Dēmos · Classical Athenian Democracy · a Stoa Publication
[ link colors: Demos | External Source | Citation to Evidence| Word Tools ]
The tribal heroes as a group: history.
The tribal heroes as a group: mythology.
The individual heroes: Aigeus.
The individual heroes: Akamas.
The individual heroes: Antiochos.
The individual heroes: Erechtheus.
The individual heroes: Hippothoon.
The individual heroes: Kekrops.
The individual heroes: Oineus.
The individual heroes: Pandion.
Images of the heroes: sculpture.
Images of the heroes: paintings.
—
—
Amy C. Smith, edition of January 18 2003
(Section 1 of 16)
The Cleisthenic reforms of
Plot on a Map
Delphi.
As usual in ancient Athenian affairs, politics and religion came hand in hand and, after due consultation with Apollo’s oracle at Delphi, each new tribe was assigned to a particular hero after whom the tribe was named; the ten tribal heroes are thus known as the eponymous (or name giving) heroes.
(Section 2 of 16)
Read about the evidence
Aristotle (Aristot. Ath. Pol.).
Plot on a Map
Attica.
Salamis.
Athens.
Aristotle indicates that each hero already received worship by the time of the Cleisthenic reforms, although little evidence as to the nature of the worship of each hero is now known (Aristot. Ath. Pol. 21.6). Even if the locus of their individual cults is obscure, each hero may be identified, according to his mythology, with a particular part of Attica (e.g. Ajax of Salamis). Tribal documents seem to have been deposited at the local shrine of each hero, as well as by the statue of the relevant hero in the Monument of the Eponymous Heroes at the Agora in Athens.
Read about the evidence
Herodotus (Hdt.).
Aristophanes (Aristoph. Peace).
Plot on a Map
Athens.
The concept of an eponymous hero was an established tradition before the reforms of Cleisthenes; the four Ionian tribes, for example, were said by Herodotus to have been named after the sons of Ion (Hdt. 5.66). And the reverence of a hero whose name might be similar or identical to the name of the place where s/he was worshipped is an ancient mode of thought that by the classical period comes quite close to the concept of personification—the representation of a thing, place, or abstraction as a person or by the human form—so that in many cases it is impossible to determine whether the hero was named for the place or vice versa. Either way, however, through the democratic era, each eponymous hero came to be so closely identified with his tribe that his figure served to represent that group of people in a political sense. In the Agora—the market and political center of Athens—the heroes were commemorated (and worshipped?) together at the Monument of the Eponymous Heroes, attested as early as Aristoph. Peace 1183, but enshrined in its current form—east of the Metroon on the west side of the Agora—in the
(Section 3 of 16)
Read about the evidence
Demosthenes (Dem. 60).
Plot on a Map
Athens.
Just as politics and religion were inextricably entwined at Athens, so were myth and history, which together served to support political and/or religious institutions. So it is no surprise that in a funeral oration Ps.-Dem. 60.27ff chooses first to praise the heroism of the deceased and then to connect some small fragment from the mythology of each tribal hero with the courage and patriotism of the fallen warriors. Thus the frequent appearance of the heroes—individually and particularly together—in mythological contexts dating to the era of the Democracy (from
(Section 4 of 16)
Read about the evidence
Xenophon (Xen. Hunt.).
Pausanias (Paus.).
Pindar (Pind. I.).
Plutarch (Plut. Sol.).
Homer (Hom. Il.).
Sophocles (Soph. Aj.).
Homer (Hom. Od.).
Herodotus (Hdt.).
Plot on a Map
Salamis.
Troy.
Mythology: Ajax, son of Telamon and of (P)eriboia, is attested as a hero from Salamis as early as Homer (Hom. Il. 2.257, 7.199; Hdt. 5.66). His genealogy is further discussed by archaic and classical authors (Xen. Hunt. 1.9, Paus. 1.42.4, and Pind. I. 6.45), as are his offspring (Soph. Aj. 574-75; Plut. Sol. 10; Hdt. 6.35.4), and his role as a warrior at Troy (Hom. Il. 2.557; Soph. Aj. 861; Hom. Od. 11.543-60; Hdt. 8.64).
Read about the evidence
Pausanias (Paus.).
Plot on a Map
Salamis.
Athens.
Melite.
Megara (in text as “Megarian”).
