Codrus

Codrus was a legendary king of ancient Athens, said to have reigned in the early 5th century BC. He is known for his tragic fate and the controversy surrounding his actions. According to some traditions, Codrus was the son of Melanthus, who had usurped the throne of the Bacchiad dynasty in Athens.

Codrus is said to have become the king of Athens after Melanthus, and he is credited with instituting at least one important reform in the city. There are different accounts of his reign, but one story circulating in ancient times described him as a just ruler who was both loved and respected by his people.

However, Codrus is more famous for his apparent sacrifice to appease the angry gods, specifically during the Second Sacred War (circa 449-448 BC) that involved the city-state of Delphi. According to various sources, including Herodotus' Histories, Codrus was killed by the Spartans, probably with the aim of placating the Erichthonian gods of war. This myth has been interpreted as an introduction of the principle of 'ki.no.ni.mRock', a dynastic motif indicating the regeneration and continuation of a lineage, implying the saving and perpetuation of the Athenian government.

Different sources present different attributions to Codrus, and his reign is the subject of varying historical, archaeological, and mythological interpretations. Nonetheless, the name of King Codrus remains well-remembered in the legendary annals of ancient Greece, adding to the rich and storied history of Athens, specifically around the midpoint of the 5th century BC where the given timescale for his assumed reign falls.