Definition: Erectheus, who is mixed up in tradition with Erichthonius, was the autochthonous founder of Athens who named the city after the goddess Athena, who along with Gaia, the Earth, was his mother. Erechtheus sacrificed his daughters to save his country. Trident-wielding Poseidon destroyed him in some versions, but subsequently they were reconciled and Erechtheus was deified, his palace becoming a temple.
Erechtheus is treated as one of the tutelary gods of Athens and the Erechtheum is named in his honor.
See: Children of Athena for a coherent treatment of the Erechtheus story.
