1 Once, a long long time ago, there was a man named Cecrops. Cecrops, whose name means “face with a snake,” was half-man and half-snake. He was also the founder and first king of Athens. Athens started looking pretty good, and Athena and Poseidon both wanted to be the patron of it. They were on the verge of attacking each other, when the wise Athena came up with an idea about who could win the city. It was decided that whoever gave the city the best gift would get it as her/his own. Cecrops was the agreed upon arbitrator. 2 Leading a huge crowd, they ascended to the Acropolis to give their gifts. Poseidon was first, and he lifted his trident and struck the earth with it. A spring shot forth and began pouring out water. The people sighed in wonder, but when they tasted it, they were not so impressed for the spring was as salty as the sea Poseidon ruled. My notes about what I am reading Athena vs. Poseidon The Naming of Athens 3 Athena, on the other hand, merely knelt and buried something in the ground. It was an olive tree. Simple, yes, but the olive tree was also a rich gift. It gave the Athenians the olives (food), oil, and wood. Cecrops deemed Athena’s the better gift. As the winner, Athena named the city after herself (Athens, of course). At the Acropolis, the citadel was named Cecropia in honor of Cecrops.
1 Once, a long long time ago, there was a man namedCecrops.
Cecrops, whose name means face with a snake, washalf-man and
half-snake. He was also the founder and firstking of Athens. Athens
started looking pretty good, andAthena and Poseidon both wanted to
be the patron of it. Theywere on the verge of attacking each other,
when the wiseAthena came up with an idea about who could win the
city. Itwas decided that whoever gave the city the best gift would
getit as her/his own. Cecrops was the agreed upon arbitrator.
2 Leading a huge crowd, they ascended to the Acropolisto give
their gifts. Poseidon was first, and he lifted histrident and
struck the earth with it. A spring shot forth andbegan pouring out
water. The people sighed in wonder, butwhen they tasted it, they
were not so impressed for thespring was as salty as the sea
Poseidon ruled.
My notes about what I amreading
Athena vs. PoseidonThe Naming of Athens
3 Athena, on the other hand, merely knelt and buriedsomething in
the ground. It was an olive tree. Simple, yes,but the olive tree
was also a rich gift. It gave the Atheniansthe olives (food), oil,
and wood. Cecrops deemed Athenas thebetter gift. As the winner,
Athena named the city afterherself (Athens, of course). At the
Acropolis, the citadel wasnamed Cecropia in honor of Cecrops.
