ERETTEO

ERETTEO. -

Attic hero, mythical king of Athens, born from the Earth and raised by Athena in her own temple. The ancients and some modern scholars identified him with Erichthonius. In the historical period he had a temple on the acropolis, and received sacrifices together with Poseidon. Among his exploits, the war against the Eleusinians, commanded by Eumolpus son of Poseidon, was famous. They were defeated following the sacrifice, advised by Apollo, of E.’s daughter; but Poseidon, enraged at the death of Eumolpus, destroyed E. and his entire family.