster father of Aegeus.[143]

11.1.4 Migration from Crete

On the marriage of Minos' daughter Phaedra, many Cretans migrated to Athens along with Ceramus, the son of her sister Ariadne, and Ceramus became the eponym of the Cerameicus district. [144]

At this time, the pottery-making techniques of Crete were brought to Athens, and the Cerameicus district came to be called the Potters' Quarter. [145]

11.1.5 The Marriage of Theseus

There are many stories about Theseus's wife, other than Phaedra, but the most likely is that he married Iope, daughter of Heracles' half-brother Iphicles. [146]

Iope was the sister of Heracles' nephew Iolaus.

After Heracles' death, Athens accepted the sons of Heracles, who had been chased by Eurystheus and had nowhere to go, because Iolaus and Theseus were stepbrothers. [147]

The marriage to Perigune, daughter of Sinis, of Isthmus, also seems to be true. [148]

Their son Melanippos had a hero shrine in the Melite district of Athens. [149]

11.1.6 Battle with the Centaurs

Theseus is said to have fought against the Centaurs. [150]

This legend is thought to be an invention resulting from the friendship between Theseus and Peirithous, son of Ixion, who drove the Centaurs out of Thessaly. [151]

There was a battle between Peirithous and the Centaurs, but Theseus does not seem to have participated in it.

Pandion, father of Teleon, father of Butes, father of Peirithous' wife Hippodameia, was the foster father of Aegeus, father of Theseus, and Hippodameia was the daughter of Theseus' paternal cousin.

Later, when the descendants of Peirithous were driven out of Thessaly and fled to Athens, the Athenians welcomed them there because of the friendship of their ancestors.[152]

The descendants of Peirithous became the Oineis, one of the ten tribes of Athens.[153]

11.2 Age of King Athens

11.2.1 The Consolidation of Athens

In 1239 BC, Aegeus died and was succeeded by Theseus, 24 years old. [154]

Theseus won a battle against the sons of Pallas, son of Pandion. [155]

Theseus united Attica, which had been divided into 12 towns and was constantly fighting with each other. [156]

Strabon names 11 towns: Cecropia, Tetrapolis, Epacria, Deceleia, Eleusis, Aphidna, Thoricus, Brauron, Cytherus, Sphettus, and Cephisia. Another town is presumably Anaphlystus, founded at the same time as Sphettus. [157]

Theseus' rise to power was largely due to the efforts of Anaphlystus and Sphettus, who had migrated from Troezen to Athens with Aegeus and founded two towns there. They were paternal cousins of Theseus' mother Aethra. [158]

Aegeus's estate was in Delphinium, just east of the Acropolis of Athens, so Cecropia was amalgamated with eleven towns. [159]

11.2.2 Battle with Eurystheus

In 1218 BC, Theseus took in the children of Heracles, who had been driven out of Trachis, and placed them in Tricorythus in Attica. [160]

One of Theseus' wives, Iope, was the sister of Iolaus, the guardian of Heracles' children, and Theseus and Iolaus were stepbrothers. [161]

In 1217 BC, Eurystheus led the Mycenaeans in an attack on Athens, where the Heracleidae lived, but Eurystheus and his sons were killed in battle.[162]

11.2.3 Colonization of Sardinia

In 1216 BC, after the death of Eurystheus and the removal of the threat of the sons of Heracles, Iolaus set out to colonize Sardinia for the second time, recruiting immigrants from the Athenians. Iolaus died in Sardinia. [163]

11.2.4 Seven Against Thebes

In 1215 BC, the Argives, led by Adrastus, attacked Thebes, but Athens did not participate. However, at the request of Adrastus, who had been defeated by the Thebans, Athens sent emissaries to Thebes to ask permission to take back the bodies of those killed in battle.

The 4th century BC orator Isocrates reports that Athens threatened Thebes. [164]

Thebes was probably threatened by Athens, which had defeated the forces of Eurystheus, the king of Mycenae, whose power was overwhelming among other cities at the time.

