The Erechtheion, not the Parthenon, was the true working sanctuary of the Acropolis. Named after Erechtheus, a mythical king of Athens, it housed the cults of Athena and Poseidon. According to legend, the two gods had a contest for the city's favor: Poseidon created a salt spring by striking the ground with his trident, but Athena won when she produced an olive tree. The Erechtheion thus served as a reminder of the city's mythic beginnings.