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Since Zeus was said to have carried off Aegina, the mother of Aeacus, to Oenone (i. e. Aegina; cf. viii. 46. 1) from Phlius, her father Aesopus must have been originally the river-god of the Phliasian stream (Paus. ii. 5. 2), but from an early date he was identified with the Boeotian river, and Aegina thus made a sister of Thebe, as in this oracle and in Pindar, Isthm. vii. 18; cf. Paus. ix. 1.

The interpretation illustrates the use of myths for political purposes; cf. ch. 67.


τοὺς Αἰακίδας. Probably images of Aeacus and his sons (cf. ch. 75). They are specially at home in Aegina (cf. viii. 64, 83, 84), yet Ajax and Telamon are at home in Salamis also (viii. 64), and thus are connected with Athens (ch. 66. 2), where too Aeacus is given a τέμενος (ch. 89). So the Aeacidae might well refuse to aid the foes of Athens.

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  • Commentary references from this page (2):
    • Pausanias, Description of Greece, 2.5.2
    • Pausanias, Description of Greece, 9.1
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