[Greek heroic] Erechtheus the First, known as Erechtheus or Erechthonios (not to be confused with Erechthonius the Second, believed to be the son of Pandion and the nymph Zeuxippe), he was, according to legend, an early king of Athens. Thought to be the son of the goddess Gaia, Erechtheus - the "earth-born king of Athens" (ref: Iliad) - was raised by Athena, the patron of Athens, as her own child. Erechtheus was worshipped, together with Athena on the Acropolis after he gained divine honors during his life. He was also associated in his lifetime with Poseidon, god of the sea, and Cecrops, a mythical king of Athens who was half man and half snake. The snake was also the sacred animal of Erechtheus, and opinion is divided as to whether Cecrops and Erechtheus were actually one and the same person. Others say that Cecrops was the son of Erechtheus. Erechtheus had two daughters, Creusa and Procris, who married Cephalus. According to legend, Erectheus resided atop the Acropolis in his palace. Some...
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