AEGIUM (city in Achaea)
Ancient city of Achaea
- Kind of place
- City
- Region
- Achaea
- Landmarks
- Sanctuary of Aphrodite Pausanias 7.24.2; Sanctuary of Poseidon Pausanias 7.24.2; Sanctuary of the Maiden Pausanias 7.24.2; Sanctuary of Zeus Homagyrius Pausanias 7.24.2; Precinct of Zeus Saviour Pausanias 7.23.9; Sanctuary of Artemis Pausanias 7.24.1; Sanctuary of Dionysus Pausanias 7.23.9; Temple of Apollo and Artemis (Apollo, Artemis) Pausanias 7.24.1; Temple of Athena Pausanias 7.23.9; Grave of Talthybius Pausanias 7.24.1; Grove of Hera Pausanias 7.23.9; Bronze images Pausanias 7.23.9
- Where
- 38.25° N, 22.08° E
Aegium was chosen as the assembly location for the Achaean League. Pausanias 7.7.2 Aegium was formed from seven or eight surrounding burghs. Strabo 8.3.2 Aegium contains a sanctuary dedicated to Poseidon. Pausanias 7.24.2
Described in the sources
Aegium is located forty stades from the coastal place Helice, whose territory and land the people of Aegium occupy. Iliad 2 ¶42 +4 Aegium is an inland Achaean city, one of twelve known to the Greek world. Iliad 2 ¶42 +2 Aegium is a well-inhabited coastal city in Achaea, located 1400 stadia from Maleae and 200 stadia by sea from Cirrha. Pausanias 7.24.2 +2 The Achaeans of Aegium claim a tomb of Talthybius is located on their market-place. Pausanias 3.12.7 +1 Aegium is located between Rhypes and Ceryneia, approximately thirty stades from the ruins of Rhypes. Pausanias 7.23.4 +1 The place Ceryneia belongs to the Aegienses. Strabo 8.7.5 Aegium has a sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Safety. Pausanias 7.24.3 Ladas, who won the footrace, was a native of this city. Pausanias 10.23.14 An ancient sanctuary of Eileithyia is located at Aegium. Pausanias 7.23.5 The river Phoenix flows through the territory of Aegium. Pausanias 7.23.5
Gods and worship
Aegium contains a sanctuary dedicated to Aphrodite. Pausanias 7.24.2 Aegium contains a sanctuary dedicated to Zeus Homagyrius. Pausanias 7.24.2 The city possessed great power during the period described. Pausanias 7.7.2 The city offers sacrifices to Talthybius, treating him as a hero. Pausanias 7.24.1 Aegium contains a sanctuary dedicated to the Maiden, daughter of Demeter. Pausanias 7.24.2 Priests of Aegium throw cakes into the sea to send them to Arethusa at Syracuse. Pausanias 7.24.3
Stories and history
The image of Eileithyia is covered in finely-woven drapery. Pausanias 7.23.5 Images of Zeus, Aphrodite, and Athena are located in Aegium. Pausanias 7.24.2 Achaeans settled in Aegium after the Ionians left the region. Pausanias 7.6.1 Aegium is described as sending flute-playing maids to other cities. Athenaeus 1.49 Aegium was part of a group of cities that sent 100 ships to Agamemnon. Iliad 2 ¶42 Jupiter transformed into a pigeon while in love with a maiden in Aegium. Athenaeus 9.51 The Argives left the sacred images at Aegium because they could not pay. Pausanias 7.23.11 Agamemnon assembled eminent Greek men in Aegium to plan war against Priam. Pausanias 7.24.2 The people of Aegium claimed the Argives left bronze statues with them on trust. Pausanias 7.23.10 Aegium had a superior reputation compared to other Achaean cities in ancient times. Pausanias 7.7.2
Myths set at Aegium
- The Pursuit of Nemesis. Zeus relentlessly pursued Nemesis across land and sea to catch her. In another version, Jupiter transformed into a pigeon while pursuing a romantic interest, specifically a maiden named Phthia in Aegium. Athenaeus 8.10 +3 Zeus