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Aegean waters off the island of Crete. Legend derives the name of the sea from King Aegeus of Athens. Photo: Joel Skidmore.


Aegean Sea (i-JEE-an). The sea between the Greek mainland and Asia Minor (the Asian portion of modern Turkey). Some derive the name from King Aegeus, who in one version of the myth flung himself from a promontory into its depths. The king had arranged that his son Theseus should hoist a white sail on his return from Crete if he survived the terrors of the Labyrinth. Theseus survived but forgot to hoist the sail.