Aegae or Aigai () was a town on the west coast of

ancient Euboea Euboea ( ; , ), also known by its modern spelling Evia ( ; , ), is the second-largest Greek island in area and population, after Crete, and the sixth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is separated from Boeotia in mainland Greece by ...

, north of

Chalcis Chalcis (; Ancient Greek and Katharevousa: , ), also called Chalkida or Halkida (Modern Greek: , ), is the chief city of the island of Euboea or Evia in Greece, situated on the Euripus Strait at its narrowest point. The name is preserved from ...

and a little south of Orobiae, opposite the mainland city of Anthedon. It had disappeared in the time of the geographer

Strabo Strabo''Strabo'' (meaning "squinty", as in strabismus) was a term employed by the Romans for anyone whose eyes were distorted or deformed. The father of Pompey was called "Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo, Pompeius Strabo". A native of Sicily so clear-si ...

. Strabo records a sanctuary of Aegean Poseidon on a mountain nearby. It seems to be distinct from legendary Aegae, the namesake of the Aegean Sea, which was situated on the east coast of the island, near modern Kymi. It's not unlikely that Aegae got actually switched to Kymi/Cuma, as the generic name ''Kymi/Cuma'', just means ''city'' in the Aeolic dialect. Legendary Aegae is mentioned e.g. by

Homer Homer (; , ; possibly born ) was an Ancient Greece, Ancient Greek poet who is credited as the author of the ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'', two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Despite doubts about his autho ...

in Book 5 of the ''

Odyssey The ''Odyssey'' (; ) is one of two major epics of ancient Greek literature attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest surviving works of literature and remains popular with modern audiences. Like the ''Iliad'', the ''Odyssey'' is divi ...

'', in which Poseidon "lashed his long-maned horses and drove to Aegae, where he had his famous palace" after having destroyed Odysseus' raft with a storm. It was also mentioned by Homer in Book 13 of the

Iliad The ''Iliad'' (; , ; ) is one of two major Ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by modern audiences. As with the ''Odyssey'', the poem is divided into 24 books and ...

, in which Poseidon " ook three strides and with the fourth he reached his goal—Aegae, where is his glittering golden palace, imperishable, in the depths of the sea." Its site is located near the modern Politika Kafkala.

Notes

Populated places in ancient Euboea Former populated places in Greece Places in the Iliad {{AncientEuboea-geo-stub