Theseus Hero and King of Athens

By N.S. Gill, About.com Guide

Before Theseus became king of Athens, his earthly father, Aegeus, ruled, but before him were a confusing series of men or part-men part-snake creatures created in unusual ways. One way to account for the importance of a trio of these early kings of Athens is to say that the first king, Cecrops, the half-snake king, instituted marriage and civilized the people of the area by forming them into a city. The second king, Erichthonius -- whose early care was entrusted to Athena who put him in a basket of snakes, perhaps because he, too, was part serpentine -- pulled the people he ruled together into a political unit. Theseus took this political unit and added to it the countryside of Attica, making Athens the capital of the region.

• Myth Monday - Athena and the First King(s) of Athens

Picture Galleries Based on Myth Mondays

• Theseus
• Hercules
• Dionysus

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• Mythological Kings of Athens
• Theseus Returns From Crete
• Theseus Had a Hand in It
• Myth Monday - The Deeds of Theseus

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