Worship: Ajax was worshipped primarily at his home, Salamis (Paus. 1.35.3-4 notes a temple with an ebony statue) but also at Athens proper (probably in the Eurysakeion in Melite, for which see Hesperia 7 [1938] 18, 94 no. 15; this may be the sanctuary recorded in two inscriptions: Agora I 286 and IG II2, 1008.87). Pausanias also mentions a Megarian cult of Athena Aiantis (Paus. 1.42.4)
(Section 5 of 16)
Read about the evidence
Apollodorus (Apollod.).
Euripides (Eur. Med.).
Apollodorus (Apollod. E.).
Plutarch (Plut. Thes.).
Pausanias (Paus.).
Diodorus (Diod.).
Plot on a Map
Troizen.
Mythology: Aigeus was said to be the son of Pandion or Skyrios (Apollod. 3.15.5), or perhaps was adopted by Pandion (Plut. Thes. 13.1) and, despite several marriages (to Meta [Melite?] and Chalkiope), remained childless until he slept with Aithra (who subsequently bore Theseus) at Troizen (Apollod. 3.15.7; Plut. Thes. 3.5). He later married Medea (Eur. Med. 1384 ff.; Apollod. Epit. 1.5; Paus. 2.3.8), then was reunited with his son, Theseus (Plut. Thes. 12.2-6), and leapt to his death by jumping off the Acropolis when he saw black sails on Theseus’ ship (Paus. 1.22.5; Diod. 4.61.7).
Read about the evidence
Harpocration (Harpoc).
Plutarch (Plut. Thes.).
Pausanias (Paus.).
Plot on a Map
Athens.
Sanctuary of Aphrodite Ourania.
Worship: Aigeus received a heroon (that is, a hero-shrine) at Athens, according to Paus. 1.22.5 (supported by Harpocration s.v. “Aigeion”); this may have been at the Delphinion, where he was said to live (Plut. Thes. 12.6), or the Sanctuary of Aphrodite Ourania, which he founded on account of his childlessness, according to Paus. 1.14.7.
Tribal connection: The only tribal detail relevant to Aigeus that is known to have been recorded is that Aigeus’ priest was chosen from among the tribesman of the Aigeis tribe (IG II2, 952).
(Section 6 of 16)
Read about the evidence
Diodorus (Diod.).
Apollodorus (Apollod. E.).
Scholia (Sch. Thuc.).
Strabo (Strab.).
Lycophron (Lycoph.).
Plot on a Map
Chersonnese.
Cyprus.
Phaleros.
Mythology: Akamas was a son of Theseus, and brother of Demophon (Ilias Parva fr. 17 Kinkel, Iliupersis fr. 3 K). His maternity was disputed, however (his mother is said to be Phaidra [Diod. 4.62; Apollod. Epit. 1.18], Ariadne [Schol. Hom. Od. 11.321], or Antiope, by association). He is associated with colonisations in the Chersonnese (with Antimachos: Sch. Thuc. 1.11), at Cyprus (Strab. 6.83; with Phaleros: Lycophron 494 ff.).
Read about the evidence
Pausanias (Paus.).
Plot on a Map
Kallithea.
Xypete.
Alopeke.
Phaleron.
Dipylon.
Worship: Akamas’ tribal shrine was at Kallithea (Xypete or Alopeke): see Athens, EM 13354/Athens, EM 13354a (ca.
Tribal connection: A fragmentary inscription, Agora XV 128 (IG II2, 917; published in Hesperia 9 [1940] 116), may record a tribal priesthood.
(Section 7 of 16)
Read about the evidence
Demosthenes (Dem. 60).
Pausanias (Paus.).
Apollodorus (Apollod.).
Diodorus (Diod.).
Plot on a Map
Corinth.
Boeotia.
Attica.
Mythology: Antiochos was a son of Herakles (Ps.-Dem. 60.31; Apollod. 1.8.3) and Meda (Paus. 1.5.2). The descendants of his son Phylas led the return of the Heracleidae (according to Paus. 2.4.3; Apollod. 1.8.3; Diod. 4.37), and he had strong ties to Corinth and Boeotia. His only mythological connection with Attica is attested in his appearance on vase imagery, particularly among the boys sent to the Minotaur (see the Francois Vase [Florence 4209]).
Read about the evidence
Pausanias (Paus.).
Plot on a Map
Kynosarges.
Worship: Antiochos, son of Herakles, was worshipped appropriately at the Herakleion in Kynosarges (published by C. Karouzos in ArchDelt 8 [1923] 82-102); some
Plot on a Map
Kynosarges.
