King of Athens - Definition and Overview

Before the Athenian democracy, the tyrants, and the archons, Athens was ruled by kings. Most of these are probably mythical or only semi-historical. This list is based on that given by Eusebius.

Earliest kings

These two kings were supposed to have ruled before the flood of the Deucalion story.

• Ogygus
• Actaeus

Erechthids or Cecropidae

Cecrops was considered the first true king of Athens, although he was a mythical half-man half-serpent. The dates for the following kings were conjectured centuries later.

• Cecrops 1556 - 1506 BC.
• Cranaus 1506 - 1497 BC.
• Amphictyon 1497 - 1487 BC.
• Erichthonius 1487 - 1437 BC.
• Pandion I 1437 - 1397 BC.
• Erechtheus 1397 - 1347 BC.
• Cecrops II 1347 - 1307 BC.
• Pandion II 1307 - 1282 BC.
• Aegeus 1282 - 1234 BC.
• Theseus 1234- 1204 BC. (or 1213 BC).
• Menestheus 1204 - 1181 BC (or 1213 - 1191 BC).
• Demophon 1181- 1147 BC.
• Oxyntes 1147- 1135 BC.
• Apheidas 1135- 1134 BC.
• Thymoetes 1134- 1126 BC.

Medontids or Melanthidae or Codridae

• Melanthus 1126- 1089 BC.
• Codrus 1089 - 1068 BC.
• Medon, King of Athens 1068- 1048 BC.
• Acastus, King of Athens 1048 - 1012 BC.
• Archippus, King of Athens 1012 - 993 BC.
• Thersippus 993- 952 BC.
• Phorbas 952- 922 BC.
• Megacles 922- 892 BC.
• Diognetus 892- 864 BC.
• Pherecles 864- 845 BC.
• Ariphron 845- 825 BC.
• Thespieus 824- 797 BC.
• Agamestor 796- 778 BC.
• Aeschylus 778- 755 BC.
• Alcmaeon 755- 753 BC.

In 753 BC the kingship was replaced with an archonship (see Archons of Athens).