ÆGINA, (anc. geogr.) now Engia, an island on the Saronic Bay, or Bay of Engia, twenty miles distant from the Piræus, formerly vying with Athens for naval power, and at the sea-fight of Salamis disputing the palm of victory with the Athenians. It was the country and kingdom of Æacus, who called it Ægina from his mother's name, it being before called Oenopia, (Ovid.) The inhabitants were called Æginætes, and Æginænsis. The Greeks had a common temple in Ægina. The soil was gleby underneath, but rocky on the surface; yet yielding plenty of barley. The Æginætes applied to commerce; and were the first who coined money, called Νομισμα Ἄγιναι: hence Ægineticum æs, formerly in great repute. The inhabitants were called Myrmidones, or a nation of ants, from their great application to agriculture. See Æacus.