DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4098#0618
ISLAND OF JEGINA. 56S
subsequent history of iEgina is little known. According to Coro-
nelli,1 Galeotta Malatesta, who married the daughter of Anthony,
king of Boeotia, was duke of the island. It afterwards fell under
the Venetian power. It was taken by Frederick Barbarossa in
1537, and was sacked by Francis Morosini in 1654, for its disobe-
dience to the will of the Venetian republic. At present it is inha-
bited only by a thin population of Greeks. The principal town is
between the great port, and the temple of Jupiter Panhellenios.
Bat a new town is gradually making its appearance near the old
port: a little commerce is carrying on with the neighbouring
coast, and the inhabitants have the character of industry and
honesty. The port has taken the name of Saint Nicholas, from
a small church which is near it. As this saint is the protector of
sailors, there is scarcely a oort in Greece which has not a church
or a chapel dedicated to him.
Every profession, and indeed almost every pursuit and passion,
had in ancient times some presiding tutelary divinity. Such is
nearly the case at this day throughout Greece.
This port is difficult of access, owing to the number of rocks
which rise just above the water's edge, and which, according to
Pausanias,2 tradition attributed to iEacus, by whom they were
contrived, for the protection of his port against the irruption of
pirates.
The view from this place is interesting and beautiful, command-
ing the rugged lines of the promontory of Methana, with the more
distant Epidaurean mountains, stretching down towards the Corin-
thian isthmus. The northern vicinity of iEgina is varied by several
small islands, which are the nW'** mentioned by Strabo.3 Their
modern names are Angistri, Moni, Perdlca, Met5pi, and Darousa,
besides other nameless rocks : these may be the " Craugiae dure," the
" Cseciae dure/' Selachusa, Dacenchris, and Aspis of Pliny,* which
1 Morea, Negroponte, &c. parte seconda, p. 189. 8 B. 2. c. 29.
3 B. 8. p. 375. * Nat. Hist. b. 4. c. 12.
4 c 2
subsequent history of iEgina is little known. According to Coro-
nelli,1 Galeotta Malatesta, who married the daughter of Anthony,
king of Boeotia, was duke of the island. It afterwards fell under
the Venetian power. It was taken by Frederick Barbarossa in
1537, and was sacked by Francis Morosini in 1654, for its disobe-
dience to the will of the Venetian republic. At present it is inha-
bited only by a thin population of Greeks. The principal town is
between the great port, and the temple of Jupiter Panhellenios.
Bat a new town is gradually making its appearance near the old
port: a little commerce is carrying on with the neighbouring
coast, and the inhabitants have the character of industry and
honesty. The port has taken the name of Saint Nicholas, from
a small church which is near it. As this saint is the protector of
sailors, there is scarcely a oort in Greece which has not a church
or a chapel dedicated to him.
Every profession, and indeed almost every pursuit and passion,
had in ancient times some presiding tutelary divinity. Such is
nearly the case at this day throughout Greece.
This port is difficult of access, owing to the number of rocks
which rise just above the water's edge, and which, according to
Pausanias,2 tradition attributed to iEacus, by whom they were
contrived, for the protection of his port against the irruption of
pirates.
The view from this place is interesting and beautiful, command-
ing the rugged lines of the promontory of Methana, with the more
distant Epidaurean mountains, stretching down towards the Corin-
thian isthmus. The northern vicinity of iEgina is varied by several
small islands, which are the nW'** mentioned by Strabo.3 Their
modern names are Angistri, Moni, Perdlca, Met5pi, and Darousa,
besides other nameless rocks : these may be the " Craugiae dure," the
" Cseciae dure/' Selachusa, Dacenchris, and Aspis of Pliny,* which
1 Morea, Negroponte, &c. parte seconda, p. 189. 8 B. 2. c. 29.
3 B. 8. p. 375. * Nat. Hist. b. 4. c. 12.
4 c 2