CECROPS

[Greek] A half man and half snake, born from the soil, legendary ancestor of the Greeks. He was the founder (and first king) of Athens. He taught the inhabitants to bury the dead, get married and how to read and write. In his reign Poseidon and Athena contended for the lordship of Attica, and Cecrops decided in the favor of Athena. The citadel, or Acropolis, of Athens was named Cecropia in his honor.