The naming of Athens Flashcards
Who was the first king of Athens?
Cecrops
Which historical writer wrote about the naming of Athens?
Pausanias
Which two gods were competing over Athens?
Poseidon and Athena
What tasks were the competing gods told to fulfill?
the gods were told to each present a gift for the the people of the city
What was Athens called before the competition?
Cecropia
What was Poseidon’s gift?
a salt water spring
What was Athena’s gift?
an olive tree
Who did the people of the city vote for?
Athena
Why did the people of the city vote for Athena?
because her gift was more useful, whilst Poseidon’s water was not even drinkable
How did Athena win the city vote, who had majority vote?
All the men voted for Poseidon, and all the women voted for Athena.
There was more women then men in Athens.
Who got angry about the result and what did they do about it?
Poseidon wanted to fight Athena as he thought he was stronger, but their fight was disrupted by Zeus
What does Zeus suggest to settle dispute
Make the gods of Mount Olympus vote
Who wins the vote from the gods?
Athena
How does Athena win the vote from the gods
All the male gods voted for Poseidon, and all the female goddesses voted for Athena.
Zeus abstained from the vote so Athena won by a single vote
What was built in honour of Athena’s victory?
The Parthenon on the acropolis
How did Poseidon punish the Athenians?
Made it so they could not travel by sea
What did the Athenians do to respond to Poseidons wrath
Go to the oracle of Delphi
What did the oracle tell the Athenians
Poseidon’s rage will only be diminished if the women of Athens were punished
What were the women of Athens’ punishment
They lost the right to vote
What was built on the Acropolis to please Poseidon
The Erechtheion
What is believed to be in the Erechtheion
Athena’s olive tree
What is special about the place of the Erechtheion
Believed to be where Poseidon struck the Acropolis with his trident
