1 Introduction
In 1750 BC, a large and prolonged flood occurred on the Cephisus River. [1]
The Ectenes, who lived upstream of the Cephisus River, migrated to Boeotia led by Ogygus, the ancestor of the Athenians. [2]
In 1580 BC, during the sixth generation after the Great Flood of the Ogygus era, there was a migration from Boeotia to various regions. [3]
1.1 Emigration to Thessaly
Some 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 daughters of the king of Athens, proving that they belonged to the same Ectenes.
It is likely that Deucalion's grandfather and the father of Cecrops, the first king of Athens, were brothers.
1.2 Emigration to Egypt
Cranaus' grandfather, and probably the father of Cecrops, the first Athenian king, migrated to the Nile Delta of 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. [5]
Cecrops was estimated to be 16 years old at the time of his immigration, spoke a different language besides Greek, and was given the nickname Diphyes (two-formed). It meant "to speak two languages." [6]
The "other language" that Cecrops spoke is presumed to be the Phoenician language.
The Greek immigrants 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 things.
1) Herse, daughter of Cecrops, married Tyre of Phoenicia. [7]
2) Phoenix, son of Agenor, married Perimede, daughter of Oeneus, who was thought to be a descendant of Herse. [8]
3) Phoenix became King of Tire. [9]
4) The Agenor family, forced out of Egypt, moved to Sidon near Tyre. [10]
Cecrops is said to have founded Eleusis and Athens on the banks of the Triton River in Boeotia, suggesting that he had ties to Boeotia. [11]
Cecrops' father also had a brother named Ogygus, who founded Thebes in Egypt. [12]
Thebes, the town where Cadmus would later be born, is presumed to have been located in the Nile Delta, not in Upper Egypt. [13]
2 Age of Cecrops, the first king of Athens (1561-1511 BC)
2.1 Emigration from Egypt
In 1562 BC, Cecrops attempted to return to Greece and landed at Myrrinous, on the coast about 25 km north of Cape Sunium on the southeastern tip of Attica. [14]
Colaenus, who lived there, moved to Messenia and founded Colonides on a peninsula west of 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]
Cecrops then founded Eleusis and Athens on the banks of the Triton River, which flows near Alalcomenae in Boeotia. [18]
In 1511 BC, Cecrops died of old age and was buried at Cecropia. [19]
2.3 Erysichthon, son of Cecrops
Erysichthon died on the voyage to Attica after his rites at Delos, and was buried at Prasiae, just south of Myrrinous. [20]
The old name of Delos, Ortygia, was given by Erysichthon. [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, Cecrops' daughter Herse was married to Tyre of Phoenicia on a journey from Egypt to Athens. [23]
Sandocus, the son of Astynous, the son of Phaethon, the son of Tithonus, the son of Cephalus, the son of Herse, married Pharnace, the daughter of Megassares of Hyria in Boeotia. [24]
In 1410 BC, Sandocus moved to Cilicia Tracheia and founded Celenderis. [25]
In 1385 BC, Cinyras, son of Sandocus, traveled to Cyprus, offshore from Celenderis, and founded Palaepaphos near the southwest coast of the island. [26]
Cinyras married Metharme, the daughter of Pygmalion, the founder of Carpasia on the northeastern tip of the island, and they had a daughter, Laodice (or Laogore). [27]
Pygmalion is presumed to be a Phoenician who colonized with Sandocus.
Laodice, daughter of Cinyras, became the wife of Elatus, son of Arcas of Arcadia. [28]
Megassares of Hyria migrated from Arcadia with Dardanus, who became the founder of the kingdom of Troy, to the island of Samothrace, and from there resettled with Cadmus to Boeotia. [29]
It is assumed that Elatus and Laodice's marriage was related to Laodice's grandmother Pharnace, who was born in Arcadia.
Agapenor, the son of Ancaeus, emigrated from Arcadia to Cyprus, founded Paphos near Palaepaphos, and built the sanctuary of the Aphrodites at Palaepaphos. [30]
The purpose of Agapenor's migration was to mine copper. [31]
3 Age of Cranaus, 2nd King of Athens (1511-1502 BC)
3.1 Reign of Cranaus
When Cecrops died in 1511 BC, he was succeeded by Cranaus, his presumed nephew. [32]
Cranaus was born in Egypt and came to Attica from Egypt around 1535 BC. [33]
Cranaus, instructed by Cecrops, founded Athens and Eleusis on the banks of the Triton River in Boeotia, where his ancestor Ogygus had once lived.[34]
Cranaus' daughter Atthis (also known as Athena) grew up on the banks of the Triton River. [35]
Homer appends Alalcomenae to the name of Athena, and it is assumed that Atthis lived in Alalcomenae near the Triton River. [36]
Herodotus states that the inhabitants of Athens at the time of Cranaus were Pelasgians called Cranaans. [37]
Cranaus was the son of Io, who migrated from Argos to Egypt, and it is likely that the Pelasgians who migrated to Egypt with Io migrated with Cranaus to Athens. [38]
3.2 Atthis's husband
Looking at the genealogy of the Athenian kings, Amphictyon, who succeeded Cranaus, was succeeded by Erichthonius, the son of Cranaus' daughter.
But Cranaus had his son Rharus, and Rharus' son Celeus. [39]
The reason Cranaus was not succeeded by his son, but by his daughter's son, is probably because Erichthonius was Cecrops' great-grandson.
In other words, the husband of Atthis and the father of Erichthonius is presumed to have been the son of Erysichthon, son of Cecrops. [40]
He is said to have been given the name Hephaestus. [41]
When Cecrops died in 1511 BC, Erysichthon had died earlier. [42]
Hephaestus, who was married to Cranaus' daughter Atthis, should have succeeded Cecrops, but Cranaus became king of Athens. [43]
Cranaus usurped the throne, or something happened to Hephaestus, and Cranaus became king of Athens.
