Thursday, March 18, 2010

Greek Names and the Aegean Seas' Name

In ancient times there were various explanations for the name Aegean. It was said to have been named after the Greek town of Aegae, or after Aegea queen of the Amazons,(In A Midsummer Nights Dream the queen of the Amazons is Hippolta, speaking of Shakespeare borrowing.. ) who died in the sea, or Aigaion, the "sea goat", another name of Briareus, one of the archaic Hecatonchires, or, especially among the Athenians, Aegeus, the father of Thesus, ( Shakespeare borrowing again!) who drowned himself in the sea when he thought his son had died.


1 comment:

  1. Thesus is in a greek myth called The Minotaur. You should read it! (After Dave telling more about Greek Myths and Shakespeare!) It has some of the characters from the A Midsummer Night's Dream. Under differant names though somtimes

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