Tribal connection: A member of the Antiochis tribe held the priesthood of Antiochos at Kynosarges, according to an inscription dated
(Section 8 of 16)
Erechtheus (tribe: Erechtheis)
Read about the evidence
Homer (Hom. Il.).
Herodotus (Hdt.).
Sophocles (Soph. Aj.).
Suda.
(Apollod.).
Thucydides (Thuc.).
Apollodorus (Apollod.).
Euripides (Eur. Erech.).
Euripides (Eur. Ion).
Hyginus (Hyg. Fab.).
Plot on a Map
Rhamnous.
Athens.
Eleusis.
Mythology: Erechtheus, who is often confused (in ancient as in modern discussions) with Erichthonios, was born from the Earth (Hom. Il. 2.546-51; Hdt. 8.55; Soph. Aj. 202 [Erichthonios]). His mother is sometimes reported to have been Nemesis at Rhamnous, where he was king, and where he founded her temple (Suda s.v. “Ramnousia Nemesis” (rho,33)). The Parian Marble (Marm. Par. 28 ff.) records that he was the son of Pandion and Zeuxippe, and twin brother of Boutes, who became priest when Erechtheus became King of Athens (Apollod. 3.14.8). His marriage to Praxithea is recorded in Eur. Erech. His sons Kekrops II, Pandoros, and Metion, are mentioned by Apollod. 3.15.1, and he had many daughters—Kreousa, Prokris (by whom he fathered Aglauros, according to Hyg. Fab. 253), Chthonia, Oreithyia, and Hyakinthides. When he fought against Eleusis (Eur. Erech.; Thuc. 2.15.1) he gained victory by voluntarily sacrificing his daughters. His killing of Eumolpos (Apollod. 3.15.4) was avenged by Poseidon’s trident (Eur. Erech. fr. 65.90, 92?; Eur. Ion 281-82) or by Zeus’ thunderbolt, at the request of Poseidon (Hyg. Fab. 46; see G.W. Elderkin, Hesperia 10 [1941] 113).
Read about the evidence
Pausanias (Paus.).
Euripides (Eur. Erech.).
Homer (Hom. Il.).
Herodotus (Hdt.).
Worship: Erechtheus was worshipped at the Erechtheion, which is thought to have been part of the Temple of Athena Polias (Paus. 1.26.5) or perhaps within the building known now as the Erechtheion (see K. Jeppesen, The Theory of the Alternative Erechtheion [Aarhus 1987]). Many sources confirm that he was worshipped on the Acropolis (Hdt. 8.55; Eur. Erech. fr. 65.90-4 Austin; IG I2, 580) and Hom. Il. 2.546-51 attests that he was worshipped in the chief temple of Athena. (Hdt. 5.82 mentions also that he was worshipped in close connection with Athena Polias, perhaps at the Panathenaia).
Read about the evidence
Nonnus (Nonn.).
Suda.
Plot on a Map
Marathon.
Rhamnous.
Erechtheus received worshipped also at Marathon (according to Nonnus 39.210-13 or at Rhamnous, in the Temple of Nemesis (which he erected: Suda s.v. “Ramnousia Nemesis” (rho,33)).
Read about the evidence
Pausanias (Paus.).
Euripides (Eur. Erech.).
Harpocration (Harpoc.).
Erechtheus may have shared worship with Poseidon (according to Paus. 1.26.5 the two shared an altar as dictated by an oracle); he is referred to as Poseidon Erechtheus in Eur. Erech. fr. 65.93-94, and IG I2, 580 (see C. Austin, Recherches de Papyrologie 4 [1967] 59-60), although IG II2, 1146 indicates that their cults were separate). For Erechtheus’ connection with the Eteoboutadai (family of priests) see Plut. Mor. 841B, 843A-C; Harpoc. s.v. “Eteoboutadai”.
(Section 9 of 16)
Hippothoon (tribe: Hippothontis)
Read about the evidence
Hesiod (Hes. fr.).
Hellanicus.
Pausanias (Paus.).
Euripides (Eur. Alope).
Choirilos (Choirilos Alope).
Aristophanes (Aristoph. Birds).
Hyginus (Hyg. Fab.).
Plot on a Map
Eleusis (in text as “Eleusinian”).
