Erechtheus

In Greek mythology, an early king of Athens, born from the Earth and nurtured by Athena. He sacrificed his daughter Chthonia to secure victory over the Eleusinians, but was killed by Poseidon. The Erechtheum, a temple on the Acropolis, is probably on the site of his palace.

Erechtheus in Greek Mythology was the name of a king of Athens, and a secondary name for two other characters

In Homer's Iliad the name is applied to the earth-born son of Hephaestus later mostly called Erechthonius by later writers. A second Erechtheus was son and heir to King Pandion I of Athens by Zeuxippe, this Pandion being son of Erichthonius/Erechtheus I. This later king Erechtheus distinguished as Erechtheus II Poseidon in Athens was generally known as Poseidon Erechtheus and the vestibule of Poseidon's temple was named the Erechtheion.

According to Apollodorus, Erechtheus II had a twin brother named Butes who married Erechtheus' daughter Chthonia. Erechtheus and Butes divided the royal power possessed by Pandion, Erechtheus taking the physical rule but Butes taking the priesthood of Athena and Poseidon, this right being passed on to his descendants.

Erechtheus was father by his wife Praxithea of several daughters: Protogeneia, Pandora, Procris, Creusa, Oreithyia, Chthonia, and Merope some of whom have their own stories.

His reign was marked by the war between Athens and Eleusis when the Eleusians were commanded by Eumolpus of Thrace, who (accepting the most common genealogy) was son of Poseidon by Chione daughter of Boreas by Oreithyia daughter of Erechtheus and was therefore Erechtheus' own great-grandson.

In the following battle between the forces of Athens and Eleusis, Erechtheus slew Eumolpus but then himself fell in battle, struck down by Poseidon's trident according to fragments of Euripides' tragedy Eumolpus.

Erechtheus is succeeded by Cecrops II, his brother according to a fragment from the poet Castor but his son according to Apollodorus (3.15.1).

Other sons of Erechtheus sometimes mentioned are Orneus, Metion, Pandorus, Thespius, and Eupalamus.