Kekrops the Great King of Athens Kekrops was an early earth-born king of Attika and founder of the city of Athens. Attic iconography presented him as a male figure with a serpent's-tail. His children comprised, a son, Erichthonios, and three daughters, Aglauros, Herse, and Pandrosos. In his time, the gods decided to procure cities in order to establish their own cults. Poseidon came to Attica first and struck his trident on the Acropolis rock producing sea. Athena followed this with her miraculous creation of the first olive tree. She was judged the winner.

Kekrops the Great King of Athens This fragment comes from the west Pediment of the Parthenon. It shows part of a serpent that coiled beneath Kekrops. The serpent fragment was made separately and at some point in its history became detached. Acquired by Lord Elgin, it came to England, while the figure of Kekrops itself remained on the temple. The Parthenon, Athens 448 – 432 BC Pentelic Marble GR

The Group of Kekrops and Pandrosos through the drawings of Early Travellers and Artists in Athens

Jacques Carrey 1674

William Pars

James Stuart - Nicholas Revett The Antiquities of Athens 1787

William Gell 1801

Giovanni B. Lusieri 1802

Part Serpent - Part Human Between two Religions Kekrop’s Iconography in Attic Art

Kekrops first king of Attica, from a special drinking vessel in the shape of Sphinx Made in Athens BC The British Museum GR (Vase E 788)

Gaia offering Erichthonios to Athena. On the right Kekrops Melian Clay Relief, found in Attica in 1885 about 460 BC Antikensammlung Staatliche, Berlin TC 6281

Kekrops, from a vase painting depicting the birth of Erichthonios Athenian Red-figured drinking cup, ca 440 BC Antikensammlung Staatliche, Berlin F 2537

The group of Kekrops and Pandrosos. Found in 1888, at Eleusis. About the 2nd century AD Pentelic Marble National Archaeological Museum of Athens EAM 200