Cecrops II


In Greek mythology, Cecrops II was the legendary or semi-legendary seventh king of Athens and in whose reign the deeds of Dionysus and Perseus occurred.

Family

Cecrops was the son of Pandion I, king of Athens and possibly Zeuxippe, and thus brother to Erechtheus, Butes, Procne and Philomela. In some accounts, his parents were identified to be Erechtheus and the naiad Praxithea and thus he was brother to Pandorus, Metion, Procris, Creusa, Chthonia and Orithyia.
Cecrops married Metiadusa, daughter of Eupalamus, by whom he became the father of his heir, Pandion II.

Mythology

After Poseidon having destroyed Erechtheus and his house during the war between Athens and Eleusis, Cecrops being the eldest of the dead king's children, succeeded to the throne. He was chosen by the appointed judge Xuthus, his brother-in-law, who was accordingly banished from the land by the rest of the sons of Erechtheus.
After ruling for 40 years, he was ousted by Metion and Pandorus, and fled to Aegilia or Aegialea where he would die.
Cecrops was succeeded in Athens by his son Pandion II.