11.2.5 Migration to Doris

In 1211 BC, Hyllus, the eldest son of Heracles and Deianeira, attempted to return to Peloponnesus, but was defeated by the Peloponnesus forces waiting for him at Isthmus, and Hyllus was killed in battle. [165]

The Heracleidae left Tricorythus and moved to Aegimius in Doris. [166]

The Ionians were also in Hyllus' army, and some of them were killed in the battle, so the Heracleidae found it difficult to live in Tricorythus.

11.2.6 Battle with Menestheus

The consolidation of power by Theseus caused rebellions among those who ruled over the various towns, and Menestheus, son of Peteos, son of Orneus, son of Erechtheus, instigated them. [167]

This Erechtheus was not the father of Cecrops, father of Pandion, but was another name for Pandion. This is presumed to be because Demophon, son of Theseus, son of Aegeus, adopted by Pandion, lived during the Trojan War with Menestheus.

As Menestheus was preparing to rebel against Theseus, he traveled to the Aornum in Thesprotis, an oracle for summoning the dead, for his wife Phaedra, who had died some time before. [168]

11.2.7 Uprising of Menestheus

While Theseus was away in Athens, the Dioscuri from Lacedaemon came to bring back their sister Helen. Menestheus took advantage of this and rose up in rebellion.

In 1210 BC, Theseus' two sons, Demophon and Acamas, fled to Elephenor at Chalcis in Euboea. [169]

Tradition has it that Theseus sent them there to seek refuge, but the two were adults and acted on their own accord. [170]

Elephenor, son of Chalcodon, was the brother of Chalciope, wife of Aegeus. Elephenor was therefore the brother of Theseus' mother-in-law. [171]

11.2.8 Invasion of the Dioscuri

Helen, who was reportedly 7, 10, or even 12 years old at the time, was reportedly kidnapped by Theseus, who was 50 years old. [172]

In fact, Idas had kidnapped Helen, daughter of Tyndareus, and given her to Theseus, who in turn had entrusted her to Aphidnae. [173]

Idas and Theseus' friend Peirithous were of the same race, with a common ancestor being Lapithes, son of Aeolus, son of Hippotes, and it is believed that Idas and Theseus were also on friendly terms. [174]

Ancient sources overestimate the power of the Dioscuri, but they were insignificant to Athens, which had defeated the Mycenae king Eurystheus.

11.2.9 The end of Theseus

In 1209 BC, Theseus returned to Athens from Thesprotis, and, unable to suppress the resentment of the local people, went to Scyros. [175]

Theseus did not know that his sons had gone to Euboea. If Theseus had known about his sons, he would have gone to Chalcis instead of Scyros.

In Scyros was the estate of Aegeus, father of Theseus. Fearing that Theseus would overrun his position, Lycomedes killed Theseus. [176]

Lycomedes was the father of Achilles' wife Deidamia and the grandfather of Neoptolemus. [177]

Lycomedes was the grandson of Aegeus's biological father Scyrius and is presumed to be a cousin of Theseus. [178]

12 Age of Menestheus, son of Peteus (1209-1186 BC)

Menestheus, son of Peteus (or Peteos), became the 11th king of Athens after expelling Theseus.

12.1 Expedition to Troy

Tradition has it that Menestheus led the Athenians from the port of Phalerum in an expedition to Troy. [179]

However, since Menestheus' power was not solid and could have been usurped by Theseus' sons, it is unlikely that he actually led an expedition to Troy.

Presumably, Menestheus had some troops join the Troy expedition, while he himself remained in Athens.

12.2 Return from Euboea

In 1188 BC, the sons of Theseus, Demophon and Acamas, who had been in exile in Chalcis, Euboea, returned to Athens and took control of the Athenians.

