TESTIMONIA. The Ancient Literary Sources on Aigina

The island of Aigina lies in the middle of the Saronic gulf between the east-coast of the Argolid and the south-west coast of Attica. Because of her favoured geographical position as a connecting link between the mainland an the orte hand and the Cyclades and Crete an the other, she has been of great strategic and supra-regional economic importance. Consequently, the island and her inhabitants have often been mentioned in ancient literature. Nevertheless, a critical and exhaustive study an the written sources is still to be missing. Within the scope of this project according to studies of literary sources an other important excavation sites, a systematic collection of the written statements found in ancient literature relating to Aigina and her inhabitants should be done. A translation should also be included. Particular attention is directed to a detailed subject-index. In a second step a comprehensive commentary is intended. The Computer based inquiry ensures a complete recording of the ancient literary sources. Due to the following methodical analysis, a research tool in the exploration of ancient Aigina is expected to be of great value to the exeavations an Aigina-Kolonna, directed by the Institute of Classical Archaeology of the University of Salzburg since 1966. By reason of the supra-regional importance of Aigina and its involvement in significant historical events this study will also serve future studies an history, history of art, social history, history of religion and economic history that go beyond the proper history of the island.

The island of Aigina lies in the middle of the Saronic gulf between the east-coast of the Argolid and the south-west coast of Attica. Because of its favoured geographical position it was of great strategic and supra-regional economic importance. Consequently, the island and its inhabitants were frequently mentioned in ancient literature. Although these literary sources represent undoubtedly the foundation of the archaeological and historical studies of ancient sites, a critical and exhaustive study on the written sources represented an unrealised desideratum up to date. Therefore, within the scope of this project according to studies on literary sources of other important excavation sites, a systematic compilation of the written statements found in ancient literature relating to Aigina and its inhabitants has been undertaken. Secondary, a translation and a detailed subject-index have been added. In connection with concordances and indices of various text-editions the electronic data based inquiry offered the ideal presupposition for a complete recording of the relevant written sources. This compilation was enlarged by quotations referring indirectly to Aigina which were figured out by an extensive examination of the respective secondary literature and the scientific commentaries. In addition, the intensive study of literature yields a supplement of the text-critical apparatus with numerous references to comparable quotations. Due to this working method, a claim for completeness could be asserted that exceeds previous collections of literary sources of other excavation sites. Translations as well as detailed explanations referring to the context guarantee the use of the projected publication beyond the field of classics. Moreover, the wide range of the systematic and elaborate indices offers a user-friendly search after numerous subjects. Additionally, an electronic data base has been generated, by means of which the search with the aid of search screens is facilitated. This task results in a research tool for the exploration of ancient Aigina. Its great value is not limited to the excavations on Aigina-Kolonna, directed by the Institute of Classical Archaeology of the University of Salzburg since 1966, the excavations within the ancient town of Aigina, at the sanctuary of Aphaia, at the sanctuary of Zeus Hellanios, and other sites within the island. By reason of the supra-regional importance of Aigina and its involvement in significant historical events this study will also serve future studies on history, history of art, social history, history of religion and economic history that go beyond the proper history of this island.