Atthis, the daughter of Hephaestus and Cranaus, emigrated to Egypt, and a son, Erichthonius, was born to them. [44]
3.3 Areopagus
Around 1510 BC, near a spring near Acropolis, Halirrhothius humiliated Alcippe, daughter of Aglaurus, daughter of Cecrops, and Alcippe's father killed Halirrhothius.
Alcippe's father was tried on the hill of Ares and was acquitted. [45]
This was the first trial of the Areopagus. [46]
4 Age of Amphictyon, son of Deucalion (1502-1492 BC)
In 1503 BC, another daughter of Cranaus married Amphictyon, son of Deucalion of Thessaly. [47]
It is thought that Cranaus and Deucalion's blood relationship was what made this long-distance marriage possible.
It is assumed that Cranaus's grandfather and Deucalion's grandfather were brothers who migrated from Boeotia to Egypt and Thessaly, respectively. [48]
In 1502 BC, Amphictyon exiled his father-in-law Cranaus. Cranaus fled to Lamptrae, halfway between Athens and Cape Sunium, where he died. [49]
5 Age of Erichthonius, son of Atthis (1492-1442 BC)
5.1 Emigration from Egypt
In 1492 BC, Erichthonius, son of Atthis, daughter of Cranaus, came of age in Egypt and emigrated from Egypt to Athens to avenge his grandfather's regrets. With the support of the Athenians, he deposed Amphictyon and became king of Athens. [50]
5.2 Construction of Tetrapolis
Hellen, the son of Deucalion, who lived in Thessaly, had three sons, Aeolus, Xuthus, and Dorus. [51]
Aeolus, who succeeded Hellen, and Dorus exiled Xuthus. [52]
In 1470 BC, Xuthus moved to Athens and married Creusa, daughter of Erechtheus. [53]
Xuthus was the nephew of Amphictyon whom Erechtheus had exiled.
This suggests that Amphictyon did not usurp the throne from his father Cranaus, but rather abdicated it peacefully.
In 1465 BC, Xuthus gathered people from around the area and founded four towns: Oenoe, Marathon, Probalinthus, and Tricorynthus. [54]
6 About Eleusis
6.1 Early occupants
The first Greeks to live near the mouth of the Cephisus River, which flows into the Saronic Gulf, were Ogygus, or his son Eleusis. During the Ogygus period of 1750 BC, the Great Flood forced the people living in the Cephisus River valley north of Mount Parnassus to flee their homes and move south. They settled near the river that flows through Eleusis and Athens and flows into the sea, which they called the same name as their native Cephisus. [55]
6.2 Emigration from Argos
In 1720 BC, Phoroneus, son of Inachus, settled in Argos, and Car, son of Phoroneus, migrated to Megara, west of Eleusis. [56]
In 1580 BC, the Mystery priest Trochilus, son of the priestess Callithyia of the temple of Hera in Argos, emigrated from Argos to Eleusis. He brought to Eleusis the rituals that had been performed at the temple of Hera. [57]
In 1492 BC, Erechtheus (or Erichthonius), son of Atthis, daughter of Cranaus, emigrated from Egypt to Athens and instituted initiation rites at Eleusis. [58]
Erechtheus brought barley seed, which was sown in the plains of Rharium in Eleusis. [59]
In Egypt, the goddess Isis is said to have brought grain cultivation to the people, and in Greece, the goddess Demeter is said to have introduced it. [60]
Pausanias tells us that Car, the son of Phoroneus, built the first sanctuary of Demeter in Megara, and Demeter was worshiped since ancient times. [61]
The person who performed the rituals at Eleusis was Celeus, son of Rharus, son of Cranaus, who had emigrated from Egypt with Erechtheus. Celeus and Erechtheus were Cranaus' grandsons and cousins. [62]
There are no ancient sources left that mention Cranaus' son.
Only Isaac Newton, a great British scientist of the 18th century, has passed on the genealogy of Rharus, son of Cranaus. [63]
Rharus gave the name to the plains of Rharium. [64]
6.3 Eumolpus invasion
In 1415 BC, Eumolpus invaded Attica and the Athenians took refuge near Tanagra in Boeotia. [65]
Ion, the son of Xuthus, at the recommendation of the Athenians, became polemarchos and fought against Eumolpus, bringing about a truce. After that, Eumolpus settled in Eleusis, so it is assumed that Eumolpus was dominant. [66]
6.4 Identity of Eumolpus
Eumolpus is presumed to have been a descendant of Larissa, daughter of Pelasgus, who migrated from Argos to Thessaly in 1560 BC for two reasons: [67]
1) Later, when Immaradus, son of Eumolpus, fought against Erechtheus, Scirus came from Dodona to support Immaradus.
At that time, Dodona was inhabited by the descendants of Larissa, daughter of Pelasgus, who had migrated from Argos to Thessaly. It is presumed that Scirus was one of them. [68]
2) At that time, Eleusis was inhabited by descendants of Trochilus who had migrated from Argos and held rituals there. [69]
Larissa, Scirus, and Trochilus were Pelasgians who migrated from Argos.
It is assumed that Eumolpus lived in Dodona or Scotussa in Thessaly before coming to Eleusis. [70]
The Pelasgians and Dodona had the following relationship.
In 1480 BC, Thessalus, son of Haemon, son of Pelasgus, son of Larissa, moved the oracle from Scotussa to Dodona and built a temple there. [71]
In 1390 BC, most of the Pelasgians, forced from Thessaly, migrated to the area around Dodona. [72]
6.5 Motivation for Eumolpus Invasion
The cause of the battle appears to have been the introduction of new rituals from Egypt by the Athenians to Eleusis, where the Pelasgians, who had emigrated from Argos and practiced the rituals of Hera, lived. A conflict broke out between the Eleusinians and the Athenians, and it is assumed that the Eleusinians asked the Pelasgians living in Thessaly to join them. [73]
Trochilus could not rely on Argos, as he had left Argos due to a dispute with Agenor, son of Triopas.
The Pelasgians of Eleusis had no recourse to Argos, since Trochilus had left Argos due to a conflict with Triopas' son Agenor. It appears that they requested assistance from the descendants of Larissa, daughter of Agenor's brother Pelasgus. [74]
6.6 Dysaules and Triptolemus
Pausanias tells us that Ion, son of Xuthus, banished Dysaules, brother of Celeus. [75]
However, Celeus and Dysaules held rituals in Eleusis even before Eumolpus appeared. It is assumed that Dysaules left town voluntarily.
In 1415 BC, Dysaules emigrated to Peloponnesus, settled near Phlius, instituted the Mysteries, and named the town Celeae. Celeus was the name of Dysaules' dead brother. [76]
Triptolemus, son of Celeus, traveled farther than Celeae, where Dysaules settled.
Triptolemus taught Eumelus, who lived southwest of Cape Rion in Achaia, how to grow grain and build towns. Eumelus founded Aroe (later Patrae). [77]
Additionally, Triptolemus and Eumelus jointly founded Antheia. [78]
At Aroe was the tomb of Aegyptus, son of Belus. The founder of Pharae, south of Aroe, in the middle reaches of the Peirus River, was Phares, son of Phylodameia, daughter of Danaus, brother of Aegyptus. Since there is no chronological conflict with Celeus' son Triptolemus, it is assumed that Eumelus was the son of Aegyptus and the husband of Phylodameia. [79]
Triptolemus also taught Arcas, son of Callisto of Arcadia, how to grow grain. [80]
Later, Arcas took as his wife Meganira, daughter of Crocon, son of Triptolemus. [81]
Crocon was the first Eleusinian to settle east across the River Rheiti, the border with Athens. [82]
6.7 Emigration of Ceryx
In 1390 BC, a large tsunami in the Aegean Sea caused by volcanic activity on Thera (present-day Santorini), about 110 km north of Crete, also caused damage to Eleusis.
This was when the people of Megara took refuge on the heights of Mt. Gerania. [83]
Ceryx, son of Eumolpus, joined the emigrant party of Boreas, son of Butes, who was setting out from Athens in search of a new world, and settled in Thracia. [84]
Ceryx married Chione, daughter of Boreas, and they had a son, Eumolpus. [85]
6.8 Battle against Immaradus
In 1352 BC, Immaradus, son of Eumolpus of Eleusis, was killed in battle against Erechtheus, son of Pandion of Athens. [86]
This battle was caused by a dispute between the Eleusinians and the Athenians over the rituals of Eleusis, and ended in Eleusis's superiority, with Eleusis taking charge of the Mysteries on its own. [87]
Reinforcements rushed to Eleusis from two directions for this battle.
One was the Pelasgians, led by Scirus of Dodona. [88]
In 1390 BC, the Pelasgians living in Thessaly had largely migrated around Dodona, driven out by the sons of Deucalion. [89]
Scirus built the shrine of Athena Sciras in Phalerum, the outer port of Athens. When he was killed in battle near there, he was buried on the banks of the river. The river became known as the Scirus River in his honor. [90]
Another reinforcement was the Thracians led by Eumolpus, son of Chione. [91]
After the death of Immaradus, the son of Eumolpus, the rites of Eleusis were inherited by the daughters of Eumolpus and Celeus, both of whom were elderly. They were succeeded by Immaradus' brother Ceryx, who was recalled from Thracia, and Ceryx was succeeded by his son Eumolpus. [92]
7 Age of Pandion (1442-1402 BC)
The age of Pandion, as mentioned above, was the age of Eleusis's battle with Eumolpus.
8 Age of Erechtheus (1402-1352 BC)
In the time of Erechtheus, following his predecessor, there was a battle with Immaradus, son of Eumolpus of Eleusis.
8.1 Praxithea, wife of Erechtheus
In 1412 BC, Erechtheus married Praxithea, daughter of Phrasimus and Diogenia. [93]
Diogenia's father Cephisus resided near what later became Tanagra. At that time, the Gephyraeans, who had immigrated to Boeotia with Cadmus, lived there, and Cephisus is presumed to have been their leader. [94]
When Eumolpus invaded Attica, the Athenians took refuge in the settlements of the Gephyraeans, and it is likely that their marriage took place there. [95]
Upon this marriage, the Gephyraeans, who had immigrated with them to Praxithea, brought the Phoenician letters to Athens. It is assumed that Pelasgic letters were later invented by the Pelasgians, residents of Athens. [96]
8.2 Orithyia (or Oreithyia), daughter of Erechtheus
8.2.1 Tradition of Boreas and Orithyia
Strabo agrees with the folklore that Boreas got rid of Orithyia, which philosopher Socrates understood to have died when Orithyia fell from a rock in a northerly wind while playing in the Ilissus River. [97]
However, the historical facts are presumed to be as follows.
In 1390 BC, Erechtheus' daughter Orithyia departed from Athens with Boreas in search of a new world. As legend has it, she did not migrate south due to the north wind, but to the north, where the north wind resides.
