Kekropsthe 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.

Kekropsthe 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 BCPentelic Marble GR 1816.6-10.104

The Group of Kekrops and Pandrosos

through the drawings of

Early Travellersand Artists in Athens

Jacques Carrey 1674

William Pars - 1765

James Stuart - Nicholas Revett The Antiquities of Athens 1787

William Gell 1801

Giovanni B. Lusieri 1802

Part Serpent - Part Human

Between two ReligionsKekrop’s Iconography

in Attic Art

Kekrops first king of Attica, from a special drinking vessel in the shape of Sphinx Made in Athens 470-460 BC The British Museum GR 1873.8-20.265 (Vase E 788)

Gaia offering Erichthonios to Athena. On the right Kekrops Melian Clay Relief, found in Attica in 1885about 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 ADPentelic Marble National ArchaeologicalMuseum of Athens EAM 200