King of Athens

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 1068- 1048 BC.
*Acastus 1048 - 1012 BC.
*Archippus 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).