The Athenians thought themselves the original inhabitants of Attica; for which reason they were called "Sons of the Earth;" and "grasshoppers." They sometimes, therefore, wore golden grasshoppers in their hair, as badges of honour, to distinguish themselves from the people of later origin and less noble extraction; because these insects are supposed to be sprung from the ground. "Our origin," said Socrates, "is so beautiful, that none of the Greeks can give such pure appellations to their country as we can. We can truly style the earth on which we tread our nurse, our mother, our father." [Illustration: ATHENS] It was governed by seventeen kings, in the following order:-- After a reign of fifty years, Cecrops was succeeded by B.C. Cranaus 1506 Amphictyon 1497 Ericthonius 1487 Pandion 1437 Erictheus 1397 Cecrops II. 1347 Pandion II. 1307 Ægeus 1283 Theseus 1235 Menestheus 1205 Demophoon 1282 Oxyntes 1149 Aphidas 1137 Thymoetes 1336 Melanthus 1128 Codrus 1091 The history of the first twelve monarchs is, for the most part, fabulous. Athens was founded by Cecrops, who led a colony out of Egypt, and built twelve towns, of which he composed a kingdom. Amphictyon, the third king of Athens, procured a confederacy between twelve nations, who met every year at Thermopylæ, there to consult over their affairs in general, as also upon those of each nation in particular. This convention was called the assembly of the Amphictyons. The reign of Ægeus is remarkable for the Argonautic expedition, the war of Minos, and the story of Theseus and Ariadne. Ægeus was succeeded by his son, Theseus, whose exploits belong more to fable than to history. The last king was Codrus, who devoted himself to die for his people. After Codrus, the title of king was extinguished among the Athenians: his son was set at the head of the commonwealth, with the title of Archon, which after a time was declared to be an annual office. After this Draco was allowed to legislate, and then Solon. The laws of the former were so severe, that they were said to be written in blood. Those of the latter were of a different character. Pisistratus acquired ascendancy; became a despot, and was assassinated: whereon the Athenians recovered their liberties, and Hippias, the son of Pisistratus, in vain attempted to re-establish a tyranny. The Athenians, sometime after, burnt Sardis, a city of the Persians, in conjunction with the Ionians; and, to revenge this, Darius invaded Greece, but was conquered at Marathon by Miltiades. Xerxes soon after invaded Attica, and the Athenians having taken to their "wooden walls," their city was burnt to the ground.