The origins of the Aegean Sea

As we are very curious people, we asked ourselves why the name of the Greek Sea, and having found the answer, we want to share it with you too. It will certainly not have a vital utility, but it is still something more that you will know about wonderful Greece.

Aegeus was the King of Athens as well as the father of Theseus, a well known and appreciated figure for the many trials of courage he faced in his life.

When Theseus goes to Crete to kill the Minotaur, he agrees with his father that on his return, in the case of victory, he would have hoisted white sails, on the contrary, in case of defeat he would have had black sails hoisted.

In his undertaking in Crete, Theseus falls in love with Arianna the daughter of Minos who helps him in his mission and then decides to run away with him to live their life together. During the journey, however, Theseus has a strange dream where Dionysus orders him to leave Arianna for him and give up the girl.

Out of love and devotion to a God, Theseus reluctantly accepts the request and leaves Arianna asleep on the island of Dia for the God Dionysus.

Torn by the pain of having lost his love, Theseus on his return to Athens forgets to hoist the white sails. The Aegean father, seeing the black sails interprets the defeat and the death of his son and out of desperation decides to commit suicide by throwing himself into the sea, which from that moment is called Aegean in his honor.