Aegina (mythology)
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'''Aegina''' was a figure of [[Greek mythology]], the [[nymph]] of the island that bears her name, [[Aegina]], lying in the [[Saronic Gulf]] between [[Attica]] and the [[Peloponnesos]]. The archaic [[Temple of Aphaea]], the "Invisible Goddess", on the island was later subsumed by the cult of [[Athena]]. ''Aphaia'' may be read as an attribute of Aegina that provides an epithet, or as a doublet.
Though the name ''Aegina'' betokens a goat-nymph, such as was Cretan [[Amalthea (mythology)|Amalthea]], she was given a mainland identity as the daughter of the river-god [[Asopus]] and the nymph [[Metope (mythology)|Metope]]; of their twelve or twenty daughters, many were ravished by [[Apollo]] or [[Zeus]]. Aegina bore at least two children: [[Menoetius (mythology)| Menoetius]] by [[Actor (mythology)|Actor]], and [[Aeacus]] by [[Zeus]], both of whom became kings.
The mortal son Menoetius was king of [[Opus, Greece|Opus]], and was counted among the [[Argonauts]]. His son was [[Patroclus]], [[Achilles]]' cousin through their paternal family connection to Aegina, best friend or lover.
The son made immortal, Aeacus, was the king of [[Aegina]], and was known to have contributed help to [[Poseidon]] and [[Apollo]] in building the walls of [[Troy]]. Through him Aegina was the great-grandmother of Achilles, who was son of [[Peleus]], son of Aeacus.
==The Abduction of Aegina==
It was often said<ref>''[[Bibliotheke]] 3.x11.2; [[Pindar]], ''Isthmian Odes'' viii and ''Nemean Odes'' viii; [[Ovid]], ''[[Metamorphoses (poem)|Metamorphoses]]'' vi.``3.</ref> that [[Zeus]] took the form of an eagle and abducted Aegina, taking her to an island near [[Attica]],<ref>A [[mythic inversion]], as Aegina simply was the nymph of the island, whose culture, continuous from an early date, long preceded the introduction of the [[Twelve Olympians|Olympian gods]]. Ceramic fragments at Aegina attest to trade with [[Minoan Crete]] and with the [[Cyclades]].</ref> then called Oenone;<ref>"Wine Island", thus not an indigenous name after all: the introduction of [[viticulture]] provides many [[mytheme]]s for the Hellenes.</ref> henceforth known by her name. Aegina's father Asopus chased after them; his search took him to [[Corinth]], where [[Sisyphus]] was king. Sisyphus, having chanced to see a great bird bearing a maiden away to a nearby island, informed Asopus. Though Asopus pursued them, Zeus threw down his thunderbolts, sending Asopus back to his own waters. Aegina eventually gave birth to her son [[Aeacus]], who became king of the island. For his troubles, Sisyphus was punished in [[Hades]] by having to forever roll a stone uphill which continually rolled back down before he could complete his task.
==Myrmidons==
When the city of Aegina was depopulated by a plague sent by [[Hera]] in jealous reprisal for Zeus's love of Aegina, the king Aeacus prayed to Zeus for the ants that were currently infesting an oak tree to morph into humans to repopulate his kingdom. Thus the [[myrmidons]] were created.
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
==References==
*[[Robert Graves]], ''The Greek Myths'' (1955) 1960, 66.b.1; 67.f; 138.b.
*[[Edith Hamilton]], ''[[Mythology (book)|Mythology]]'' (1940) 1942 Mentor
[[Category:Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Nymphs]]
[[br:Aigina]]
[[bg:Егина (митология)]]
[[ca:Egina (mitologia)]]
[[cs:Aigína]]
[[da:Aigina]]
[[de:Aigina (Nymphe)]]
[[es:Egina (mitología)]]
[[fr:Égine (mythologie)]]
[[it:Egina (mitologia)]]
[[lt:Egina]]
[[hu:Aigina]]
[[nl:Aegina (Griekse mythologie)]]
[[pl:Ajgina]]
[[ru:Эгина]]
[[fi:Aigina (mytologia)]]
[[sv:Aigine]]
[[tr:Aegina]]
[[uk:Егіна (німфа)]]