"Three daughters of Cecrops discovering infant Erichthonius " (see details), Jacob Jordaens (1593-1678) Antwerp Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerp, Belgium

As in other mythic stories, Erichthonius (the first King of Athens), was "found" by the three daughters of Cecrops, then the King of Athens (Athens was known as "Cecropia"). Also, as in other mythic stories (which persist among "moderns"), this birth had a link with virginity - once Athena (a virgin) visited Hephaestus - he tried to rape her, but his semen fell on her thigh and eventually on the ground from which arose malformed Erichthonius - Athena felt sorry for the infant and placed it in a box - Athena gave the box to the three daughters of Cecrops - much drama follows because Athena ordered the box to remain closed - as with Pandora's Box, the box was opened and tragedy followed - and now "moderns" seek to open what is in the "modern" equivalent, a pregnant uterus (for which there is a price to pay usually by the infant to be) - furthermore, the "moderns" are also fond of stories aimed at boys and naive men stressing the sins implicit in spilling semen or masturbation.   

The association of skin scales (here depicted as snake and chicken legs) with lack of limbs is well documented by tragic instances of children born with "ichthyosis" (fish like skin scales) and missing legs (see details of the above illustration).