The Boreas found a suitable place to settle by traveling up the Hebrus River (now the Maritsa River) across from Samothrace in Thracia, and then up the tributary Rheginia River (now the Ergene River). The Rheginia River, in ancient times was called the Erigon River, and was at the foot of Mount Haemon, near the Sarpedon rock. [98]
The Boreas settlement was near present-day Ipsala in northwest Turkey.
8.2.2 Relationship between Hyperboreans, Delos, and Athens
8.2.2.1 Relationship seen from the transmission path of offerings
In 1365 BC, Zetes and Calais, the sons of Boreas and Orithyia, settled on the island of Peuce in the Ister River (now the Danube River) on the west coast of the Black Sea. [99]
It was home to the Hyperboreans, and from there offerings were brought to Delos. [100]
The route of transmission via Dodona reported by Herodotus was via Carystus in Euboea. [101]
Carystus was a town founded in 1260 BC by Carystus, the son of Scirus, father of Aegeus, who migrated from Salamis. Zarex, son of Carystus, married Rhoeo (or Creousa), daughter of Staphylus, son of Ariadne, daughter of Minos, and Anius (or Anion) was born, who became a priest of Delos. [102]
Also, the route of communication from the land of the Hyperboreans to Delos, as reported by Pausanias, goes through Prasiae in Attica. [103]
In both lines of communication, Athens was deeply involved between the Hyperboreans and Delos.
8.2.2.2 Relationship between Apollo and Eileithyia faith
When Leto's children, Apollo and Artemis, were born, Eileithyia helped deliver them. [104]
Herodotus writes that the Hyperboreans would deliver offerings to Delos in return. [105]
Erysichthon, the son of Cecrops, the first king of Athens, brought back a carved wooden statue of Eileithyia from Delos and dedicated it to the temple of Eileithyia in Athens. [106]
Erysichthon died during the return voyage from Delos and was buried at Prasiae in Attica. Prasiae was a stop on the Pausanias route. [107]
Eileithyia was born in Amnisus, near Cnossus in Crete. [108]
There was the cave of Eileithyia. [109]
From the cave, we can reach Delos by sailing about 230km towards the North Star.
Delos was an important stop on the sea route between Crete and Athens. [110]
Theseus, the son of Aegeus, also stopped at Delos on his way back from Crete. [111]
8.2.2.3 Identity of Boreas
Due to the relationship between Athens and the Hyperboreans and the fact that the tomb of Eumolpus, the son of Boreas' daughter Chione, was located 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. [112]
Orithyia and Boreas were therefore cousins.
8.3 Emigration to Euboea
In 1360 BC, Pandorus, son of Erechtheus, migrated to Euboea and founded Chalcis. [113]
Later, Pandorus' brother Cecrops also migrated to Euboea, and it is assumed that Pandorus' migration was also caused by a conflict between the brothers.
9 Age of Cecrops, son of Erechtheus (1352-1312 BC)
9.1 Emigration to Euboea
In 1320 BC, Cecrops, son of Erechtheus, son of Pandion, son of Erichthonius, migrated to Euboea. [114]
Sudden migration of rulers may be caused by internal conflicts. Examples include the emigration of Abas, son of Lynceus, to Phocis and the emigration of Abas, son of Melampus, to Thessaly. [115]
Cecrops was expelled from Athens along with his sons (Pandion, Cychreus, Scyrius) due to a quarrel with his brother Eupalamus.
It is assumed that Cecrops migrated to his brother Pandorus, who lived in Chalcis, Euboea. [116]
The conflict between Cecrops and Eupalamus became a source of internal strife in Athens that lasted for generations. [117]
9.2 Emigration to Megara, Salamis, Scyros
At the same time as Cecrops, his three sons, Pandion, Cychreus, and Scirius (or Sciron, Chiron, Scirus) also emigrated.
9.2.1 Emigration to Megara
Pandion moved to Pylas, son of Cleson in Megara, and married his daughter Pylia. [118]
Before his emigration, Pandion lived in charge of Thoricus in Attica. [119]
9.2.2 Emigration to Salamis
Cychreus emigrated to Salamis. [120]
Cychreus was a figure respected in Athens on a par with the gods. [121]
9.2.3 Emigration to Scyros
Scyrius moved to the island of Scyros. [122]
Scyrius was the husband of Cychreus' daughter Chariclo, and their daughter Endeis (or Endais) was the wife of Aeacus. [123]
In 1295 BC, when Cychreus of Salamis died without an heir, Scyrius left Scyros to his son and moved to Salamis. [124]
Scyrius also had a son, Aegeus, who was adopted by Pandion. [125]
Theseus, the son of Aegeus, fled Athens and went to Scyros because of his father's territory. [126]
10 Age of Pandion, son of Cecrops (1312-1287 BC)
In 1312 BC, Pandion returned to Athens with the help of his wife Pylia's father, Pylas. Afterwards, Pandion was unable to have children and adopted Aegeus, son of Scyrius. [127]
In other words, Pandion adopted his cousin's son to succeed him.
In 1295 BC, Pandion was driven from Athens by the sons of Metion and exiled again to Megara. [128]
Since Pandion's tomb was in Megara, it was only after Pandion's death that his sons returned to Athens and drove out the sons of Metion. [129]
Aegeus was crowned king of Athens in 1287 BC, which is likely the year that Pandion died and Aegeus, the eldest of his children, succeeded him as king of Athens in Megara. [130]
In 1285 BC, Aegeus returned to Athens and exiled the sons of Metion. [131]
11 Age of Aegeus, adopted son of Pandion (1287-1239 BC)
11.1 Infighting
In 1277 BC, a conflict broke out between Aegeus and his brothers-in-law.
