In Greek mythology, Cranaus (also spelled Kranaos) was the second mythical King of Athens, who succeeded Cecrops I. Like his predecessor he was an autochthon, said to have been born from the earth, and he was supposed to have reigned for about nine years. The great flood associated with Deucalion was said to have occurred during his reign. He was eventually deposed by Amphictyon, the son of Deucalion.
Adapted from Wikipedia, "Cranaus" · CC BY-SA 4.0
I.Family
Cranaus married Pedias, a Spartan woman and a daughter of Mynes. With her he had three daughters: Cranaë, Cranaechme, and Atthis.
His daughter Atthis is said to have given her name to the region of Attica after she died. In some accounts Rarus is also named as a son of Cranaus.
II.Reign
Cranaus was supposed to have reigned for nine years and, like his predecessor Cecrops I, was an autochthon, that is, born from the earth itself. The flood associated with the story of Deucalion is said to have occurred during his reign.
III.Deposition and death
Cranaus was deposed by Amphictyon, son of Deucalion, who in turn was himself later deposed by Erichthonius. After being overthrown, Cranaus fled to Lamptrae, where he died and was buried, and he came to be venerated as a hero at Athens.
IV.Legacy of the name
The people of Attica were called Kranaoi after Cranaus, and Athens itself was known as Kranaa or Kranaai.