Cecrops & Athena

The second big Hero of ancient Greece was Theseus. For Hercules were the all the myths of Thebes and Argus. For Theseus were all the myths of Athens, because he used to be one of its kings, but before we go into the myth of Theseus, let us first talk about Athens, the most beautiful, the most rich, the most glorious city of all ancient Greece.

The myth has it that Cecrops was Athens first
king. Cecrops was not born by anyone but
grew up from earth. Cecrops was no
ordinary man, he was half man from the
waist-up and half snake from the waist
down. He lived on the top of a rock hill
that he named Acropolis.
It's been said by the
ancients that the
Acropolis hill
was build by
goddess Athena
carrying giant
rocks from the
Pallini area.

It's been also said that while
the goddess was building
Acropolis one of the rocks
slept from her hands and thus
how Likavitos hill was
created.

Athens, during Cecrops ruling was called Cecropia, from its king's name. The city's recent name was given to her by goddess Athena, and the story goes something like this:

On a day god Poseidon (god of the sea) and goddess Athena (goddess of wisdom) standing on Acropolis got into a fight cause each one wanted to to name the beautiful city after his own name. And because nobody was giving in, they called on Cecrops and told him that each on of them is going to offer a divine present to the city and its people and Cecrops was to choose one. If he chooses Poseidon's gift the city will be named Poseidonia and if Athena's gift was chosen it would be named Athena (Athens).

Poseidon then strike-down his trident on the rock and immediately water came out of it.

- This is my gift to your city and its people, water. Said Poseidon.

Now it was Athena's turn, the goddess lifted her spear and strike the dirt just meters away from Poseidon's spring. A new tree grew up at once for the first time on the planet, it was the olive tree.

- And this is my gift, said Athena. A tree, that the juice of its fruit will feed your people. A tree that symbolizes peace.

Cecrops looked for long time the tree and the spring. He then bend to drink some water form Poseidon's spring. But he did not like its water since it was brackish.

- Springs like this we have plenty in our city, said Cecrops, so it's Athena's gift that I will choose.

Cecropia was named form that moment on Athena, and it was loved and protected by the goddess, and the Athenians honored and worship Athena as no other goddess nor god.
As for Poseidon he was so displeased that he cursed the city to a water shortage for the rest of its time.