THE NAIAD NYMPH AEGINA IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Many of the surviving stories from Greek mythology deal with the love life of Zeus and his conquests of mortals and immortals. One example of a lover of Zeus is Aegina, and although not as famous as Danae, Europa or Leda, Aegina would bear Zeus a son, the hero Aeacus.
Aegina Daughter of Asopos
Aegina was a Naiad nymph; Naiad nymphs being water nymphs who were normally the offspring of Potamoi (River Gods). The father of Aegina was indeed a river god, Asopos, the god of the river Asopos in Sicyon.
Although not always noted, it was generally considered that the mother of Aegina was Metope, who herself was a Naiad nymph, the daughter of Ladon. |
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Asopos was known for fathering 20 beautiful daughters, of whom he was greatly protective, although this did not stop Zeus having his way with the likes of Thebe and Plataea, and his brother, Poseidon, also took advantage of Salamis and Euboia.
The protectiveness of Asopos also could not stop the advances of Zeus when it came to Aegina.
The protectiveness of Asopos also could not stop the advances of Zeus when it came to Aegina.
Aegina Abducted
Having decided that Aegina would be his next conquest, Zeus transformed himself in an eagle, just as he did with Ganymede, and flew off with the Naiad nymph in his clutches. Zeus would fly with Aegina to the island of Oenone.
The abduction of Aegina had actually gone unnoticed by Aposos, but the river god was soon informed of events by King Sisyphus of Ephyra. Informing on the actions of Zeus was just one of the indiscretions of Sisyphus which would see him tortured in Tartarus for eternity. |
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When Aposos travelled towards Oenone to retrieve his daughter, Zeus threw down several thunderbolts and warning shots, and so Aposos had to return to the Peloponnesus without his daughter.
The Sons of AeginaFree to do as he wished with Aegina, Zeus would lie with the Naiad, and from the relationship, Aegina would give birth to Aeacus.
To honour Aegina, Zeus would have the name of the island of Oenone changed to Aegina, and although Aeacus would become king of the island, Aegina did not remain there. Aegina would subsequently find herself married to a mortal prince, Prince Actor of Phocis, the son of King Deioneus. This marriage of Aegina and Deioneus would bring forth another son for Aegina, the hero Menoetius, future king of Opus, and one of the Argonauts. Through her sons Aegina would become grandmother and great-grandmother to other famous heroes. For Menoetius was father to Patroclus, whilst Aeacus was the father of Telamon and Peleus, and therefore this son of Aegina was grandfather to Teucer and Ajax the Greater, and of course Achilles. |
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