Pop Culture References of Wizard101: Aquila – Aegle

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Aegle – Aegle one of the Three Hesperides
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Aegle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aegle_(mythology)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hesperides

Aegle, Daughter of Silenus

Aegle, the nymph, is the oldest daughter of Silenus. She sends your wizard to the Pit of Noxii to battle the Gladiator Dimachaerus.

Aegle is the name of several different figures in Greek mythology:

  • Aegle, one of the daughters of Asclepius by Lampetia, the daughter of the Sun, according to Hermippus. Her name is said to have derived from “Αἴγλη” (“Aegle”), meaning “Brightness,” or “Splendor,” either from the beauty of the human body when in good health, or from the honor paid to the medical profession.
  • Aegle, the most beautiful of the Naiads, daughter of Zeus and Neaera, by whom Helios begot the Charites.
  • Aegle, one of the Heliades, a sister of Phaeton, and daughter of Helios and Clymene. In her grief at the death of her brother she and her sisters were changed into poplars.
  • Aegle, one of the Hesperides (The Nymphs of the West).
  • Aegle, another name of Coronis, daughter of Phlegyas and lover of Apollo.
  • Aegle, was a daughter of Panopeus, the Phocian hero. She was said to be one who was beloved by Theseus, and for whom he forsook Ariadne.

Since Wizard101 explicitly identifies Aegle as a Nymph she must be inspired by Aegle, one of the Hesperides.

In Greek mythology, the Hesperides are the nymphs of evening and golden light of sunsets, who were the “Daughters of the Evening” or “Nymphs of the West”. They were also called the Atlantides from their reputed father, the Titan Atlas.

Garden Hesperides by Edward John-Burne

The Hesperides are also listed as the daughters of Atlas, and Hesperis or of Phorcys and Ceto or of Zeus and Themis. In a Roman literary source, the nymphs are simply said to be the daughters of Hesperus, embodiment of the “west”.

Nevertheless, among the names and parentage given to them, though never all at once, there were either three, four, or seven Hesperides. Apollonius of Rhodes gives the number of three with their names as Aigle, Erytheis, and Hespere (or Hespera). Hyginus in his preface to the Fabulae names them as Aegle, Hesperie, and Aerica. In another source, they are named Aegle, Arethusa, and Hesperethusa, the three daughters of Hesperus.

The current list of all the (known) Aquila references are located here.

Although I am well versed in Pop Culture references, I do not claim to have caught them all. Let me know your favorites in the comments and if I’ve missed one you caught, let me know so I can add it to the list.

Text for this article is excerpted from the linked wiki pages

Aegle image is from Wizard101, and is copyright of KingsIsle Entertainment.

Garden Hesperides by Edward John-Burne is borrowed from Wikipedia and is in the public domain.

Image usage qualifies as fair use under US copyright law.

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