Aegina

Aegina was the island located in the Saronic Gulf, east of the coast of Argolis. Aegina was originally called Oenone or Oenopia.

Aegina was named after the daughter of river-god Asopus, in Sicyonia. Zeus fell in love with Aegina, transformed himself into a flame, and abducted the maiden. Zeus brought her to the island of Oenone. Aegina became the mother of Aeacus (Aiacos). The island was then renamed to Aegina.

Asopus went searching for his daughter, but could not find her. Sisyphus, king of Corinth, had seen Zeus take Aegina to the island. Sisyphus told Asopus where Zeus had taken his daughter. Asopus tried to take his daughter back, but was driven away by Zeus' thunderbolts.

Zeus later punished Sisyphus for informing against him. Sisyphus spent his time in Tartarus eternally pushing a boulder up the hill, which would always roll back down before he could reach its peak. See also Sisyphus in the Aeolids.

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Aegina became the mother of Aeacus. Aeacus became king of the island of Aegina. As the son of Zeus, Aeacus was persecuted by Hera, his father's jealous wife. Hera sent a pestilence that killed the entire population. Aeacus prayed to his father (Zeus) to repopulate the island. Zeus answered his son's prayer by transforming the boundless ants into humans. These people became known as the Myrmidons. The Myrmidons were strong and hardy people. They were excellent workers and soldiers.

Aeacus was the mortal who helped the gods, Poseidon and Apollo, to build the wall around Troy. Aeacus had three sons. By his wife Endeïs, he had two sons: Peleus and Telamon.

Aeacus also had one son named Phocus by his mistress Psamathe, a Nereïd and the sister of Thetis. Peleus and Telamon envied their half-brother's athletic prowess, who had become Aeacus' favourite son. At Endeïs' urging, Peleus murdered his half-brother Phocus. Aeacus banished both Peleus and Telamon from Aegina. Peleus went to Phthia, Thessaly, while Telamon went to the nearby island of Salamis. Telamon tried to plead with his father that he was innocent, but Aeacus ignored Telamon's pleas.

Since Phocus' sons - Crisus, Naubolus and Panopeus - had already migrated to Phocis, Aeacus had no heir to succeed him.

Aeacus became an attendant of Themis, goddess of justice, along with Minos and Rhadamanthys, the two sons of Zeus and Europa. They were the three judges in the Underworld, presiding over the souls of the dead.

See Wrath of Heaven and the family tree of the Aeacides.