Mythology: Hippothoon was mentioned along with Eumolpos and Dolichos as an Eleusinian hero in Hes. fr. 227 M-W (and is shown at the mission of Triptolemos on vases). He was the son of Poseidon and Alope (Hellanicus FGrH 323a F 6; Hyg. Fab. 187; Paus. 1.39.3); his birth and mother’s subsequent death appeared in several tragedies (Eur. Alope; Choirilos Alope; cf. Aristoph. Birds 559). According to Hyg. Fab. 187, Hippothoon received Theseus into his ancestral lands after he had killed Kerkyon.
Read about the evidence
Pausanias (Paus.).
Plot on a Map
Eleusis.
Worship: Hippothoon was worshipped at Eleusis, according to honorary decrees dating to the
Tribal connection: Hippothoon’s priests were connected with the Eleusinian Mysteries (see, e.g. Palermo V 779 [ARV2, 496.5]), and were dictated by heredity rather than chosen from among the tribe (Agora 15, 132 and 261).
(Section 10 of 16)
Read about the evidence
Aristophanes (Aristoph. Wasps).
Euripides (Eur. Ion.).
Euripides (Eur. Ion).
Philochorus.
Pausanias (Paus.).
Aristophanes (Aristoph. Pl.).
Tacitus (Tac. Ann.).
Xenophon (Xen. Mem.).
Apollodorus (Apollod.).
Plot on a Map
Attica.
Athens.
Mythology: Kekrops, who was half man and half snake (Aristoph. Wasps 438; Eur. Ion. 1163-64; see also Berlin F 2357), has no recorded parentage; his autochthonous nature, noted by Apollod. 3.14.1, encouraged Athenian pride in their sense of belonging to Attica. He was an early King of Attica, either the first (Marm. Par. A 1) or successor to Aktaios (Paus. 1.2.6). With Agraulos, daughter of Aktaios, he had three daughters, Aglauros, Pandrosos and Herse (Eur. Ion 270-72; Philochorus FGrH 328 F 106) and a son, Erysichthon (Apollod. 3.14.1; Paus. 1.2.6). Kekrops is said to have introduced several cults, including the cult of Kronos and Rhea to Attica (Philochorus FGrH 328 F 97), as well as non-animal sacrifice to Zeus Hypatos (Paus. 8.2.3). He is also credited with introducing customs (Aristoph. Pl. 773) and writing (Tac. Ann. 11.14), and even presided over the contest between Athena and Poseidon for the patronage of Athens (Xen. Mem. 35.10; Apollod. 3.14.1 suggests otherwise).
Read about the evidence
Euripides (Eur. Ion).
Clement (Clem. Alex. Protr.).
Pausanias (Paus.).
Plot on a Map
Attica.
Haliartos.
Megara.
Worship: Kekrops was worshipped on the Acropolis (IG II2, 1156), perhaps in a cave (Eur. Ion 1400), a tomb (Clem. Alex. Protr. 3.45), or a corner near the south wall of the Erechtheion (IG I3, 474.59-63); here his priesthood was hereditary among the Amynandridai (IG II2, 2388). By the time of Hadrian times Kekrops was also worshipped in the Thriasian Plain. Kekrops may also have received worship outside Attica: in Haliartos (Paus. 9.33.1) and in Megara (Hsych. s.v. “En d’Aithuia”).
(Section 11 of 16)
Read about the evidence
Plutarch (Plut. Thes.).
Suda.
Demosthenes (Dem. 60).
Aelian (Ael. VH).
Diodorus (Diod.).
Plot on a Map
Attica.
Mythology: Although another Attic hero (Leos the herald; see Plut. Thes. 13) is known by this name, Leos the eponymous hero has no mythology aside from a mention that he is the son of Orpheus (Bekk. Anecd. 1.277.14), the father of Kylanthos (Suda, Phot. s.v. “Leokorion” [lambda,262; see also lambda,261), and three daughters—Euboule, Phrasithea or Praxithea, Theope or Theopompe—who sacrificed themselves to save Attica (Ps.-Dem. 60.29; Ael. VH 12.28; Diod. 17.15).
Worship: Leos was worshipped in the deme Skambonidai (IG I3, 244.C4-5) and perhaps in the Agora at the Leokoreion (discussed by S. Rotroff, Hesperia 47 [1978] 206-207).
Plot on a Map
Daphni.
Tribal connection: The priest of Leos was chosen from among members of the Leontis tribe in
(Section 12 of 16)
Read about the evidence
Demosthenes (Dem. 60).
Pausanias (Paus.).
