Erechtheus

, son of Pandion  I. , was the sixth king of Athens. He was father of Cecrops  II. , Merion, Pandorus, and of four daughters, Creusa, Orithya, Procris, and Othonia, by Praxithea. In a war against Eleusis he sacrificed Othonia, called also Chthonia, to obtain a victory which the oracle promised for such a sacrifice. In that war he killed Eumolpus, Neptune’s son, who was the general of the enemy, for which he was struck with thunder by Jupiter at Neptune’s request. Some say that he was drowned in the sea. After death he received divine honours at Athens. He reigned 50 years, and died B.C. 1347. According to some accounts, he first introduced the mysteries of Ceres at Eleusis. Ovid , Metamorphoses , bk. 6 , li. 877 .— Pausanias , bk. 2 , ch. 25 .— Apollo dor us , bk. 3 , ch. 15 .— Cicero , For Sestius , ch. 21 ; Tusculanæ Dis put at i ones , bk. 1 , ch. 48 ; Natura Deorum , bk. 3 , ch. 15 .