Editing Cecrops I (section)

==Mythology==
[[File:Cécrops Meyers.png|thumb|Representation of Cecrops I]]

=== Culture hero ===
Cecrops was represented in the Attic legends as the author of the first elements of civilized life such as marriage, the political division of Attica into twelve communities, and also as the introducer of a new mode of worship. He was said to have been the first who deified Zeus, and ordained sacrifices to be offered to him as the supreme Deity. Cecrops was likewise affirmed to have been the first who built altars and statues of the gods, offered sacrifices, and instituted marriage among the Athenians, who, before his time, it seems, lived promiscuously. Pausanias tells us that he forbade the sacrificing of any living creatures to the gods, as well as any sort of other offering, only allowing cakes (πέλανοι) formed into the shape of an ox with horns, called by the Athenians Pelanous, which signifies an ox. He is likewise said to have taught his subjects the art of navigation; and, for the better administration of justice and intercourse among them, to have divided them into the four tribes called Cecropis, Autochthon, Actea, and Paralia. Some likewise make him the founder of the [[areopagus]].<ref>Pausanias, 8.2.1; Eustathius ad Homer, p. 1156</ref><ref>as cited in [[Strabo]], p. 397: f.n. 49, "Thus only eleven names are given in the most important MSS., though "Phalerus" appears after "Cephisia" in some (see critical note on opposite page). But it seems best to assume that Strabo either actually included Athens in his list or left us to infer that he meant Athens as one of the twelve."</ref>

The Acropolis was also known as the Cecropia in his honor. The Athenians are said to have called themselves Cecropidæ, during the reigns of the five following kings, in his honor.

=== Patronage of Athens ===
During his reign which lasted for 50 years,<ref>[[Eusebius]], ''[[Chronography]]''</ref>  the gods resolved to take possession of cities in which each of them should receive their own peculiar worship. [[Athena]] became the patron goddess of the city of Athens in a competition with [[Poseidon]], as judged by Cecrops. The two raced ferociously towards the [[Acropolis]] and it was a very close race. Poseidon was the first to reach Attica and struck the acropolis with his trident and thereby created a salt sea which was known in later times by the name of the Erechthean well, from its being enclosed in the temple of [[Erechtheus]].<ref>[[Herodotus]], [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Hdt.+8.55.1&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0126:boo=0:chapter=0&highlight=Erechtheus 8.55.1]; Pausanias, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.%201.24.5&lang=original 1.24.5] & [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.+1.26.5&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0160:boo=0:chapter=0&highlight=Erechtheus 1.26.5]; Ovid, ''Metamorphoses'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ov.+Met.+6.70&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0028:boo=0:chapter=0&highlight=Cecrops 6.70 ff.]; Hyginus, ''Fabulae'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#164 164]; [[Lactantius Placidus]] ad [[Statius]], ''[[Thebaid (Latin poem)|Thebaid]]'' 7.185</ref><ref>''Scriptores rerum mythicarum Latini, ed. Bode, i. pp. 1, 115 (First Vatican Mythographer 2; Second Vatican Mythographer 119)''</ref> After him, Athena arrived and called on Cecrops to witness her act of taking possession. She planted an olive tree on the hill of the acropolis, which continued to be shown in the Pandrosium down to the latest times. But when the two gods continued to strive for possession of the country, Zeus parted them and appointed arbiters - not, as some{{Who|date=January 2025}} have affirmed, Cecrops and Cranaus, nor Erysichthon, but the twelve gods. And in accordance with their verdict the country was adjudged to Athena, because Cecrops bore witness that she had been the first to plant the olive. Athena, therefore, called the city Athens after herself. Poseidon in hot anger flooded the [[Thriasian Plain|Thriasian plain]] and laid Attica under the sea.<ref>Strabo, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Strab.%209.1.6&lang=original 9.1.6] & [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Strab.+9.1.13&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0198:boo=0:chapter=0&highlight=Thriasian 13]</ref>

A rationalistic explanation of the fable was propounded by the eminent [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] antiquary [[Marcus Terentius Varro|Varro]]. According to him, the olive-tree suddenly appeared in Attica, and at the same time there was an eruption of water in another part of the country. So king Cecrops sent to inquire of Apollo at Delphi what these portents might signify. The oracle answered that the olive and the water were the symbols of Athena and Poseidon respectively, and that the people of Attica were free to choose which of these deities they would worship. Accordingly, the question was submitted to a general assembly of the citizens and citizenesses; for in these days women had the vote as well as men. All the men voted for the god, and all the women voted for the goddess; and as there was one more woman than there were men, the goddess appeared at the head of the poll. Chagrined at the loss of the election, Poseidon flooded the country with the water of the sea, and to appease his wrath it was decided to deprive women of the vote and to forbid children to bear their mother's names for the future.<ref>[[Marcus Terentius Varro|Varro]] in ''Augustine, De civitate Dei'' 18.9 as cited in Apollodorus, 3.14.1: f.n. 2</ref>

The Athenians said that the contest between Poseidon and Athena took place on the second of the month [[Attic calendar|Boedromion]], and hence they omitted that day from the calendar.<ref>Plutarch, ''De fraterno amore'' 11 & ''Quaest. Conviv''. ix.6.</ref>{{s-start}}
{{s-reg}}
{{succession box
| title = [[King of Athens]]
| years = 
| before = [[Actaeus]]
| after = [[Cranaus]]
}}
{{s-end}}