ÆGEAN SEA, in Ancient Geography, now the Archipelago, a part of the Mediterranean, bounded on the north by Thrace and Macedonia, on the west by Greece, and on the east by Asia Minor. The origin of the name is greatly disputed. Festus advances three opinions: one, that it is so called from the many islands therein appearing at a distance like so many goats; another, because Ægea, queen of the Amazons, perished in it; a third, because Ægeus, the father of Theseus, threw himself headlong into it. See ARCHIPELAGO.