According to Greek mythology, Aiacus is the son of Zeus and the nymph Égina, daughter of the river god Asopo. Aiacos married Endeis, daughter of Sciron, and had two sons, Peleus and Telamon, also had a son with Psâmate, daughter of Nereus, called Foco and a daughter, Aikimachus. Pious by nature, he is loved by the gods who are happy to satisfy their vows. Thus, during an enemy invasion, all his soldiers were killed and his city was on fire, badly wounded, Aiacos kneels in front of a sacred oak of the city and calls for help to Zeus, the king of the gods answers his plea and transforms all the ants of the oak in very strong soldiers, these were called Mirmídões (ant in Greek), in the same instant the game turned and the enemies of Aiacos were exterminated in few minutes. His wisdom and his passion for justice led the gods to choose him to be a judge and, later, to judge in the court of the Hereafter, chaired by Hades, alongside Minos and Radamanthys. He was particularly in charge of judging, in hell, the souls coming from the European continent.
The inhabitants of the island of Aegina gave him a fervent cult, whose parties were combined with Olympic games. The winners of these games suspended their crowns in the temple that had been consecrated to them. Athens also venerated Aiacos, building him a sanctuary in the Agora. Aiacos is usually represented using a royal scepter and the key to the Hells, of which he is the sole holder.