In Greek mythology, Aegina was a daughter of the river god Asopus and the nymph Metope. She bore at least two children: Menoetius by Actor, and Aeacus by Zeus. When Zeus abducted Aegina, he took her to Oenone, an island close to Attica. This island would later be called Aegina. Here, Aegina gave birth to Aeacus, who would later become king of Oenone; thenceforth, the island's name was Aegina.
Aegina was the gathering place of Myrmidons; in Aegina they gathered and trained. Zeus needed an elite army and at first thought that Aegina, which at the time did not have any villagers, was the perfect place. So he turned the ants (Greek: Μυρμύγκια, Myrmigia) into warriors who had 6 hands and wore black armor. Later, the Myrmidons, led by Achilles, were known as the most fearsome fighting unit in Greece.
Famous Aeginetans
• Aeacus, the first king of Aegina according to mythology
• Smilis (6th century BC), sculptor
• Onatas (5th century BC), sculptor
• Ptolichus (5th century BC), sculptor
• Cosmas II Atticus (12th century), Patriarch of Constantinople
• Paul of Aegina (7th century), medical scholar and physician
• Saint Athanasia of Aegina (9th century), abbess and saint
The influential Leoussi family originated on the isle of Aigina; their roots go as far back as the 15th century