Mythology: Oineus was a son of Dionysos (Ps.-Dem. 60.30) or an illegitimate son of Pandion (Paus. 1.5.2).
Worship: No evidence attests Oineus’ individual worship or details of his tribal affiliation.
(Section 13 of 16)
Read about the evidence
Hesiod (Hes. WD.).
Sappho (Sappho 86D).
Hesiod (Hes. WD).
Homer (Hom. Od.).
Apollodorus (Apollod.).
Pausanias (Paus.).
Sophocles (Soph. TGrF).
Hyginus (Hyg. Fab.).
Scholia (Sch. Aristoph.).
Aristophanes (Aristoph. Kn.).
Plot on a Map
Megara.
Mythology: There were at least two Attic kings named Pandion. The first, successor and son of Erichthonios (Marm. Par. A 11) and Praxithea (Apollod. 3.14.6) was husband to Zeuxippe, with whom he fathered Erechtheus (Marm. Par. A 15), Boutes, Prokne, and Philomela (Apollod. 3.14.8; for Prokne see Hes. WD. 568; Sappho 86D; and Palermo 12480 [ARV2 1249.21]; for Philomela see also Hes. WD 566 [in Hom. Od. 18.518 she is daughter of Pandareos]). The second, son of Kekrops II (Marm. Par. A 17) and Metiadousa (Apollod. 3.15.5; Paus. 9.33.1) was expelled by Metion to Megara, where he married a daughter of King Pylas (Apollod 3.15.5; Paus. 1.5.3), and fathered Lykos, Pallas, Nisos, and Aigeus (FGrH 329 F 2; Soph. TGrF 4.24). Pandion is elsewhere mentioned as father of Teithras (Sch. Aristoph. Frogs 477) and Kephalos (Hyg. Fab. 270) and is credited with instituting the form of the Choes (Sch. Aristoph. Ach. 961; Aristoph. Kn. 95).
Read about the evidence
Pausanias (Paus.).
Plot on a Map
Plotheia.
Attica.
Megara.
Worship: Pandion was worshipped by the
G.P. Stevens has identified a Monument of Pandion in the Agora (see the line drawing above).
(Section 14 of 16)
Statues
Read about the evidence
Pausanias (Paus.).
Pausanias (Paus.).
Pausanias (Paus.).
Aristophanes (Aristoph. Birds).
Scholia (Sch. Hsch. Suid.).
Pausanias (Paus.).
Pausanias (Paus.).
Plot on a Map
Delphi.
Athens.
Rome.
Monument of the Eponymous Heroes: Paus. 1.5.2.
The earliest Monument of the Eponymous Heroes attested by physical evidence may be dated to
Document Reliefs
Plot on a Map
Kynosarges.
Athens.
Votive Reliefs
Architectural sculpture
Plot on a Map
Troy.
(Section 15 of 16)
Wall Paintings
Read about the evidence
Pausanias (Paus.).
Plot on a Map
Troy.
Knidos (in text as “Knidians”).
Delphi.
Vase Paintings
Plot on a Map
Delphic (in text as “Delphi”).
Vulci.
Orvietto.
Agrigento.
Spina.
Eleusinis (in text as “Eleusinian”).
Etruria.
Agrigento.
Altamura.
Spina.
Lokri.
Vulci.
Etruria.
Vulci.
Nola.
Bologna.
Crete.
Vulci.
Italy.
Vulci.
Greece.
Attica (in text as “Attic”).
Greece.
Thebes.
Plot on a Map
Delphic (in text as “Delphi”).
Plot on a Map
Vulci.
Plot on a Map
Vulci.
Plot on a Map
Orvietto.
Agrigento.
Plot on a Map
Orvietto.
Plot on a Map
Agrigento.
Plot on a Map
Spina.
Eleusinis (in text as “Eleusinian”).
Etruria.
Agrigento.
Altamura.
Spina.
Lokri.
Vulci.
Plot on a Map
Spina.
Plot on a Map
Etruria.
Agrigento.
Altamura.
Spina.
Lokri.
Vulci.
Plot on a Map
Etruria.
Vulci.
Nola.
Bologna.
Crete.
Vulci.
Italy.
Plot on a Map
Etruria.
Plot on a Map
Vulci.
Nola.
Bologna.
Crete.
Plot on a Map
Attica (in text as “Attic”).
Greece.
Thebes.
(Section 16 of 16)
Below are some suggestions for further reading.