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.
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Definition
Timeline
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c. 3000 BCEAegina inhabited during Neolithic period.
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c. 700 BCECoins first minted on the island of Aegina.
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c. 570 BCEFirst Temple of Aphaia complex built on Aegina.
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510 BCEFire Destroys the Temple of Aphaia complex and other structures.
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c. 501 BCEAegina's culture is at its height.
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c. 490 BCE - c. 480 BCESupremacy of Aegina's naval fleet. Temple of Aphaia rebuilt.
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480 BCEAegina's fleet participates significantly in the Battle of Salamis. Aegina awarded the victory wreath.
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459 BCE - c. 456 BCEAthens conquers Aegina. Island becomes subject/ally of Athens. Begins to decline.
