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Summary.

The tribal heroes as a group: history.

The tribal heroes as a group: mythology.

The individual heroes: Ajax.

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: Leos.

The individual heroes: Oineus.

The individual heroes: Pandion.

Images of the heroes: sculpture.

Images of the heroes: paintings.

Further Reading.

Index of Citations

General Index

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Athenian Political Art from the fifth and fourth centuries: Images of Tribal (Eponymous) Heroes 

Amy C. Smith, edition of January 18 2003

(Section 1 of 16)

· Summary ·

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Athens.
Attica.

The Cleisthenic reforms of 508/7, which firmly established democracy at Athens, imposed a new division of Attica into ten tribes, each of which constituted a new political and military unit, but included citizens from each of the three geographical regions of Attica—the city, the coast, and the inland. Enrollment in a tribe (according to heredity) was a mandatory prerequisite for citizenship.

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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.

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(Section 2 of 16)

· The tribal heroes as a group: history ·

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Aristotle (Aristot. Ath. Pol.).
 
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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).
 
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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 340s or 330s.

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(Section 3 of 16)

· The tribal heroes as a group: mythology ·

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Demosthenes (Dem. 60).
 
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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 508 down to 322)—whether as tragic characters on the stage or figures ornamenting vases may be considered politically motivated. Just as personifications symbolize places, institutions, and abstractions, the roles of the eponymous heroes in visual as well as the literary arts—whether or not in mythological contexts—is as symbols of the tribes with which they shared their names. Whether to patriotic tribesmen or to (dis)interested others, they advertise their tribes. It is unsurprising, therefore, that the heroes are always shown in a good light in Athenian visual arts.

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(Section 4 of 16)

· The individual heroes: Ajax ·

Ajax (tribe: Aiantis)

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.).
 
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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.).
 
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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)

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(Section 5 of 16)

· The individual heroes: Aigeus ·

Aigeus (tribe: Aigeis)

Read about the evidence
Apollodorus (Apollod.).
Euripides (Eur. Med.).
Apollodorus (Apollod. E.).
Plutarch (Plut. Thes.).
Pausanias (Paus.).
Diodorus (Diod.).
 
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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.).
 
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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).

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(Section 6 of 16)

· The individual heroes: Akamas ·

Akamas (tribe: Akamantis)

Read about the evidence
Diodorus (Diod.).
Apollodorus (Apollod. E.).
Scholia (Sch. Thuc.).
Strabo (Strab.).
Lycophron (Lycoph.).
 
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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.).
 
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Kallithea.
Xypete.
Alopeke.
Phaleron.
Dipylon.

Worship: Akamas’ tribal shrine was at Kallithea (Xypete or Alopeke): see Athens, EM 13354/Athens, EM 13354a (ca. 361/0). He was also worshipped with his siblings (children of Theseus) at Phaleron (Paus. 1.1.4) and at Dipylon, with Zeus Orkeios and Hermes (IG II2, 4983).

Tribal connection: A fragmentary inscription, Agora XV 128 (IG II2, 917; published in Hesperia 9 [1940] 116), may record a tribal priesthood.

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(Section 7 of 16)

· The individual heroes: Antiochos ·

Antiochos (tribe: Antiochis)

Read about the evidence
Demosthenes (Dem. 60).
Pausanias (Paus.).
Apollodorus (Apollod.).
Diodorus (Diod.).
 
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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.).
 
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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 fourth century tribal decrees found there refer to a priest of Antiochos); it is highly likely, however, that Antiochos’ cult came to Kynosarges after the Cleisthenic reforms of 508/7, and his cult is not mentioned in Pausanias’ discussion of the Herakleion there (Paus. 1.19.3).

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Kynosarges.

Tribal connection: A member of the Antiochis tribe held the priesthood of Antiochos at Kynosarges, according to an inscription dated 169/8 (see Dow 1937, 71).

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(Section 8 of 16)

· The individual heroes: Erechtheus ·

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.).
 
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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.
 
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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”.

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(Section 9 of 16)

· The individual heroes: Hippothoon ·

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.).
 
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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.).
 
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Eleusis.

Worship: Hippothoon was worshipped at Eleusis, according to honorary decrees dating to the fourth century (IG II2, 1149, 1153), and a heroon of Hippothoon is attested (Paus. 1.38.4; IG II2, 1163).

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).

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(Section 10 of 16)

· The individual heroes: Kekrops ·

Kekrops (tribe: Kekropis)

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.).
 
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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.).
 
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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”).

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(Section 11 of 16)

· The individual heroes: Leos ·

Leos (tribe: Leontis)

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).