Although Aegeus was the oldest of Pandion's sons, he was an adopted son. [132]
The sons of Pandion, chased by Aegeus, migrated to various places.
11.1.1 Emigration to Lycia
Lycus, son of Pandion, fled to Aphareus, son of Perieres of Arene in Messenia, and then migrated to Lycia. [133]
Lycus held a secret council in Andania of Messenia. [134]
11.1.2 Emigration to Argolis
Orneus, son of Pandion, settled near Phlius in Argolis and founded Orneae. [135]
11.1.3 Emigration to Phocis
Peteus, son of Oeneus, son of Pandion, migrated from Stiria in Attica to Phocis and founded Stiris. [136]
11.1.4 Emigration to Boeotia
Lebadus, believed to be Peteus' brother, moved to Mideia in Boeotia, and the town became known as Lebadeia. [137]
Teuthrantus, son of Pandion, migrated to Boeotia and founded Thespiae. [138]
11.1.5 Emigration to Arcadia
Some migrated to Arcadia and settled in Caphyae. [139]
11.1.6 Emigration to Acarnaia
11.1.6.1 Father of Cephalus
Procris' husband Cephalus, who killed Pandion's daughter Procris and was banished from Athens, is thought to have been one of those banished by Aegeus.
Many traditions say that Cephalus' father was Deion (or Deioneus). Hyginus tells us that Cephalus, son of Deion, was king of the Athenians. Cephalus was the king of Thoricus. [140]
Thoricus was one of the twelve cities that Theseus, son of Aegeus, had brought together, and Pandion also lived there. [141]
Hyginus tells of Nisus, king of Megara, who many traditions say is the son of Pandion, as the son of Deion. [142]
Therefore, it is assumed that Cephalus was the son of Pandion, king of Athens, who also had the other name Deion (or Deioneus).
11.1.6.2 Emigration to Cephallenia
Cephalus, together with Amphitryon, son of Alcaeus, went on an expedition to the land of the Teleboans. [143]
Cephalus colonized the largest island in the Ionian Sea, calling it Cephallenia. [144]
11.2 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, at Thebes. [145]
Diodorus tells us that Androgeus was killed because he was close to the sons of Pallas, political rival of Aegeus. [146]
Hyginus tells that Androgeus died during the battle between Aegeus and Minos. [147]
Presumably, after the battle with Aegeus and his brother-in-law, their next generation, the sons of Pallas, fought Aegeus through Androgeus and with the aid of Minos. [148]
Later, following a full-scale invasion of Minos, Aegeus was driven from Athens by the sons of Pallas and fled to Megara, where his brother-in-law Nisus lived. Megara was a place of exile from the time of Pandion, and is thought to have had many allies of Aegeus. [149]
However, Nisus was killed in battle with Minos, and Aegeus fled to Pittheus of Troezen. [150]
11.3 Exile to Troezen
Some tragedians say that the union between Aegeus and Aethra is an oracle. [151]
However, it is assumed that Aegeus chose Pittheus of Troezen as his place of exile for two reasons.
11.3.1 In-law relationship
Henioche, daughter of Pittheus, was the wife of Canethus, brother of Chalcodon of Chalcis.
Chalcodon's daughter Chalciope was Aegeus' second wife. [152]
In other words, Aegeus seems to have relied on Pittheus, the father of his step-sisters, through his wife Chalciope. [153]
11.3.2 Introduction to Alcathous
The tomb of Pyrgo, the first wife of Pelops' son Alcathous, was in Megara. [154]
After Pandion's son Nisus was killed in battle with Minos, Alcathous inherited Megara. [155]
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 kingship. [156]
Sciron was given wartime command through the mediation of Aeacus, and his son-in-law Alcathous must have been in Megara when it was attacked by Minos. [157]
Alcathous is presumed to have introduced his own brother Pittheus to Aegeus' asylum. [158]
During this exile, Aegeus met Pittheus' daughter Aethra, but Aegeus, who was estimated to be 54 years old at the time, and Aethra were not officially married. [159]
It seems to be a historical fact that Aegeus, who had no heir, later called to Athens his son Theseus, whom Aethra bore him. [160]
11.4 Return to Athens
In 1262 BC, Aegeus returned to Athens from Troezen. It is assumed that the two sons of Pittheus' brother Troezen, Anaphlystus and Sphettus, assisted in the return of Aegeus. Two towns were founded in Attica named after them. [161]
Sphettus is included among the twelve towns that Strabon reports that Theseus combined into one, but Anaphlystus is not included. Strabon only mentions the names of 11 towns, one of which appears to be Anaphlystus. [162]
Aegeus improved his relations with Minos by promising him tribute, but his discord with Pallas and his sons continued and there was still much conflict. [163]
11.5 Sons of Aegeus
The son of Aegeus is only transmitted by Theseus. Aegeus reportedly married at least three women and lived with many others. [163-1]
Peteus, whom Aegeus banished, was the son of Aegeus's brother-in-law, Oeneus (Orneus). [163-2]
Aegeus is older than Oeneus, and it is not surprising that Aegeus has sons as old as Peteus.
It is probable that Aegeus had many sons whose names have not been given, but died in a battle with his brothers-in-law.
