Explore: Greek Island of Aeginas
Lying in the middle of the Saronic Gulf the island of Aegina (in Greek Aiyina with the first syllable accented) is easily accessible from the port of Athens, Piraeus, Phaleron Bay by hydrofoil, and is a regular stop for small boats traveling to Old Epidauros in the Argolid and the east coast of the Peloponnesus including Paros. The island is relatively uninhabited even today, especially as the water supply continues to come from wells on the island.
The major landmark is the conical mountain “Oros” in the center of the island. The island remains tricky to land on because of the rocks that surround it; the one major landing spot is a shallow draft harbor where the town of Aegina lies. The principal reason to visit the island is the sanctuary that includes the temple of Aphaia which has been destroyed in part by several earthquakes but rebuilt. The temple was investigated as long ago as 1811 at which time the temple sculptures of great beauty were removed and sent to Munich where they are well displayed in the Glyptothek. (There is an excellent model of the entire sanctuary there.) The temple itself is now no longer accessible.
It is a classic example of Doric architecture; the sculptures portrayed scenes from the siege of Troy that include Athena. Hence the title of the Temple is often given as Athena Aphaia even though the original sanctuary was in honor of an earlier goddess. The island is traversed by enough roads and buses so the visitor can get around fairly easily. The small museum in Aegina town has some very fine objects from the Temple and its surrounding area, including prehistoric pieces.
There are also several small churches on the island worth visiting, but the main attraction other than the Temple is the small towns along the sea with their restaurants and swimming. Aegina remains a favorite day trip for many Athenians– a good chance to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city to enjoy a lovely day in peace and quiet.
(Photo by Alun Salt)
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