Occupation: Ruler
The Story About Codrus:
The Dorians and Athens were at war. The Delphic Oracle said that the side whose leader was killed by the enemy would win. To ensure victory for Athens, King Codrus dressed as a beggar and went to the Dorians. He then provoked a fight in which he was killed. When the Dorians learned what happened, they left, so Athens was the victor. The Delphic Oracle was proved correct and Codrus, a hero.
Family of Codrus:
The descendants of Codrus are the Medontidae. While Codrus is legendary, the Medontidae did exist. Codrus was the son of Melanthus. He is said to have been a descendant of Neleus, king of Pylos in Messenia and Nestor's father.
Plato is said to have been a descendant of Codrus.
After King Codrus:
After Codrus, the monarchy of Athens ended. His sons ruled as archons, his son Medon being the first. The archonship was kept in the family for generations, at first as a lifetime appointment and then with a 10-year limit.
Sources:
- Hellenicus (FGrH F 1a,4, F 125)
- Lycurgus, Against Leocrates 86-87
- Velleius Paterculus, History of Rome I.2
- Justin ii. 6
Kings of Athens:
- Cecrops I
- Cranaus
- Amphictyon
- Erichthonius
- Pandion I
- Erectheus
- Cecrops II
- Pandion II
- Aegeus
- Theseus
- Menestheus - King during the Trojan War
- Demophon (son of Theseus)
- Oxyntes
- Apheidas
- Thymoetes (great-grandson of Theseus)
- Melanthus
- Codrus (contemporary of Prokles and Eurysthenes, founders of Dorian Sparta*)
Erechthids or Cecropidae
Melanthids (also descendants of Poseidon)