12 Age of Theseus, son of Aegeus (1239-1209 BC)
12.1 Before the accession of the King of Athens
12.1.1 Days of Troezen
Theseus was born in Troezen in 1263 BC and raised by his grandfather Pittheus. When Theseus was seven years old, Heracles visited his mansion. [164]
Pittheus, son of Pelops, was the brother of Lysidice (or Eurydice), the mother of Alcmena, the mother of Heracles. [165]
So, when Heracles visited his grandmother's brother, Heracles' second cousin Theseus was there. It was then that Theseus saw Heracles for the first time. Heracles, who was 19 years old at the time, made a strong impression on Theseus, and Heracles' subsequent activities made Theseus a follower of his. [166]
12.1.2 Emigration to Athens
In 1247 BC, Theseus was summoned to Athens by the elderly and heirless Aegeus. [167]
Theseus was then 16 years old. [168]
Theseus joined the Argonauts' expedition from Troezen. [169]
Theseus also participates in the Calydonian boar hunt from Athens. [170]
These two events occurred during Heracles' three years of service under Omphale of Lydia. [171]
Thus, the Argonauts expedition occurred in 1248 BC, and the Calydonian boar hunt occurred in 1246 BC.
12.1.3 Marriage Alliance with Crete
In 1241 BC, Theseus took Minos' daughter Phaedra as his wife. Shortly before this Minos had died, and his eldest son Deucalion, who succeeded him, married his sister Phaedra to Theseus in order to form an alliance with Aegeus. [172]
Tribute from Athens to Crete seems to have been abolished by the marriage of Theseus and Phaedra into an alliance.
Young men and women from Athens were sent to Crete to serve as servants to the winners of the competitions. Their descendants migrated near Pella in Macedonia, with Botton as their leader, and became known as the Bottiaeans. Aristotle states that young men and women were sent to Crete as slaves. [173]
Botton settled near Pella because there were already people living there with ties to the Athenians. Europus, near Pella, was a town founded by Europus, the son of Oreithyia, the daughter of Cecrops, the father of Pandion, the adoptive father of Aegeus. [174]
12.1.4 Emigration from Crete
The marriage of Phaedra, the daughter of Minos, was accompanied by Ceramus, the son of her sister Ariadne, who emigrated to Athens and became a prominent figure in the district of Cerameicus. [175]
At this time, Crete pottery making techniques were brought to Athens, and the Cerameicus district became known as the Potters Quarter. [176]
12.1.5 Marriage of Theseus
There are many other stories about Theseus' wife besides Phaedra, but the most likely one is Iope, the daughter of Heracles' half-brother Iphicles. [177]
Iope was the sister of Heracles' nephew Iolaus.
After Heracles' death, Athens accepted the sons of Heracles who were chased by Eurystheus and lost their way because Iolaus and Theseus were brothers-in-law. [178]
Theseus' marriage to Perigune, daughter of Sinis of Isthmus, also appears to be true. [179]
A heroic shrine to their son Melanippos was located in the Melite district of Athens. [180]
12.1.6 Battle with Centaurs
Theseus is said to have fought against the Centaurs. [181]
This legend appears to have been created out of the friendship between Theseus and Peirithous, son of Ixion, who drove the Centaurs from Thessaly. [182]
There was a battle between Peirithous and the Centaurs, but Theseus does not appear to have taken part.
Pandion, the father of Teleon, the father of Butes, the father of Hippodameia, the wife of Peirithous, was the father of Aegeus, the father of Theseus, and Hippodameia was the daughter of Theseus' paternal cousin.
Later, when the descendants of Peirithous were driven out of Thessaly and exiled to Athens, the Athenians accepted them out of the friendship of their ancestors, suggesting that the friendship between Theseus and Peirithous was a historical fact.
The descendants of Peirithous became the tribe of Oineis, one of the ten tribes of Athens. [183]
12.2 Age of King Athens
12.2.1 Athens Integration
In 1239 BC, Aegeus died and was succeeded by Theseus, who was 24 years old. [184]
Theseus fought against Pallas, son of Pandion, and his sons and was victorious. [185]
Theseus united Attica, which had previously been divided into 12 disputed towns. [186]
Strabon names 11 towns: Cecropia, Tetrapolis, Epacria, Deceleia, Eleusis, Aphidna, Thoricus, Brauron, Cytherus, Sphettus, and Cephisia. The other is believed to be Anaphlystus, which was founded around the same time as Sphettus. [187]
Anaphlystus and Sphettus, who migrated from Troezen to Athens with Theseus' father Aegeus and founded the towns there, seem to have played a major role in Theseus's grasp of power. They were paternal cousins of Theseus' mother Aethra. [188]
Aegeus' mansion was located in Delphinium, just east of the Acropolis of Athens, so Cecropia absorbed and unified 11 towns. [189]
12.2.2 Battle against Eurystheus
In 1218 BC, Theseus took in the children of Heracles, who had been driven out of Trachis, and sent them to live in Tricorythus in Attica. [190]
Iope, one of Theseus' wives, was the sister of Iolaus, guardian of Heracles' children, and Theseus and Iolaus were brothers-in-law. [191]
In 1217 BC, Eurystheus led the Mycenaeans against Athens, where the Heracleidae lived, but Eurystheus and his sons were killed in battle. [192]
12.2.3 Colonizing Sardinia
In 1216 BC, with the death of Eurystheus and the threat of the sons of Heracles removed, Iolaus set out on a second colonization of the island of Sardinia, recruiting immigrants from the Athenians. Iolaus ended his life on the island of Sardinia. [193]
12.2.4 Seven generals attack Thebes
Athens was not involved in Adrastus' attack on Thebes in 1215 BC. However, at the request of Adrastus, who had been defeated by the Thebans, he sent a messenger to get permission from Thebes to collect the dead.
The 4th century BC orator Isocrates tells us that Athens threatened Thebes. [194]
It is thought that Thebes felt threatened by Athens, which had defeated the army of Eurystheus of Mycenae, which had overwhelming power over other cities at the time.