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Daphni.

Tribal connection: The priest of Leos was chosen from among members of the Leontis tribe in 212/1 (IG II2, 847.51-52 = Dow 1937, 36). Tribal documents have been found on the Acropolis (IG II2, 1742) and at Daphni (IG II2, 2818), as well as in the Agora (Hesperia 9 [1941] 59-66 no. 8).

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(Section 12 of 16)

· The individual heroes: Oineus ·

Oineus (tribe: Oineis)

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.

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(Section 13 of 16)

· The individual heroes: Pandion ·

Pandion (tribe: Pandionis)

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.).
 
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Plotheia.
Attica.
Megara.

Worship: Pandion was worshipped by the fourth century on the Acropolis (IG II2, 1138, 1144, 1157; Paus. 1.5.4). Pandion may have been worshipped at Plotheia, where games in his honor (?), the Pandia, were celebrated (IG I3, 258.9); he probably also received a sacrifice as founder of the Pandia (Kearns 1989, 81). Pandion received worship outside Attica, at his tomb in the cave Sanctuary of Athena Aithyia in Megara. He also received a monument in Megara (Paus. 1.5.3, 1.39.4, and Paus. 1.41.6).

G.P. Stevens has identified a Monument of Pandion in the Agora (see the line drawing above).

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(Section 14 of 16)

· Images of the heroes: sculpture ·

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.

  1. Marathon victory group by Pheidias at Delphi (with Athena, Apollo, and Miltiades), ca. 460-450: Paus. 10.10.1 (Erechtheus, Kekrops, Pandion, Leos, Antiochos, Aigeus, and Akamas).
  2. Battle group of Erechtheus and Eumolpos, by Myron, ca. 460-450, on the Akropolis at Athens; Paus. 1.27.3; Paus. 9.30.1.
  3. Type of the Munich King (original lost): a nude, mature male figure, possibly by Myron, ca. 450-440.
  4. Bronze group of the Trojan horse, by Stronglion, ca. 425, dedicated by Chairedemos, son of Eueangelos of Koile, on the Acropolis at Athens: Paus. 1.23.8; Aristoph. Birds 1128, 1130; Sch. Hsch. Suid. s.v. “dourios ippos”. For the base see IG I2, 535: Stevens 1936, fig. 13; Raubitschek 1949, 208 f., no. 176.
  5. Monument of the Eponymous Heroes: Paus. 1.5.2.

    The earliest Monument of the Eponymous Heroes attested by physical evidence may be dated to ca. 330. At this time it constituted a long limestone statue base which carried ten bronze statues—one of each of the heroes, and tripods at each end (probably in commemoration of the fact that the Delphic oracle was consulted for the choice of the heroes). The entire base was surrounded by a barrier of fence posts (some marble and limestone posts remain), with wooden railings. This monument served as a public notice board for tribal affairs, general notices for the Assembly, and the heroes may also have received worship there.

  6. Statue of Pandion on the Akropolis at Athens: Paus. 1.5.4.
  7. Statue plinth with the name Pandion inscribed, in the Capitoline, Rome, from Orto di Panisperna (see BullCom 16 [1888] 488).
  8. Statue of Hippothoon in the Agora at Athens (Paus. 1.39.3).

Document Reliefs

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Kynosarges.
Athens.

  1. Louvre Ma 831: “The Choiseul Marble,” a relief on an account of the Treasurers of Athena, 409/8, with Erechtheus.
  2. Athens NM 1467: relief on an alliance decree, ca. 375-350, perhaps showing Kekrops.
  3. Athens, NM 2756: relief from a document, ca. 400-350, honoring a member of a phyle.
  4. Athens, NM 3492: relief from a decree, ca. 350-325, honoring a priest, from the Herakleion at Kynosarges.
  5. Berlin K 113: relief from a document, ca. 350-300, from Athens, honoring a man.
  6. Athens, NM 2947: relief from a document, ca. 350-300, honoring an ephebe.
  7. Athens, NM 3491: relief from a decree, ca. 330-320, honoring Prokleides, from the Herakleion at Kynosarges
  8. Athens, NM 2911: relief from a document, 323/22 honoring a man.

Votive Reliefs

  1. Athens, NM 2995: a relief from a votive (or perhaps a decree), ca. 400-375.
  2. Athens, NM 1478: relief showing Oineus (?) with worshippers, ca. 350-325.

Architectural sculpture

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Troy.

