ÆGEAN SEA (ē -jē´an or ī´gā-an), the old name of the gulf between Asia Minor and Greece, now usually called the Grecian Archipelago.
ÆGEUS (īg´ös or ēj´us), a king of Athens, son of Pandion, and father of Theseus. When the latter sailed to Crete to deliver Athens from the intolerable burden of the tribute due to the Minotaur, he promised his father to hoist white sails on his return as a signal of safety. But the hero forgot his promise in the joy of triumph; and his father, who was anxiously watching for the sign of victory, seeing only the black sails of his son's ship as it approached the coast of Attica, believed that he had perished, and flung himself into the sea, which from him was named the Ægean.
ÆGINA (ē-jī´na), a Greek island about 40 square miles in area, in the Gulf of Ægina (the ancient Saronicus Sinus). It is mountainous, with deep valleys and chasms. The modern town of Ægina stands on the site of the ancient town, at the N. W. end of the island. The island contains about 8,000 inhabitants. The most ancient name of the island was Œnone, and the Myrmidons dwelt in its valleys and caverns. For a century before the Persian war it was a prosperous state; during this period it was also the chief seat of Greek art. Its sailors covered themselves with glory at Salamis.
Æginetan Sculptures.—Ægina holds an important position in the history of Greek art. On an eminence in the eastern part of the island stand the ruins of a temple of Pallas Athene. Among these ruins a series of statues were excavated in 1811, which are now the most remarkable ornaments of the Glyptothek at Munich. One group represents a combat of Greeks and Trojans for the body of Achilles. The figures are true to nature, with the structure of bones, muscles, and even veins, distinctly marked, but there is no individuality, all the faces having that uniform forced smile which is characteristic of all sculpture before the time of Phidias. Probably they date from not more than fifty years before Phidias.
ÆGIS (ē´jis or ī´gis), the shield of Zeus, which had been fashioned by Hephaestus (Vulcan).
AEHRENTHAL, ALOIS LEXA, COUNT VON, a statesman of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, born in 1854. He was educated at Bonn and Prague Universities, entered the diplomatic service in 1877, and was rapidly advanced until 1888, when he was appointed Minister to Rumania. In the following year he became Ambassador to Russia and served in this capacity until 1906, when he was appointed Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was largely through his influence that the Turkish provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina were annexed to the Austrian Empire. At first he worked in close co-operation with the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the throne. This association continued until 1910, when Aehrenthal withdrew from the aggressive party and became the head of the peace party. The two men quarreled and Von Aehrenthal offered his resignation which, however, was not accepted by the Emperor, who fully supported his peace policy. In the turmoil, however, his health had suffered and he died in 1912.
ÆLFRIC, an Anglo-Saxon abbot, surnamed GRAMMATICUS; born about 955. He wrote in vigorous Old English, compiled a Latin grammar and glossary, and translated most of the historical books of the Old Testament and canons for the regulation of the clergy. He died about 1020.
ÆNEAS (en-ē´as), a Trojan prince, son of Anchises and the goddess Venus. The care of his infancy was intrusted to a nymph; but at the age of 5 he was recalled to Troy. He married Creusa, Priam's daughter, by whom he had a son, called Ascanius. When Troy was in flames, he carried away upon his shoulders his father Anchises and the statues of his household gods, leading by his hand his son Ascanius, and leaving his wife to follow behind. According to Vergil and other Latin authors, he was sailing from Sicily to Italy when he landed in Epirus, and was driven on the coasts of Africa and received by Dido, Queen of Carthage, to whom, on his first interview, he gave one of the garments of the beautiful Helen. Dido being enamored of him, wished to marry him; but he left Carthage by order of the gods. In his voyage he passed to Cumæ, where the Sibyl conducted him to hell, that he might hear from his father the fate which awaited him and all his posterity. After a voyage of seven years, and the loss of 13 ships, he arrived in the Tiber. Latinus, the king of the country, received him with hospitality, and promised him his daughter Lavinia, who had been before betrothed to King Turnus by her mother Amata. To prevent this marriage, Turnus made war against Æneas and was killed. Æneas married Lavinia and succeeded his father-in-law. His reign was but of short duration, various accounts being given of the cause of his death.
