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Athens SIGHTSEEING - MYTHS

The beginning of the history of Athens is lost in in the darkness of time. But what history ignores is filled in by myth and tradition at least in what concerns the gods who had a direct relationship with the town of Athens, through their clashes over which of them would be its protector, whether to accept the gifts of Poseidon, Athena and Dionysos.

Myth even speaks about the great mythical men of the town such as Kekrops and Theseus. If the Athenians had been named for their heroic founder they would have been called Kekropidans. Kekrops was half serpent and half man and spawned by the earth.

The Athenians stated that their first king, Kekrops, instituted monogamy and the burial of the dead. He also took part in the Counsil of the Twelve Gods of Olympus when Poseidon, the god of the sea, and Athena, the goddess of wisdom, were laying claim to Attica.

According to myth, when the time came for their showdown, Poseidon struck the rock of the Acropolis with his trident and at that point a horse sprang out and rushing water. Athena replied by striking the rock next to it with her spear and the first olive tree sprang forth.

The gods finally declared Athena the victor and thus she became the protectress of the town which took her name. In order to placate Poseidon the Athenians dedicated an impressive temple to him at the southeastern edge of Attica, at Sounion.

Attica also has connections to two other divinities: Dionysos the god of wine and intoxication. The vineyard was the gift of this god to his beloved city of Athens. Attica celebrated the Dionysia, an uninhibited festival , in his honor with dances and processions.

Attica is also connected to the goddess Demeter and her daughter Persephone whom Hades abducted as his wife.

During the goddess' despairing quest for her daughter she was given hospitality at the home of Keleos , the king of Eleusis in gratitude for the hospitality he had offered her, she taught the inhabitants of Eleusis how to cultivate the earth ,and the Eleusinian Mysteries. At the site where they first encountered the goddess, the temple was built in which the Eleusinian Mysteries were conducted.