  1. The North Metopes of the Parthenon, 447-442 (Akamas et al. at the Iliupersis [Sack of Troy]).
  2. The east side of the Parthenon Frieze, 442-438 Parthenon West Pediment, 438-432 (Kekrops and possibly Erechtheus at the contest between Athena and Poseidon).

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(Section 15 of 16)

· Images of the heroes: paintings ·

Wall Paintings

Read about the evidence
Pausanias (Paus.).
 
Plot on a Map
Troy.
Knidos (in text as “Knidians”).
Delphi.

Vase Paintings

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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.

  1. Aigeus:

    Plot on a Map
    Delphic (in text as “Delphi”).

  2. Ajax:

    Plot on a Map
    Vulci.

  3. Akamas:

    Plot on a Map
    Orvietto.
    Agrigento.

  4. Erechtheus:

  5. The birth of Erichthonios:

  6. Hippothoon:

    Plot on a Map
    Spina.
    Eleusinis (in text as “Eleusinian”).
    Etruria.
    Agrigento.
    Altamura.
    Spina.
    Lokri.
    Vulci.

  7. Kekrops:

  8. Pandion:

  9. Phyle heroes in Trojan scenes (see also the Parthenon, North Metopes):

    Plot on a Map
    Etruria.
    Vulci.
    Nola.
    Bologna.
    Crete.
    Vulci.
    Italy.

  10. Phyle heroes at Dithyrambic victories:

    Plot on a Map
    Vulci.
    Greece.

    1. London E 284: Red-figure amphora attributed to the Nausicaa Painter, ca. 460-450.
    2. Munich 2412: Red-figure stamnos from Vulci, attributed to the Hector Painter, ca. 420-410.
    3. Copenhagen Chr. VIII 939: Red-figure bell krater from Greece, ca. 420-410.
  11. Other appearances of the eponymous heroes:

    Plot on a Map
    Attica (in text as “Attic”).
    Greece.
    Thebes.

    1. Richmond 79.100: Ram’s head rhyton, attributed to the Triptolemos Painter, ca. 480-470, with Kekrops, Aigeus, and Pandion at a symposium of the Attic kings.
    2. Palermo 12480: Red-figure oinochoe by the Eretria Painter, ca. 430-420 (Pandion labelled).
    3. London 98.7-16.6: Red-figure volute krater from Greece, attributed to the Nikias Painter, ca. 420-410.
    4. Naples Stg. 311: Red-figure lekanis by the Meidias Painter, ca. 420-410, with Antiochos and Pandion labelled.
    5. London E 224: Hydria (name vase) of the Meidias Painter (the “Hamilton Hydria”), ca. 420-410, showing Akamas, Antiochos, Hippothoon and Oineus in the Gardens of the Hesperides (side B, a detail of Antiochos and a detail of Oineus, shown here).
    6. Syracuse 30747: Red-figure bell krater by the Dinos Painter, ca. 410-400, with Akamas, Pandion, and Oineus labelled.
    7. Athens, NM ?: Red-figure oinochoe fragment from the Kabeirion (Thebes), attributed to the Helen Painter, ca. 370-360.

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(Section 16 of 16)

· Further Reading ·

Below are some suggestions for further reading.

  1. F. Bourriot, Recherches sur la nature du genos (Lille 1976).
  2. L. Deubner, Attische Feste (Berlin 1932).
  3. L. Farnell, Greek Hero Cults and Ideas of Immortality (Oxford 1921).
  4. T. Gantz, Early Greek Myth: A Guide to Literary and Artistic Sources (Baltimore 1933).
  5. E. Kearns, The Heroes of Attica. BICS-Suppl. 57 (1989).
  6. U. Kron, Die zehn attischen Phylenheroen. Geschichte, Mythos, Kult und Darstellungen. AM-BH 5 (Berlin 1976).
  7. Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae (Zurich and Munich 1981-1997).
  8. N. Loraux, Les enfants d’Athéna (Paris 1981).
  9. M.P. Nilsson, Cults, Myths, Oracles and Politics in Ancient Greece. Studies in Mediterranean Archaeology. Pocketbook 44 (Göteborg 1986).
  10. R.G. Osborne, Demos. The Discovery of Classical Attika (Cambridge 1985).
  11. T.L. Shear, Jr., The Monument of the Eponymous Heroes in the Athenian Agora. Hesperia 39 (1970) 145 ff.
  12. J.S. Traill, The Political Organization of Attica: a Study of the Demes, Trittyes and Phylai and their Representation of the Athenian Council. Hesperia Suppl. 14 (Princeton 1975).
  13. D. Whitehead, The Demes of Attica 508/7-ca 250 B.C. A Political and Social Study (Princeton 1986).

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