1 Introduction
In 1750 BC, a large and long-lasting flood occurred in the Cephisus River. [1]
The Ectenes, who lived in the upper reaches of the Cephisus River, migrated to Boeotia led by Ogygus, ancestor of the Athenians. [2]
In 1580 BC, the Ectenes migrated from Boeotia to other places, leaving some behind. [3]
1.1 Migration to Thessaly
Part of the Ectenes migrated from Boeotia to Thessaly led by the grandfather of Hellen's father Deucalion. They were the first Greeks to live in Thessaly.
Later, Hellen's brother Amphictyon and Hellen's son Xuthus married the daughter of the king of Athens, proving that they both belonged to the same Ectenes.
It is believed that Deucalion's grandfather and the father of Cecrops, the first king of Athens, were brothers.
1.2 Migration to Egypt
Cranaus' grandfather, and probably the father of Cecrops, the first king of Athens, emigrated 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 write that the Athenians were the ancestors of the Sais peoples. [5]
At the time of the migration, Cecrops was estimated to be 16 years old, spoke a different language in addition to Greek, and was given the name Diphyes (two-formed), which means "two-tongue speaking". [6]
The "other language" that Cecrops spoke is presumably the Phoenician language.
The Greek people who lived in the Nile Delta had connections with Phoenicia, which was on the sea route from Greece to Egypt. Their relationship can be inferred from the following four points:
1) Cecrops' daughter Herse married to Tyre in Phoenicia. [7]
2) Agenor's son Phoenix married Perimede, the daughter of Oeneus, who was thought to be a descendant of Herse. [8]
3) Phoenix became king of Tyre. [9]
4) Agenor's family, who were driven out of Egypt, moved to Sidon near Tyre. [10]
Cecrops' connection with Boeotia can also be inferred from the fact that he is said to have founded Eleusis and Athens on the banks of the Triton River in Boeotia. [11]
Cecrops' father also had a brother named Ogygus who founded Thebes in Egypt. [12]
The city where Cadmus was born is believed to have been in the Nile Delta, not in Upper Egypt. [13]
2 Age of Cecrops, first King of Athens (1561-1511 BC)
2.1 Migration from Egypt
In 1562 BC, Cecrops attempted to return to Greece and landed at Myrrinous, a coastal area about 25 km north of Cape Sunium at the southeastern tip of Attica. [14]
Colaenus, who lived there, emigrated to Messenia and founded Colonides on the western peninsula at the entrance to the Gulf of Messenia. [15]
Cecrops married Agraulus, daughter of Actaeus, king of Athmoneis, about 15 km northeast of Athens. [16]
2.2 Reign of Cecrops
In 1561 BC, Cecrops founded Cecropia (later the Acropolis of Athens). [17]
He later founded Eleusis and Athens on the Triton River near Alalcomenae in Boeotia. [18]
In 1511 BC, Cecrops died at an advanced age and was buried in Cecropia. [19]
2.3 Erysichthon, son of Cecrops
Erysichthon died on his way back to Attica after the festivals in Delos and was buried in Prasiae, just south of Myrrinous. [20]
Erysichthon was the godfather of Ortygia, the ancient name of Delos. [21]
The wooden statue of the goddess Eileithyia, brought back from Delos by Erysichthon, was dedicated to the temple of Eileithyia in Athens. [22]
2.4 Herse, daughter of Cecrops
In 1562 BC, Herse, daughter of Cecrops, was married to Tyre in Phoenicia on the way from Egypt to Athens. [23]
Sandocus, son of Astynous, son of Phaethon, son of Tithonus, son of Cephalus, son of Herse, emigrated to Cilicia Tracheia and founded Celenderis. [24]
3 Age of Cranaus, the second King of Athens (1511-1502 BC)
3.1 Migration of Cranaus
In 1511 BC, Cecrops died and was succeeded by Cranaus, presumably his nephew. [25]
Cranaus was born in Egypt and emigrated from Egypt to Attica around 1515 BC. [26]
Cranaus, under the direction of Cecrops, founded Athens and Eleusis on the Triton River in Boeotia, where his ancestor Ogygus had once lived. [27]
3.2 Atthis, daughter of Cranaus
Cranaus' daughter Atthis (also known as Athena) grew up near the Triton River. [28]
Homer adds Alalcomenae to Athena's name, and it is presumed that Atthis lived in Alalcomenae near the Triton River. [29]
Herodotus states that the inhabitants of Athens in the time of Cranaus were Pelasgians, called Cranaans. [30]
Cranaus was the son of Io, who migrated from Argos to Egypt, and it is believed that the Pelasgians who migrated with Io to Egypt also migrated with Cranaus to Athens. [31]
Herodotus reports that Athena was born near Lake Tritonis, and that the inhabitants of that lake copulated like beasts and shared women. [32]
The 7th-century chronicler John of Antioch reports that, until then, people copulated like beasts and had only one parent (mother), but Cecrops instituted the concept of a husband and wife, so that they had two parents (father and mother). [33]
Cecrops was from Sais in Egypt, and it is believed that Cranaus' daughter Atthis was also born in Sais. [34]
3.3 Atthis's husband
The genealogy of the kings of Athens shows that Amphictyon, who succeeded Cranaus, was succeeded by Erichthonius, the son of Cranaus' daughter.
However, Cranaus had a son Rharus, and Rharus also had a son Celeus. [35]
The reason why Cranaus was succeeded by his daughter's son instead of his son is probably because Erichthonius was the great-grandson of Cecrops.
In other words, Atthis's husband and Erichthonius' father is presumed to have been the son of Erysichthon, the son of Cecrops. [36]
He is said to have been named Hephaestus. [37]
When Cecrops died in 1511 BC, Erysichthon had died earlier. [38]
Hephaestus, who was married to Cranaus' daughter Atthis, should have succeeded Cecrops, but Cranaus became king of Athens. [39]
Either Cranaus usurped the throne or Hephaestus had some other reason, so Cranaus became king of Athens.
Hephaestus and Cranaus' daughter Atthis emigrated to Egypt, where they had a son, Erichthonius. [40]
3.4 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 Genealogy of the Athenians
In 1561 BC, When Cecrops became the first king of Athens, the inhabitants of Athens were the Ectenes.
In 1515 BC, Cranaus led the Pelasgians, who had migrated from Argos to Egypt with Io, and migrated to Athens.
In 1470 BC, Xuthus led the Hellenes from Thessaly to Athens.
In 1392 BC, the Gephyraeans (Phoenicians) migrated to Athens following the marriage of Erechtheus and Praxithea.
In 1241 BC, the Cretans migrated to Athens following the marriage of Theseus and Phaedra.
In 1186 BC, the Aeolis, chased by the Thesprotians, migrated to Athens from Thessaly.
In 1111 BC, the Messenians (Aeolis), chased by the Heracleidae, migrated to Athens from Messenia.
In 1102 BC, the Ionians, chased by the Achaeans, migrated to Athens from Achaia.
Towards the end of the Bronze Age, the inhabitants of Athens were mostly Aeolis and Ionians of Ectenes origin, with a few Pelasgians, Gephyraeans and Cretans.
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