Does anyone know the myth or story of how the Aegean Sea became named?

Question

I am writing a paper for an Art class and wondered if anyone could provide some insight. I need to find out the story or myth of how the Aegean Sea became named. It is specific - it has to be linked to Greek mythology and human psychology. If you can help, I'd really appreciate it.

Answer 1

Here's the web link........



http://www.santorini.com/santorini/aegeansea.htm



According to Greek Mythology, the Aegean Sea owes its name to the King of Athens, Aigeas (Aegeas).



The story goes this way....... King Minos of Crete in order to punish the Athenians who had killed his son Androgeo, declared war on Athens and won. The Athenians subsequently became subjects of the Minoan Empire. King Minos then demanded that a tribute of honour be paid. At nine year intervals, seven Athenian boys and seven Athenian girls were to be sacrificed. They were to be sent to Crete and devoured by the mythical Minotaur, a monster with the body of a man and the head of a bull, who lived in the Labyrinth.



Thiseas, the son of Aigeas and Aithra, decided that he would slaughter the Minotaur and end the shameful bloody sacrifices. He took the place of one of the seven young men and set sail for Crete. Before he left, it was agreed with his father Aigeas that they would hoist black sails as a 'show' of mourning, but that if they were successful and slayed the monster, they would hoist white sails on the journey home.



On his journey he met and fell in love with Ariadne, daughter of King Minoas. She gave him a ball of string, 'Ariadne's Clue'. The idea was to unravel the string in the Labyrinth, so that after Thiseas slayed the Minotaur, he would find his way back to the entrance. The mission was successful and the Minotaur was killed.



Under the cloak of night, Thiseas, Ariadne and the others escaped to the port and embarked on the ship for the return journey. On the way they stopped at the island of Naxos. Story tells us that Thiseas abandoned Ariadne while she was sleeping and continued on his journey home, but forgot to raise the white sails as he had promised to Aigeas (some say that Ariadne laid a curse on Thiseas).



Aigias waited for his son to return. As he stood on the Akrotiri of Sounio, he spied the ship as it rounded the cape - it had black sails. Believing that his son was dead, the king despaired. He jumped off the cliffs into the sea from the temple of Poseidon and killed himself.



In addition -- There are differing opinions about the Aegean sea and how it got its name. According to Professor Christos Doumas, head of the archaeological excavations at Akrotiri, the name Aegean has its origin in the Homeric verb ‘aisso’ which means 'to jump'.



The derivative noun from this verb is ‘aix’ = the goat, in other words an animal that jumps. In ancient times the Greeks called large waves ‘aig(y)es’ (as jumping goats). Thus we arrive at “Aegeon” = Aegean. In modern day Greek it is called 'Aig(y)aio'.

Answer 2

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RE:

Does anyone know the myth or story of how the Aegean Sea became named?

I am writing a paper for an Art class and wondered if anyone could provide some insight. I need to find out the story or myth of how the Aegean Sea became named. It is specific - it has to be linked to Greek mythology and human psychology. If you can help, I'd really appreciate it.

Answer 3

Found some relation to early philosophers sailed on aegean sea studying stars and river valleys, land topography. As they contemplated astrology, alchemy, which later became astronomy and chemistry, but moral philosophy got lost and never developed. This moral philosophy is now what has developed into axiological psychology. This info came from an excerpt on google books,"The New Science of Axiological Psychology" by Leon Pomeroy and Richard Bishop (pg 212-213), pub 2005, Rodopi, Just a guess, anyone have any more info.

Answer 4

Aegean Sea of the Greeks is what we refer to as the Mediterranean Sea. No I don't know how it came to be. But I know that it has some mythological story behind the forming of it.

Answer 5

Psyche and cupid where aphrodite is jelouse of Psyche and send cupid her son to make her fall in love with a horrible beast but cupid is so stunned by her beauty he stabs himslef with his arrows and falls in love the i wont tell the whole thing because it will ruin the story but she's like a female hercules

Answer 6

In Athens in Greece there lived a king called Aegeus.His son Theseus was brought up in countryside,fer away from his father.When Theseus grew up he took his father's sword and his father's sandals and came to Athens.He was a handsome young man,strong and braveand his father was delighted to see him.

After Theseus was in the palace for some days he was woken up one morning by the sound of the people crying and wailing.He went to his father the king.

"Father,"he said,'Why are the people crying and wailing?And why are you looking sad?"

'Across the sea there is an island called Crete,'explained his father.'Some years ago we were beaten at war by Crete and we had to plead for peace.King Minos,the ruler of Crete,is cruel and harsh.He agreed to give us peace on condition that every year we send him seven maidens and seven young men.King Minos has a terrible monster,half bulland half man,called the Minotaur.This beast lives in a maze near the palace and every year he eats the maidens and the young men.'

