Cecrops’s Family Tree

About Cecrops →

Family

• Aglauros (wife of Cecrops)(spouse),Aglauros(child),Erysichthon of Athens(child),Herse(child),Pandrosos(child)— Marriage

  Cecrops married Aglauros, daughter of Actaeus. They had four children: Erysichthon of Athens, who died young, and three daughters — Aglauros, Herse, and Pandrosos — who feature in the myth of Erichthonius's secret basket.

• Gaia(parent)— Miraculous

  Cecrops was autochthonous, born directly from the earth of Attica. His serpentine lower body reflected his chthonic origins from Gaia, establishing the Athenian claim of being earth-born people.

Associated with

• Athena,Poseidon

  Cecrops judged the contest between Athena and Poseidon for patronage of Athens. He ruled in Athena's favor after she offered the olive tree, while Poseidon had produced a salt spring on the Acropolis.

• Actaeus

  Cecrops succeeded Actaeus as ruler of Attica through marriage to his daughter Aglauros. According to Pausanias, Actaeus was the first king of the region before Cecrops' autochthonous claim to the throne.

• Ares

  The first trial on the Areopagus took place during the reign of Cecrops, when Ares was judged by the Olympian gods for killing Halirrhothios, son of Poseidon, and acquitted.

• Cranaus

  Cranaus succeeded Cecrops as the second king of Athens after Cecrops' death. Like Cecrops, Cranaus was said to be autochthonous, born from the earth of Attica.