Cecrops II

For other uses, see Cecrops.

In Greek mythology, Cecrops II (/ˈsiːkrɒps/; Ancient Greek: Κέκροψ, Kékrops; gen.: Κέκροπος) was the legendary or semi-legendary seventh king of Athens and in whose reign the deeds of Dionysus and Perseus occurred.^[1]

Family

Cecrops was the son of Pandion I, king of Athens^[2][3] and possibly the naiad Zeuxippe, and thus brother to Erechtheus, Butes, Procne, Philomela and Teuthras.^[4] In some accounts, his parents were identified to be King Erechtheus and the naiad Praxithea and thus he was brother to Pandorus, Metion,^[5] Protogeneia, Pandora, Procris, Creusa, Orithyia and Chthonia.^[6] His other possible siblings were Orneus,^[7] Thespius,^[8] Eupalamus,^[9] Sicyon^[10] and Merope.^[11]

Cecrops married Metiadusa, daughter of Eupalamus (his brother^[9] or a son of Metion^[12]), by whom he became the father of his heir, Pandion II.^[13]

Mythology

After Poseidon having destroyed Erechtheus and his house during the war between Athens and Eleusis, Cecrops being the eldest of the dead king's children, succeeded to the throne.^[12] He was chosen by the appointed judge Xuthus, his brother-in-law, who was accordingly banished from the land by the rest of the sons of Erechtheus.^[14]

After ruling for 40 years,^[15] he was ousted by Metion and Pandorus, and fled to Aegilia or Aegialea where he would die.^{[citation needed]}

Cecrops was succeeded in Athens by his son Pandion II (though Pandion II has also been said to be his nephew, the son of Erechtheus^{[citation needed]}).

Regnal titles
Preceded by Erechtheus	King of Athens	Succeeded by Pandion II