Athens is a city in Attica in mainland Greeceand its natives are called Athenians. The district of Attica was formerly called Acte or Actaea in the time of Actaeus, and Cecropia in the times of Cecrops, since usually tyrants, who love honours, call many things after themselves.
The Athenians were called "sons of the soil", which means they have belonged to the land eternally. "Son of the Soil" is not the same as "Son of Earth (Gaia)". The children of the soil have neither father nor mother, and therefore they just arise from the ground like a plant does. A descendant of Deucalion, Amphictyon, took over power in Athens for twelve years, but otherwise the "sons of the soil" ruled almost without interruptions until Melanthus became king.
