Codrus

1000 Classical Characters (1900)

The last king of Athens , son of Melanthus. When the Heraclidae made war against Athens, the oracle said that the victory would be granted to that nation whose king was killed in battle. The Heraclidae on hearing this gave orders to spare the life of Codrus, but the patriotic king disguised himself, and, engaging with one of the enemy, was killed. The Athenians obtained the victory, and Codrus was regarded as the savior of his country. Coelus or Uranus. An ancient deity supposed to be the father of Saturn, Oceanus, and Hyperion . Colchis or Colchos. A country of Asia famous for the expedition of the Argonauts, and as being the birthplace of Medea . Collatinus, L. Tarquinius. A nephew of Tarquin the Proud. He married Lucretia . He, with Brutus, drove the Tarquins from Rome. Colonia Agrippina , or Agrippinensis (Cologne on the Rhine). Originally the chief town of the Ubii, and called Oppidum, or Civitas Ubiorum, was a place of small importance till A. D. 51, when a Roman colony was planted in the town by the emperor Cladius, at the instigation of his wife Agrippina, who was born here, and from whom it derived its new name. It soon became a large and flourishing city, and was the capital of Lower Germany. 2026 Editor's Note: Codrus is traditionally identified as the final semi-mythical King of Athens, with his reign dated to approximately 1089–1068 BC. Following his death, his son Medon is said to have transitioned the city's leadership by ruling as the first Archon of Athens. According to legend, Codrus traced his lineage back to the sea-god Poseidon through his father Melanthus. (Ed: BR 2026-07-16)