Testimonia. Die antiken literarischen Zeugnisse über Aigina

The island of Aegina lies in the middle of the Saronic Gulf between the east coast of the Argolid and the south coast of Attica. Because of its favoured geographical position as a connecting link between the mainland on the one hand and the Cyclades and Crete on the other, it was of great strategic and supra-regional economic importance. Consequently, the island and its habitants were frequently mentioned in ancient literature. Although these literary sources represent undoubtedly the foundation of archaeological and historical studies, a critical and exhaustive study on the ancient sources about Aegina represented an unrealised desideratum up to date. Therefore, this volume provides a systematic compilation of all written statements including their translation found in Greek and Roman literature from Homer to Byzantine times that refer to the nymph Aegina, the island and its habitants. In connection with concordances and indices of various text editions the electronic data based research ensures a complete recording of the relevant ancient evidence. In respect of the vast number of different authors this seems to be of particular convenience. By means of intensive examination of the respective secondary literature and the scientific commentaries this compilation is enlarged by quotations referring indirectly to Aegina, both the nymph and the island. In addition, numerous references to comparable quotations supplement the textcritical apparatus. Due to this working method, the claim of completeness exceeds previous collections of literary sources of other excavations sites. Furthermore, detailed explanations referring to the context and facilitating its judgment precede the translations. Data of mythological and historical events in chronological order and a systematic and elaborate subject-index form the completion of the volume. By reason of the supra-regional importance of Aegina and its involvement in significant historical events this study will serve the further development of scientific studies not only for the history of Aegina, but also for the social, economic, religious and cultural history of Greece at all in ancient times.