Aegina is an island in the Saronic Gulf, south of Athens. It was one of Greece's early maritime powers, famous for minting the earliest coins in Greece which were accepted all over the Mediterranean region. According to the classical writer Ovid (43 BCE - 17 CE), the island was originally known as Oenone. As the myth explains, the god Zeus, in the shape of a great flame, carried off the nymph Aegina and kept her on the island. In time, she gave birth to a son, Aeacus, who renamed the island after his mother.
More about: Aegina7 days left
Server Costs Fundraiser 2024
Help our mission to provide free history education to the world! Please donate and contribute to covering our server costs in 2024. With your support, millions of people learn about history entirely for free every month.
$12729 / $18000
Definition
Timeline
-
c. 3000 BCEAegina inhabited during Neolithic period.
-
c. 700 BCECoins first minted on the island of Aegina.
-
c. 570 BCEFirst Temple of Aphaia complex built on Aegina.
-
510 BCEFire Destroys the Temple of Aphaia complex and other structures.
-
c. 501 BCEAegina's culture is at its height.
-
c. 490 BCE - c. 480 BCESupremacy of Aegina's naval fleet. Temple of Aphaia rebuilt.
-
480 BCEAegina's fleet participates significantly in the Battle of Salamis. Aegina awarded the victory wreath.
-
459 BCE - c. 456 BCEAthens conquers Aegina. Island becomes subject/ally of Athens. Begins to decline.