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Mythology relates that Aegina
is named after the daughter of Asopos who was abducted by
Zeus The god transported her to the then deserted island
and Aegina,  Aphaia
fathered a son, Aiakos, who afterwards became one of the
three judges of the underworld. According to archaeological
evidence, Aegina was inhabited from the Neolithic era and
is considered to be the birthplace of Aristophanes. Pausanias
writes that near the harbor there were temples dedicated
to Aphrodite, Apollo, Artemis, Dionysus and Asclepiads.
Nothing of these remain but a single Doric column from the
6th Century, the Temple of Apollo on the small picturesque
hillock, called "Kolona".
The most  important
archaeological site lies to the east island near Agia Marina,
where the Temple of Aphasia, a very ancient goddess once
patroness of Aegina, is situated. The first temple was erected
in 570 BC and destroyed some sixty years later.
The temple whose remains we see today was built on the same
spot out of limestone from the vicinity. Traces of the original
temple can be seen in the foundations of this Doric building.
On the same site there are also ruins of the Propylene Altar
and parts of the Sanctuary.
Aphasia, a goddess little known to the Greeks, was subsequently
replaced by Athena, to encourage them during the Trojan
War. Scenes from that epic conflict are depicted on the
temple pediments. This is why the temple is known today
as Aphaia-Athena.  Finds
excavated in the area, such as sculptures, pottery and the
likes are ion display in the Archaeological Museum of Aegina.
The fine arts, and especially sculpture, blossomed on the
island from earliest times and the Aeginetan workshop had
an established reputation by the 6th and 5th Century. The
Middle Ages also left their mark on Aegina. Just 6.5 km,
from the port, opposite the Monastery of Agios Nektarios,
there is a low hill covered with the ruins of the abandoned
city of Palaiochora. This was the capital of the island
from the 9th to early 19th Century. Crowning the summit
are the remnants of the medieval castle where the population
sought refuge during pirate raids. In the heyday, Paliochora
could survive, many with memorable wall paintings.
South of the capital is the seaside village of Marathon,
followed by the fishing port of Perdika (9 km). From Perdika
small boats ferry visitors to the picturesque islets of
Angistri and Moni, ideal spots from enjoying nature, solitude
and relaxing pursuits.
The road to the northeast of the island cuts through pistachio
and olive groves to the village of Kipseli and the small
basilica of St. Theodore (1282). It then proceeds to the
seaside hamlet of Souvala, winding up at Agia Marina (14),
a village known for its long sandy beach, the biggest on
Aegina; it is the most popular resort on the island. Nowadays
Aegina is famous for its pistachios and its ceramics.
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