Erechtheus

Family: Athens · Role: son of Pandion · First appears: Apollodorus, Library 1.7

🌐 Also appears in: The Metamorphoses of Ovid (as Erectheus)

Erechtheus was a son of Pandion and the twin brother of Butes, with sisters Procne and Philomela. He married Praxithea and had sons Cecrops, Pandorus, and Metion, and daughters Procris, Creusa, Chthonia, and Orithyia; Creusa was also identified as his daughter.

When Pandion died, Erechtheus received the kingdom while Butes received the priesthood of Athena and Poseidon Erechtheus. When the oracle said Athens would win its war if he sacrificed a daughter, he sacrificed his youngest; his other daughters then killed themselves, and in the battle that followed he killed Eumolpus.

Poseidon destroyed Erechtheus and his house, after which Cecrops, the eldest of his sons, succeeded to the throne.

Relationship record

Life events

• Pandion’s sons divided his inheritance, giving Erechtheus the kingdom and Butes the priesthood.(Apollodorus, Library 3.15)
  • With: Pandion Butes
  • “When Pandion died, his sons divided their father's inheritance between them, and Erechtheus got the kingdom, and Butes got the priesthood of Athena and Poseidon Erechtheus.”
• Erechtheus sacrificed a daughter, his other daughters killed themselves, and he killed Eumolpus in battle.(Apollodorus, Library 3.15)
  • With: Eumolpus
  • “When Erechtheus inquired of the oracle how the Athenians might be victorious, the god answered that they would win the war if he would slaughter one of his daughters; and when he slaughtered his youngest, the others also slaughtered themselves; for, as some said, they had taken an oath among themselves to perish together. In the battle which took place after the slaughter, Erechtheus killed Eumolpus.”
• Poseidon destroyed Erechtheus and his house, and Cecrops succeeded to the throne.(Apollodorus, Library 3.15)
  • With: Poseidon Cecrops
  • “But Poseidon having destroyed Erechtheus and his house, Cecrops, the eldest of the sons of Erechtheus, succeeded to the throne.”

Apollodorus, Library 1.7

• child: Creusa “Creusa, daughter of Erechtheus”

Apollodorus, Library 3.14

• parent: Pandion “and twin sons, Erechtheus and Butes.”
• siblings with Butes “and twin sons, Erechtheus and Butes.”
• siblings with Procne “and begat two daughters, Procne and Philomela, and twin sons, Erechtheus and Butes”
• siblings with Philomela “and begat two daughters, Procne and Philomela, and twin sons, Erechtheus and Butes”

Apollodorus, Library 3.15

• married with Praxithea “Erechtheus married Praxithea, daughter of Phrasimus by Diogenia, daughter of Cephisus”
• child: Cecrops (son of Erechtheus) “and had sons, to wit, Cecrops, Pandorus, and Metion”
• child: Pandorus “and had sons, to wit, Cecrops, Pandorus, and Metion”
• child: Metion “and had sons, to wit, Cecrops, Pandorus, and Metion”
• child: Procris “and daughters, to wit, Procris, Creusa, Chthonia, and Orithyia”
• child: Chthonia “and daughters, to wit, Procris, Creusa, Chthonia, and Orithyia”
• child: Orithyia “and daughters, to wit, Procris, Creusa, Chthonia, and Orithyia”
• with Eumolpus (interaction) “In the battle which took place after the slaughter, Erechtheus killed Eumolpus.”
• with Poseidon (interaction) “But Poseidon having destroyed Erechtheus and his house”

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Extracted from the original text of Greek Mythology. Made with Rho MD.