At 2 am, when we arrived in Glyfada, it was dark and mysterious; its waves were crushing raucously against the shore. But despite the intensity, its rhythm felt calming. The next day, the vibrant sun made it look greyish turquoise green, and as the lukewarm water stroked my toes, I felt the sense of enchantment: the Aegean Sea mesmerising me again.
No surprise, this sea features significantly in many famous Greek myths: Theseus sails through it to kill the Minotaur, the bold son of Daedalus; Icarus falls into it when the sun melts the wax on his man-made wings, not to mention the Odyssey. Odysseus’ 10 years of adventure take place on the Aegean Sea, except for the very end when he reaches the Ionian Sea, where his homeland Ithaca lies.
The Aegean Sea was the cradle of the Aegean civilization; both the Minoan and Mycenaean empires flourished here for centuries. It was traditionally known as “Archipelago,” which means “main sea” or “principal sea” in Greek. Today, the word “archipelago” refers to any group of islands.
Nowadays, the Aegean is one of the world’s top yachting and cruising regions thanks to its numerous historical sites and beautiful islands that provide anchorages for all types of boats. The sea is well operated by regional ferries, hydrofoils, and even cruise ships. Piraeus serves the entire sea for trips to the Greek islands.
According to Greek mythology, the sea took its name from the Athenian king, Aegeus, the father of Theseus, who threw himself into its waves because he thought his son was dead. Another explanation is that it was named after Aegea, the queen of the Amazons who also drowned in the sea, or after the Greek town, Aegea. A further possible etymology could be a derivation from the Greek word large waves (αἶγες—aiges), as large as jumping goats. It can be quite wavy, especially around the Cyclades, no doubt.
Its gorgeous deep blue colour is caused by the high concentration of salt in the water. Can’t wait to have another splash!
