ÆGINA, in Ancient Geography, an island in the Saronic bay, or bay of Ægina, 20 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 Æginæta, and Æginætes. The Greeks had a common temple dedicated to Jupiter in Ægina. The Æginæta applied to commerce; and were the first who coined money, called Næusæ Æginæta; hence Æginæticum ars, formerly in great repute. The inhabitants were called Myrmidones, or a nation of ants, from their great application to agriculture. See Æacus.
This island was surrounded by Attica, the territory of Megara, and the Peloponnese, each distant about 100 stadia, or 12 miles and a half. In circumference it was reckoned 180 stadia, or 22 miles and a half. It was washed on the east and south by the Myrtoan and Cretan seas.
It is now called Ægina, or Ægina, the g soft and the i short. The temple above mentioned is situated upon the summit of a mountain called Panhellenus, at some distance from the shore. The Æginæta affirmed it was erected by Æacus; in whole time Greece being terribly oppressed by drought, the Delphic oracle was consulted; and the response was, That Jupiter must be rendered propitious by Æacus. The cities entreated him to be their mediator: He sacrificed and prayed to Jupiter Panhellenus, and procured rain.
The temple was of the Doric order, and had six columns in front. Twenty-one of the exterior columns are yet standing, with two in the front of the pronaos, and of the portico, and five of the number which formed the ranges of the cell. The entablature, except the
Egina the architrave, is fallen. The stone is of a light brownish colour, much eaten in many places, and indicating a very great age. Some of the columns have been injured by boring to their centres for the metal. In several, the junction of the parts is so exact, that each seems to consist of one piece. This ruin Mr Chandler considers as scarcely to be paralleled in its claim to a remote antiquity. The situation on a lonely mountain, at a distance from the sea, has preserved it from total demolition, amid all the changes and accidents of numerous centuries.
Near the shore is a barrow, raised, it is related, for Phocus, upon the following occasion. Telamon and Peleus, sons of Aeacus, challenged their half brother Phocus to contend in the Pentathlon. In throwing the stone, which served as a quoit, Peleus hit Phocus, who was killed; when both of them fled. Afterwards Telamon sent a herald to assert his innocence. Aeacus would not suffer him to land, or to apologize, except from the vessel; or, if he chose rather, from a heap cast up in the water. Telamon, entering the private port by night, raised a barrow, as a token, it is likely, of a pious regard for the deceased. He was afterwards condemned, as not free from guilt; and sailed away again to Salamis. The barrow in the second century, when seen by Paufanias, was surrounded with a fence, and had on it a rough stone. The terror of some dreadful judgment to be inflicted from heaven had preserved it entire and unaltered to his time; and in a country depopulated and neglected, it may still endure for many ages.
The soil of this island is, as described by Strabo, very stony, especially the bottoms, but in some places not unfertile in grain. Besides corn, it produces olives, grapes, and almonds; and abounds in pigeons and partridges. It has been related, that the Eginetans annually wage war with the feathered race, carefully collecting or breaking their eggs, to prevent their multiplying, and in consequence a yearly famine. They have no hares, foxes, or wolves. The rivers in summer are all dry. The waiwode or governor farms the revenue of the Grand Signior for 12 purshes, or 6000 pistahes. About half this sum is repaid yearly by the caratch-money, or poll tax.