Menestheus fled to the island of Melos, where he died. [180]

12.3 Migration from Boeotia

In 1188 BC, the Orchomenians, pursued by the Thracians, fled to Athens.

They were received by Munychus and settled in Munychia. [180-1]

Munychus was the son of Demophon (or Acamas) and Laodice. [180-2]

12.4 Return from Troy

In 1186 BC, the Achaeans invaded Troy and were defeated in a battle with Ilium.

The Athenians, unable to return to Athens, migrated to Scylletium in the southern part of the Italian peninsula. [181]

Others migrated to Elaea, near Cyme in Aeolis. [182]

12.5 Settlers from Thessaly

In 1186 BC, the people, led by a descendant of Perithous, son of Ixion of Gyrton, who was driven out by the Thesprotians invaded Thessaly, fled to Athens.

According to the 4th century BC historian Ephorus, the Athenians welcomed them, considering the friendship between Theseus and Perithous, and gave them a piece of land that would later be called Perithoedae. [183]

In other words, the people who ruled Athens at that time were not the people who had banished Theseus, but Demophon, the son of Theseus.

Also, Armenius (or Harmenius), son of Zeuxippus, son of Eumelus, fled from Pherae in Thessaly to Athens. [184]

Armenius' daughter Henioche, born in Athens, married Andromorphus, son of Penthilus of Messenia, and had a son, Melanthus. Melanthus became the 16th king of Athens. [185]

Pausanias reports that Melanthus' mother and wife were Athenian. [186]

13 Age of Demophon, son of Theseus (1186-1153 BC)

Menestheus was banished, and Theseus' son Demophon became the 12th king of Athens.

13.1 Return of Theseus's bones

Plutarch reports that the Athenian general Cimon brought Theseus' bones back to Athens when he captured Scyros. [187]

This was 739 years after Theseus' death.

However, it is likely that Theseus' sons, who returned to Athens, would have inquired about Theseus.

The Suda Dictionary reports that Lycomedes, who killed Theseus, was killed by the Athenians, and Theseus' bones were brought back to Athens. [188]

13.2 Demophon's Wife

The 5th century AD theologian Jerome reports that there is a theory that Demophon's son Oxyntes is a descendant of Heracles. [189]

If this is true, Demophon's father Theseus was of the same generation as Heracles, so Demophon's wife and Oxyntes' mother must have been Heracles' daughter.

Demophon's wife is presumed to have been Heracles' daughter Macaria for the following reasons.

In 1218 BC, Eurystheus of Mycenae threatened to take action against Ceyx in Trachis if he did not expel Heracles' family. Heracles' children moved to Tricorythus, one of the Tetrapolises in Attica. [190]

The town had a spring named after Macaria, the daughter of Heracles and Deianeira. [191]

Eurystheus was reportedly worried about the growing number of children of Heracles reaching adulthood, and Macaria was of marriageable age. [192]

Demophon was also of marriageable age and lived in the same area, so Jerome's story is likely true.

Iope, the sister of Macaria's guardian Iolaus, was one of the wives of Theseus, father of Demophon. [193]

It is believed that Iolaus introduced Macaria to Demophon, the son of Theseus, his brother-in-law.

14 Age of Oxyntes, son of Demophon (1153-1141 BC)

Oxyntes, son of Demophon, succeeded Demophon as the 13th king of Athens. [194]

15 Age of Apheidas, son of Oxyntes (1141-1140 BC)

Oxyntes was succeeded by Apheidas, son of Oxyntes, as the 14th king of Athens. [195]

Apheidas was killed by his half-brother Thymoetes. [196]

16 Age of Thymoetes, son of Oxyntes (1140-1111 BC)

Apheidas was killed and Thymoetes, son of Oxyntes, became the 15th king of Athens. [197]

16.1 Return to Boeotia

In 1126 BC, the Orchomenians who lived in Munychia returned to Boeotia. [197-1]

Among them was Chaeron, son of Thero, who moved to a town that was then called Arne, and the town came to be called Chaeroneia. [197-2]

17 Age of Melanthus, son of Andropompus (1111-1095 BC)

17.1 Melanthus's Time in Messenia

Many sources say that Melanthus was king of Pylus. [198]

However, Melanthus did not live in Pylus in Messenia.

