History
The area was settled in the 3rd millennium BC. The city was known as Hyperesia (Greek: Υπερησία, Hyperesia) during Homeric times. According to Pausanias, Hyperesia was threatened once by a hostile army from Sicyon. The locals defended their city by placing burning torches on their goats' (aiges in Greek) horns. As a result, the invaders left in fear while the Hyperesians renamed their town Αigeira to honor the goats.
The city was prosperous and was one of the twelve most important cities in the Achaean League. The city consisted of two parts: a port on the Gulf of Corinth and the upper town, 12 stadia (2 km (1.2 mi)) from the port. According to Pausanias, there were sanctuaries of Zeus and Athena as well as a temple of Artemis Agrotera in the upper town.
Read more about this topic: Aigeira
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