12.2.5 Emigration to Doris
In 1211 BC, Hyllus, the eldest son of Heracles and Deianeira, attempts to return to Peloponnesus, but is defeated by the Peloponnesus forces waiting at Isthmus, and Hyllus is killed in battle. [195]
The Heracleidae left Tricorythus and migrated to Aegimius of Doris. [196]
Hyllus' army included Ionians, some of whom died in battle, and the Heracleidae found it difficult to stay in Tricorythus.
12.2.6 Battle with Menestheus
The consolidation of power built by Theseus provoked a rebellion by those who ruled the respective towns, and Menestheus, son of Peteos, son of Orneus, son of Erechtheus, incited them. [197]
This Erechtheus was not the father of Pandion's father Cecrops, but was another name for Pandion. Demophon, the son of Theseus, the son of Aegeus, the adopted son of Pandion, is believed to be from the Trojan War era, along with Menestheus.
When Menestheus was rallying discontent elements and preparing to revolt against Theseus, Theseus had gone to the oracle of the dead in Aornum in Thesprotis for his wife Phaedra, who had died some time before. [198]
12.2.7 Menestheus' Uprising
While Theseus was away in Athens, Dioscuri from Lacedaemon appeared to retrieve their sister Helen, and Menestheus took advantage of this to rise up.
In 1210 BC, Theseus' two sons, Demophon and Acamas, fled to Elephenor of Chalcis in Euboea. [199]
It is also said that Theseus evacuated his sons, but they were adults and acted of their own free will. [200]
Elephenor, son of Chalcodon, was the brother of Chalciope, the wife of Aegeus. In other words, Elephenor was the step-mother's brother of Theseus. [201]
12.2.8 Dioscuri’s Invasion of Athens
Helen, who was reportedly 7, 10, or even 12 years old at the time, was reportedly abducted by Theseus, who was 50 years old. [202]
In reality, Idas kidnapped Tyndareus' daughter Helen and gave her to Theseus, who in turn gave Helen to Aphidnae. [203]
Idas and Peirithous, a friend of Theseus, were a member of the same tribe whose common ancestor was Lapithes, son of Aeolus, son of Hippotes, and it is thought that Idas and Theseus were also friends. [204]
Ancient sources overestimate the power of the Dioscuri, but they were insignificant for Athens, who defeated the Mycenaeans attack.
12.2.9 The end of Theseus
In 1209 BC, Theseus returned from Thesprotis to Athens, but was unable to suppress the resentment of the inhabitants, and went to the island of Scyros. [205]
Theseus did not know that his sons had gone to Euboea. If Theseus had known the whereabouts of his sons, he would have gone to Chalcis instead of Scyros. [206]
Scyros was the domain of Aegeus, the father of Theseus. Lycomedes, afraid that Theseus would overtake him and usurp his position, killed Theseus. [207]
Lycomedes was the father of Achilles' wife Deidamia and the grandfather of Neotolemus. [208]
Lycomedes was the grandson of Aegeus' father, Scyrius, and is presumed to be Theseus' cousin. [209]
13 Age of Menestheus, son of Peteus (or Peteos) (1209-1186 BC)
13.1 Epigoni's attack on Thebes
Theseus had a son, Hippolytus, said to have been born to Antiope of the Amazons. [210]
When Theseus took Phaedra as his wife, Hippolytus was sent to live with his grandfather Pittheus.
Originally, Theseus was supposed to be Pittheus's successor, but since Theseus succeeded Aegeus, the idea was to make Hippolytus the successor of Pittheus. [211]
Legend has it that Hippolytus died when the reins of his chariot got caught in a wild olive tree, causing his chariot to capsize. [212]
However, based on the following facts, it is assumed that Hippolytus, along with Diomedes, participated in Epigoni's attack on Thebes in 1205 BC and was killed in battle. [213]
1) At Troezen there was a sacred garden of Hippolytus, founded by Diomedes. [214]
2) Hippolytus was a contemporary of Diomedes.
3) During the Trojan War, Troezen was under the control of Diomedes.
13.2 Troy Expedition
In 1188 BC, Menestheus led the Athenians from the port of Phalerum and sailed to Troy. [215]
Menestheus returned from Troy and tried to enter Athens, but Demophon, son of Theseus, drove him back to the island of Melos, where he died. [216]
Those who followed Menestheus to Troy settled in Scylletium in the southern part of the Italian peninsula. [217]
Others migrated to Elaea, near Cyme in Aeolis. [218]
13.3 Immigrants from Thessaly
In 1188 BC, the sons of Theseus, Demophon and Acamas, who had been exiled to Chalcis in Euboea, returned to Athens and took control of the Athenians. [219]
In 1186 BC, Thessaly was invaded by the Thesprotians, and a people driven out by them, led by a descendant of Perithous, son of Ixion of Gyrton, fled to Athens.
According to the 4th century BC historian Ephorus, the Athenians accepted Theseus and Perithous because of their friendship and gave them land that was later called Perithoedae. [220]
In other words, it is assumed that the ruler of Athens at that time was Demophon, Theseus' son, rather than the people who had exiled Theseus.
After the capture of Troy, the settlers from Thessaly became powerful allies of Demophon, who tried to drive back Menestheus and others who tried to enter Athens. [221]
Also, from the Pherae of Thessaly, Armenius (or Harmenius), the son of Zeuxippus, the son of Eumelus, fled to Athens. [222]
Henioche, daughter of Armenius, who was born in Athens, married Andrompus, son of Penthilus of Messenia, and had a son Melanthus. Melanthus became the 16th king of Athens. [223]
Pausanias tells us that Melanthus' mother and wife were Athenians. [224]
14 Age of Demophon, son of Theseus (1186-1153 BC)
14.1 Return of Demophon
It is also said that Theseus' two sons, Demophon and Acamas, went on an expedition to Troy with Elephenor, or that they did not take part in the expedition and were in Chalcis. [225]
Diomedes of Argos landed in Athens on his way back from Troy, but was reportedly attacked in the dark by Athenians led by Demophon. [226]
However, Diomedes arrived at Argos on the fourth day after leaving Troy. [227]
Demophon must have returned earlier than this.
