Aegina

Aegina (ancient Greek. Αϊγινα) - in Greek mythology [1], naiad, the daughter of the river god Aconitum, kidnapped by Zeus and bore him a son Eaka, reputed to be the most pious and just among the Greeks.
Aegina - ancient trading port, some time was the capital of the Greek state. The main attraction of the island is a temple Afei, built in the 5th century BC, and the monastery of St. Nektariosa.

Aegina even one time was the capital of the Greek state.

 

Currently, the island is famous for pottery and the "Aegina pistachios".
The island of Aegina is one of the most prestigious in Greece. Scattered here and there luxury villas belonging to the representatives of the Greek nobility, striking for its luxurious decoration. The reason for the popularity - the beauty of the azure coast and landscapes never seen in conjunction with the ruins of ancient temples. 

Aegina - the largest island in the Gulf  Sardonic. In the coastal plains lie the vast groves of almonds, olives, grapes, and pistachio trees. Pistachio trees were brought here from Syria, a hundred years ago. The local peanuts are the best in the world. Aegina is also famous for its pottery.
Of all the islands of the Gulf Sardonic - Aegina is the most interesting from a historical point of view.  Information about it appeared 4000 years ago. Aegina was inhabited from Neolithic times, as evidenced by findings in the area near the town of Aegina columns, dating from around 3000 BC. Later came the Minoans on the island, and then - the Achaeans and Dorians.

From the middle of the II millennium BC Aegina developing trade and at the same time asserting itself as a powerful maritime power. Its ships carrying food and mostly pottery in the Cyclades, Crete and mainland Greece.
The Phoenicians called it the "Island of the pigeons."
The name of the island of Aegina was named after the nymph Aegina (the most beautiful of the daughters of the river god twenty ASOP). Loving Zeus, taking the form of a flame, kidnapped her and settled on the island. The first king of Aegina was Aeacus, son of Zeus and Aegina, renowned for his wisdom and wit.
Myth says that there in Hades, Aeacus even invented laws for the shadows. Rather, it means that Aegina laws were adopted in other areas of Greece.

Apparently, the code of laws drawn up in Aegina, regulate business, not criminal cases. After all, Aegina was a flourishing independent state with the free population and an important trading center. And the flourishing of the island has to VII-V century BC, that is, at a time when Greece is actively developing seafaring and trade. Local shipowners superior richness and turnover of Athens.

In the history of ancient Greece, it was one of the famous islands, which for the first time in Europe began to mint its silver coin. Aegina drachmas on the right side had a picture of sea turtle on the reverse side were the marks of thorns, on which rested a coin during the minting, they weighed about 6, the coins were in circulation before the Roman period and are found from Spain to the Caucasus. Here were developed system of weights and measures, which then spread throughout the Mediterranean. The significance of Aegina in the classical period is the fact that as a standard measure of precious metals has been widely adopted by Aegina talent.

The only hill of the island overlooking the sea, and its top can be seen from Athens. For the ancient Athenians, it was a constant challenge. After Athens Aegina shut out in the open sea. Aegina - the constant rival of Athens.
At 12 kilometers from the eastern shore of the island of Aegina is a famous temple of Athena Attai (Invisible) - one of the most beautiful Doric temple in ancient Greece. The hill on which the temple was covered with fragrant Mediterranean pine on three sides by the Aegean Sea can be seen, and one through the Saronic Gulf, it is possible to see Athens and the Acropolis. The Temple of Athena Attai almost twin Parthenon on the Acropolis and Temple of Poseidon at Cape Suny. The Temple of Athena built around Attai 495 BC.

From XIII to XV century the island ruled by the Crusaders, then twice - the Venetians. For a long time the island was under the dominion of the Turks. In modern times the island was also in the middle of it. When the Greeks fought for independence from Turkish rule, Aegina was the first capital of independent Greece. It happened in 1828. Within two years it housed the first government of independent Greece, led by John Capodistria. Here was founded the first printing, has released the first free newspaper in Greece and was minted coin with the image of phoenix, the symbol of liberation.

Near the capital city of the island of Aegina, where the port is situated on the coast can be seen the ruins of the Temple of Apollo, built in the 5th century BC.
At the column pretty much completely distinct debris: the remains of the Mycenaean city walls, classical and Roman times and the Archaeological Museum, which provides a small but interesting collection of sculptures and everyday objects from all periods of civilization of the island. Pride and glory of the island is the church of St. Nektarios Miracle Worker, canonization is in the 20th century. The Church - one of the largest Orthodox churches in Eastern Europe.