'Can they not fight the Minotaur?'asked Theseus.

'No,my son,'replied the king.'No man by himself can overcome that monster.The people are crying and wailing today because our maidens and young men will sail away to Crete.

After much argument Aegeus allowed Thesus to go.However,before he went the king said ,'My dear son,I am old and may die before you return.But every morning I shall go to the cliffs and look out for your ship .Your ship has black sails,because black is the colour of the death.If by any chance you are able to kill the Minotaur,take down the black sails and put up white sails in their place.Then I shall see them and know that you re safe.'..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................As he killed the minotaur he was very delighted and partied in his vessel along with other people and forgot to change the sails.The next day his father came up to the sails and saw that the sails were black and suddenly he threw himself to the sea.Since then that sea was called Aegean sea since Aegeus threw himself.but now that sea name is no more aegean sea and it is named as medditterenean sea

Answer 7

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I have one. Its the story of medusa and athena. It is very interesting. Here is how it goes: Once upon a time, a long time ago there lived a beautiful maiden named Medusa. Medusa lived in the city of Athens in a country named Greece -- and although there were many pretty girls in the city, Medusa was considered the most lovely. Unfortunately, Medusa was very proud of her beauty and thought or spoke of little else. Each day she boasted of how pretty she was and each day her boasts became more outrageous. On Sunday, Medusa bragged to the miller that her skin was more beautiful than fresh fallen snow. On Monday, she told the cobbler that her hair glowed brighter than the sun. On Tuesday, she commented to the blacksmith’s son that her eyes were greener than the Aegean Sea. On Wednesday, she boasted to everyone at the public gardens that her lips were redder than the reddest rose. When she wasn’t busy sharing her thoughts about her beauty with all who passed by, Medusa would gaze lovingly at her reflection in the mirror. She admired herself in her hand mirror for an hour each morning as she brushed her hair. She admired herself in her darkened window for an hour each evening as she got ready for bed. She even stopped to admire herself in the well each afternoon as she drew water for her father's horses -- often forgetting to fetch the water in her distraction. On and on Medusa went about her beauty to anyone and everyone who stopped long enough to hear her -- until one day when she made her first visit to the Parthenon with her friends. The Parthenon was the largest temple to the goddess Athena in all the land. It was decorated with amazing sculptures and paintings. Everyone who entered was awed by the beauty of the place and couldn’t help but think of how grateful they were to Athena, goddess of wisdom, for inspiring them and for watching over their city of Athens. Everyone, that is, except Medusa. When Medusa saw the sculptures, she whispered that she would have made a much better subject for the sculptor than Athena had. When Medusa saw the artwork, she commented that the artist had done a fine job considering the goddess's thick eyebrows -- but imagine how much more wonderful the painting would be if it was of someone as delicate as Medusa. And when Medusa reached the altar she sighed happily and said, “My this is a beautiful temple. It is a shame it was wasted on Athena for I am so much prettier than she is – perhaps some day people will build an even grander temple to my beauty.” Medusa’s friends grew pale. The priestesses who overheard Medusa gasped. Whispers ran through all the people in the temple who quickly began to leave -- for everyone knew that Athena enjoyed watching over the people of Athens and feared what might happen if the goddess had overheard Medusa’s rash remarks. Before long the temple was empty of everyone except Medusa, who was so busy gazing proudly at her reflection in the large bronze doors that she hadn't noticed the swift departure of everyone else. The image she was gazing at wavered and suddenly, instead of her own features, it was the face of Athena that Medusa saw reflected back at her. Vain and foolish girl,” Athena said angrily, “You think you are prettier than I am! I doubt it to be true, but even if it were -- there is more to life than beauty alone. While others work and play and learn, you do little but boast and admire yourself.” Medusa tried to point out that her beauty was an inspiration to those around her and that she made their lives better by simply looking so lovely, but Athena silenced her with a frustrated wave. “Nonsense,” Athena retorted, “Beauty fades swiftly in all mortals. It does not comfort the sick, teach the unskilled or feed the hungry. And by my powers, your loveliness shall be stripped away completely. Your fate shall serve as a reminder to others to control their pride.” And with those words Medusa’s face changed to that of a hideous monster. Her hair twisted and thickened into horrible snakes that hissed and fought each other atop her head. “Medusa, for your pride this has been done. Your face is now so terrible to behold that the mere sight of it will turn a man to stone,” proclaimed the goddess, “Even you, Medusa, should you seek your reflection, shall turn to rock the instant you see your face.” And with that, Athena sent Medusa with her hair of snakes to live with the blind monsters -- the gorgon sisters -- at the ends of the earth, so that no innocents would be accidentally turned to stone at the sight of her. There it is but if you dont like it you can choose another one!