The Athenians thought themselves the original inhabitants of Attica; for which reason they were called "Sons of the Earth;" and "grasshoppers." They sometimes, therefore, wore golden grasshoppers in their hair, as badges of honour, to distinguish themselves from the people of later origin and less noble extraction; because these insects are supposed to be sprung from the ground. "Our origin," said Socrates, "is so beautiful, that none of the Greeks can give such pure appellations to their country as we can. We can truly style the earth on which we tread our nurse, our mother, our father."
ATHENS.
It was governed by seventeen kings, in the following order:—
After a reign of fifty years, Cecrops was succeeded by
| B. C. | |
| Cranaus | 1506 |
| Amphictyon | 1497 |
| Ericthonius | 1487 |
| Pandion | 1437 |
| Erictheus | 1397 |
| Cecrops II. | 1347 |
| Pandion II. | 1307 |
| Ægeus | 1283 |
| Theseus | 1235 |
| Menestheus | 1205 |
| Demophoon | 1282 |
| Oxyntes | 1149 |
| Aphidas | 1137 |
| Thymœtes | 1336 |
| Melanthus | 1128 |
| Codrus | 1091 |
The history of the first twelve monarchs is, for the most part, fabulous.
Athens was founded by Cecrops, who led a colony out of Egypt, and built twelve towns, of which he composed a kingdom.
Amphictyon, the third king of Athens, procured a confederacy between twelve nations, who met every year at Thermopylæ, there to consult over their affairs in general, as also upon those of each nation in particular. This convention was called the assembly of the Amphictyons.