As early as the Archaic period, Aegina had protective walls around its settlement.
Bibliography (1)
- Frederiksen, R.; Greek City Walls of the Archaic Period, 900-480 BC (Oxford Monographs on Classical Archaeology)
The polis of Aegina lay on a mountainous volcanic island in the Saronic Gulf, between Attica and the Peloponnese. "Its geographical location explains its importance in trade between Greek states and around the Mediterranean basin from the earliest moments of history. The island had trading relations with the Cyclades, with the cities along the coast of Anatolia and with Egypt. Remains testify to uninterrupted occupation and intense relations with the population centres of the Peloponnese, as well as close ties with the Cyclades and southern Greece." (Stillwell, 1976:19) Its power was neutralised by Athens at the beginning of the 5th century BC.
Borders
Markers: horoi, phrouria, sanctuaries, harbours.
Museum
Archaeological object
Aegina was the first Greek polis in the Balkan Peninsula to adopt coinage, at the beginning of the 6th century BC. From the 7th century BC it sailed the Mediterranean, together with the Phoenicians and Chalcidians, carrying goods to and fro. Together with Miletus, Samos, Chalcis and other Greek poleis, it took part in the foundation of Naukratis, a Greek emporion in the Nile delta. The weight system of the oldest coins in the Mediterranean was precisely the Aeginetan one. Its coins bearing the image of a turtle were famous and known simply as "turtles".
Bibliography (3)
- Florenzano, M. B. B.; Fontes sobre a origem da moeda: apresentação crítica
- Whitley, J.; The Archaeology of Ancient Greece.
- Stillwell, R. (ed.); The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites.