Demophon of Athens facts for kids

In Greek mythology, Demophon was a brave hero and a king of Athens. He was the son of the famous hero Theseus and Phaedra. Demophon grew up in exile after his father lost his throne.

He later fought in the famous Trojan War, where he was one of the heroes who hid inside the Trojan Horse. After the war, Demophon became king of Athens around 1183 B.C. During his time as king, he helped many people and made important changes. He passed away in Athens in 1150 B.C., and his son Oxyntes became the next king.

Demophon's Story

Early Life and Family

Demophon was the son of Theseus, a legendary king of Athens, and Phaedra. Some stories say his mother was Iope. He had a brother named Acamas and half-siblings like Hippolytus.

When Demophon was young, his father Theseus went on a dangerous journey to the underworld. While he was gone, Theseus lost his throne in Athens to a man named Menestheus. Because of this, Demophon and Acamas had to leave Athens. They grew up in a place called Euboea, cared for by a family friend.

The Trojan War

Demophon freeing Aethra, an ancient Greek vase painting from 470–460 BC.

Demophon joined the Trojan War, which lasted for ten years (around 1193 B.C. to 1183 B.C.). He fought with the Achaeans, who were led by King Agamemnon. Even though he was a brave fighter, the famous poet Homer didn't mention Demophon in his epic poem, the Iliad.

When the city of Troy finally fell, Demophon was one of the heroes who entered the city hidden inside the Trojan Horse. During this time, Demophon and his brother Acamas rescued their grandmother, Aethra. She had been captured years earlier and was a servant to Helen. Sadly, Aethra was so heartbroken by the news of her son Theseus's death that she passed away shortly after. Demophon survived the war, but his journey home was not easy.

A Stop in Thrace

On his way home from the Trojan War, Demophon stopped in Thrace. There, he met and married Phyllis, the daughter of a local king. The very next day, Demophon decided he needed to continue his journey to Athens. He promised Phyllis he would return soon to bring her with him. Phyllis gave him a special box and told him not to open it unless he lost all hope of coming back to Thrace.

Some stories say Demophon went to Cyprus and forgot about Phyllis. Phyllis waited for him every day by the sea, but he never returned. She became very sad and passed away. In some versions of the story, Demophon eventually opened the box, and what he saw was so upsetting that he had a tragic accident. Other stories say he did return to Thrace, but Phyllis was already gone. When he hugged an almond tree, which Phyllis was said to have turned into, it suddenly blossomed.

King of Athens

Many ancient writers agree that Demophon successfully returned home and became the king of Athens. He took over from Menestheus around 1183 B.C.

As king, Demophon was known for his kindness and justice.

• Helping the Heracleidae: He offered safety and land in Athens to the Heracleidae, who were the children of the great hero Heracles. They were running away from their enemy, Eurystheus. An oracle (a wise person who could see the future) told Demophon that Athens would win a battle against Eurystheus only if a noble young woman was sacrificed. Macaria, one of Heracles' daughters, bravely volunteered. A spring was later named the Macarian spring in her honor.
• The Palladium and the Ephetae: Another story tells of a time when the hero Diomedes landed in Athens by mistake after a storm. Not recognizing the land, his men began to cause trouble. King Demophon led his army against them. In the fight, Demophon managed to take the Palladium (a sacred statue from Troy) from Diomedes. However, during the confusion of the night battle, Demophon accidentally caused the death of one of his own Athenian soldiers. To deal with this, Demophon created a special court called the Ephetae. This court was made up of 50 Athenians and 50 Argives, all older than 50. Demophon was the first person to be tried by this court. Even though we don't know the verdict, he continued to rule as king. This court later handled all murder cases in Athens.
• Hosting Orestes: Later, Orestes, who was suffering from a mental illness after avenging his father, came to Athens seeking help during Demophon's reign. Demophon welcomed him and made sure that Orestes did not disrupt any sacred ceremonies during a festival.

Death and Succession

Demophon ruled Athens for 33 years. He passed away in Athens in 1150 B.C. His son, Oxyntes, became the next king. However, Demophon's family only ruled Athens for about 23 years after his death.

Images for kids

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  Demophon freeing Aethra, an ancient Greek vase painting from 470–460 BC.