Melanthus was the son of Andropompus, son of Borus (or Penthilus), son of Penthilus (or Borus), son of Periclymenus. [199]

After the death of Idas, son of Aphareus, Nestor, son of Neleus, inherited the rulership of Messenia. [200]

Nestor and his sons, Thrasymedes and Antilochus, lived in Pylus. [201]

Melanthus was a direct descendant of Periclymenus, the eldest son of Neleus, and not of Nestor. Melanthus appears to have lived in Andania, not in Pylus.[202]

Melanthus was king of the Messenians, not of Pylus.[203]

17.2 Melanthus' Migration to Athens

17.2.1 Deciding where to move

Melanthus is said to have asked the god at Delphi where he should live, and was sent to Athens, where Eleusis is located. [204]

When the motive is unclear, ancient writers often write "by oracle." There are no historical sources that give reasons other than oracles as to why Melanthus chose Athens as his place of residence, but there were the following reasons.

Pausanias reports that Melanthus' mother and wife were both Athenian, and Melanthus was probably the son-in-law of Thymoetes. [205]

The inhabitants of Pherae in Thessaly, pursued by the Thesprotians, migrated to Athens under the leadership of Armenius, son of Zeuxippus, son of Eumelus. [206]

Armenius' daughter Henioche married Andromorphus of Messenia and had a son, Melanthus. [207]

A genealogy shows that Melanthus was over 50 years old at the time of the migration, and his son Codrus, who succeeded him, was over 30. Thymoetes was in his 30th year of reign at the time, and likely had his son-in-law succeed him as king of Athens.

17.2.2 Eleusis

Melanthus first visited Eleusis in 1111 BC. Messenia and Eleusis had a deep connection. [208]

In 1385 BC, Caucon, son of Celaenus, son of Phlyus, who lived in Eleusis, visited Messene in Andania and introduced the cult of the Great Goddesses. [209]

Phlyus' wife Celaeno was Messene's sister, and Caucon was Messene's sister's grandson. [210]

In 1275 BC, Lycus, son of Pandion, also celebrated the cult of the Great Goddesses in Arene and Andania. [211]

This cult continued unbroken after the time of Melanthus until the time of the Messenian War. [212]

17.3 Period of Melanthus' reign

Castor, a chronicler of the 2nd century BC, gives the Athenian kings, from Cecrops to Thymoetes, a reign of 450 years. However, the total reigns of the kings are 429 years, 21 years short. [213]

Castor gives the reigns of Demophon's son Oxyntes as 12 years, Oxyntes' son Apheidas as 1 year, and Apheidas' half-brother Thymoetes as 8 years. However, 21 years for three kings is too few compared to the reigns of the kings before and after them. [214]

Castor gives Melanthus' reign as 37 years, of which 21 years were probably spent as Messenian king.

Melanthus' reign as king of Athens is estimated at 16 years, while Thymoetes' reign was estimated at 29 years.

18 Thucydides' opinion

The 5th-century BC historian Thucydides states that the prosperity of Attica was brought about by population growth due to the influx of refugees. Furthermore, Thucydides also states that Attica had no internal strife prior to this. [215]

However, there were succession disputes beginning with Ceprops, the first king of Athens, continuing through Cranaus, Amphictyon, and Erichthonius. There were also wars with Eleusis spanning two generations.

Furthermore, from the time of Ceprops, the seventh king of Athens, there were battles between brothers continuing through the reigns of Pandion, Aegeus, and Theseus. There was also a war with Minos of Crete.

During the Bronze Age, Attica was plagued by a series of internal conflicts.

End