In reality, Demophon and Acamas did not travel to Troy with Menestheus, who had driven them out. It is thought that he returned from Euboea to Athens, where Menestheus had left, and consolidated his rule. [228]
Naturally, they searched for his father and discovered that Theseus had gone to the island of Scyros and was killed by Lycomedes. Lycomedes was killed by the Athenians, and Theseus' remains were brought back to Athens. [229]
14.2 Wife of Demophon
The chronicle of the theologian Jerome in the 5th century AD reports that there is also a theory that Oxyntes, son of Demophon, was a descendant of Heracles. [230]
If this were true, then the children of Heracles, who were contemporary with Demophon's father Theseus, would have to be related to Demophon's grandchildren. For this to happen, the woman who is Demophon's wife and Oxyntes' mother must be the daughter of Heracles.
Demophon's wife is presumed to have been Heracles' daughter Macaria for the following reasons.
In 1218 BC, Eurystheus of Mycenae threatened Ceyx of Trachis with military force unless he drove out the Heracles family. The children of Heracles moved to Tricorythus, one of the Tetrapolis of Attica. [231]
In that town there was a spring named after Macaria, the daughter of Heracles and Deianeira. [232]
Eurystheus is said to have become alarmed as Heracles' children were coming of age, and Macaria was also of marriageable age. [233]
Demophon was also of marriageable age and lived in the same area, so Jerome's theory seems to be true.
Iope, the sister of Iolaus, the guardian of Macaria, was one of the wives of Theseus, the father of Demophon. [234]
It is assumed that Iolaus introduced Macaria to Demophon, the son of his brother-in-law Theseus.
15 Age of Oxyntes, son of Demophon (1153-1141 BC)
Demophon was succeeded by his son Oxyntes. [235]
16 Age of Apheidas, son of Oxyntes (1141-1140 BC)
Oxyntes was succeeded by his son Apheidas. [236]
Apheidas was killed by his half-brother Thymoetes. [237]
17 Age of Thymoetes, son of Oxyntes (1140-1111 BC)
Apheidas was succeeded by his half-brother Thymoetes. [238]
18 Age of Melanthus, son of Andrompus (1111-1095 BC)
18.1 Messenian days of Melanthus
Many historical sources refer to Melanthus as King Pylus. [239]
However, it appears that Melanthus did not live in Pylus of Messenia.
Melanthus was the son of Andrompus, the son of Borus, the son of Penthilus, the son of Periclymenus. [240]
After the death of Idas, son of Aphareus, Nestor, son of Neleus, inherited control of Messenia. [241]
Nestor and his sons, Thrasymedes and Antilochus, lived in Pylus. [242]
Menelaus was a direct descendant of Neleus' eldest son Periclymenus, and not of Nestor. Menelaus appears to have lived in Andania, not in Pylus. [243]
Menelaus was the king of the Messenians, not the king of Pylus. [244]
18.2 Emigration of Melanthus to Athens
18.2.1 Deciding where to move
It is said that Melanthus asked the gods where he should live at Delphi and ended up going to Athens, where Eleusis was located. [245]
Ancient writers sometimes wrote “by oracle” when the motive was unknown. There are no historical sources that tell us why Melanthus chose Athens as his place of migration other than the oracle, but it is assumed that the reason was as follows.
Pausanias tells us that both Melanthus' mother and his wife were Athenians, and Melanthus may have been the son-in-law of Thymoetes. [246]
The inhabitants of the Pherae of Thessaly, pursued by the Thesprotians, migrated to Athens, led by Armenius, son of Zeuxippus, son of Eumelus. [247]
Henioche, daughter of Armenius, married Andromppus of Messenia, and had a son, Melanthus. [248]
The genealogy shows that Melanthus was over 50 years old at the time of his emigration, and his son Codrus, who succeeded Melanthus, was also over 30 years old. At the time, Thymoetes was in his 30th year on the throne, and it seems likely that his son-in-law succeeded him as king of Athens.
18.2.2 Eleusis
Melanthus' first visit was to Eleusis in 1111 BC. Messenia and Eleusis had a deep relationship. [249]
In 1385 BC, Caucon, son of Celaenus, son of Phlyus, who lived in Eleusis, visited Messene, who lived in Andania, and introduced him to the rites of the Great Goddesses. [250]
Celaeno, Phlyus' wife, was Messene's sister, and Caucon was the grandson of Messene's sister. [251]
In 1275 BC, Pandion's son Lycus also the rites of the Great Goddesses in Arenes and Andania. [252]
This ritual continued from the time of Melanthus to the time of the Messenian wars. [253]
18.3 Reign of Melanthus
The 1st century BC chronicler Castor reports that the reign of the Athenian kings from Cecrops to Thymoetes lasted 450 years. However, if we add up the years of rule of successive kings, it is 429 years, which is 21 years short. [254]
Castor tells us that Oxyntes, son of Demophon, ruled for 12 years, Apheidas, son of Oxyntes, for 1 year, and Apheidas' half-brother, Thymoetes, for 8 years. However, compared to the length of reign of the kings before and after him, 21 years in two generations is too short. [255]
Castor tells us that Melanthus reigned for 37 years, of which 21 years may have been spent as king of Messenia.
It is estimated that Melanthus reigned as king of Athens for 16 years, and Thymoetes for 29 years.
End |
