REGINA, an island in the Suronic gulf, or bay of Engia, more anciently known by the names of CEnone and (Enopia. /Eacus, one of its kings, gave it the name of iEg Ala, in honour of his mother, who being seduced, as fable says, by Jupiter, in the likeness of a lambent flame, was removed from Epidaurus to this desert island. It lies between Attica and Argolis, 18 miles distant from the coast of Athens, and about 14 from Epidaurus. It is about 72!- miles in circumference, rendered difficult of access on every side by concealed rocks. The soil of this island was very stony and barren, till, by the per severing industry of the inhabitants, (who were thence called Myrmidons, or Enunets,) it was rendered ex tremely fertile. Nor was their industry exerted in agri culture alone. Their commerce was extensive, and their navy so powerful, as to enable them to vie with the Athenians, and to dispute with thrum the palm of victory in the naval battle at Salamis. On that occasion, their fleet was more numerous than that of any other nation in Greece, excepting the Athenians ; and the prize of va lour was decreed to them, because they had fought \vitl the greatest bravery. Money is said to have been fits: coined in /Egina ; and such was at one time the opulenc,.: of this island, that it maintained 42o,000 slaves; the proportion of whom to tree men in the ancient repub lics, is computed to have been about 20 to one. ,Egina had a capital of the same name, which was destroyed by an earthquake in the reign of Tiberius; and two magnifi cent temples, the one consecrated to Venus, the other dedicated by all the states of Greece to Jupiter, who was thence called Jupiter Panhellenius. According to the tradition of the /Egineans, Greece was distressed during the reign of ,Eacus with a severe drought, and the oracle at Delphi declared, that _2E1c:us alone could render Jupiter propitious. At the common request of the states, he prayed fervently for rain ; his prayer was heard, and the Greeks, to commemorate their deliver ance, erected a temple to Jupiter on the mountain, from whose summit /Eacus had offered up his intercession.
The temple was of the Doric order ; and its ruins still indicate its ancient magnificence. The stone is of a light brownish colour, in many places much corroded, and presenting a claim to remote antiquity scarcely to he paralleled. Placed on a lonely mountain, at a distance from the sea, the changes and accidents of many centu ris have not been able to reduce it to total demolition.
The ,Egineans were originallv subject to kings, but afterward; adopted the republican form of government. Au irreconcileable enmity subsisted between them and the Athenians, which gave rise to frequent wars. On one occasion, the Athenians having subdued them, cut their thumbs to disable them from maritime service. Iu revenge fir this cruel treatment, they joined the Co rinthians in instigating the Lacedemonians to the Pelo poonesian war. At length, the Athenians having de feated them in a great naval battle, landed on /Egina, expelled the inhabitants, and re-peopled the island with a colony from Athens. When the Athenians were in their turn subdued by the Lacedemonians, the ./Egineans were replaced in their native country, and soon recover ed their former power. _Egina was subdued by the Turks in 1536 ; its capital plundered and burnt ; and its inhabitants, who survived the prodigious carnage, were reduced to slavery. Its revenue is at present farmed from the grand signior, by a waiwodc or gover nor, fir 12 purses, or 6000 piastres. The most remark able circumstance related concerning JEgina by modern travellers is, that it swarms with partridges to such a degree, that the inhabitants, apprehensive of famine from their increase, go out every year to destroy their eggs. The town, now called Engia, has a castle which ontains about 800 troops. Instead of the magnificent temples of Venus and Jupiter, there are now 13 churches of mean structure; the architrave of each being sup ported by two Doric columns. The ruins of a magni ficent theatre arc still to be seen; and the walls, which belonged to the ports and arsenal, may be traced to a considerable extent above the water, or nearly even with its surface. (k)