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, 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).