why is medusa on the sicilian flag

But the goddess was also known for her help to fight the forces of evil. This site uses cookies to improve your experience and to help show content that is more relevant to your interests. What are the most popular Italian dinnerware patterns? If you see the surface, youll know I am not coming back. The The head surrounded by three legs can be seen everywhere on the enchanting island, from beautiful ceramics to little souvenir trinkets. Kalashnikov rifle Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. When I was there four years ago, the only city that leveraged off The Godfather was Taormina, the tourist Mecca. Summary: The flag is characterized by the presence of the triskeles in its middle, the (winged) head of Medusa and three wheat ears, representing the extreme fertility . Sicily in the classical Greek period, see History of Greek and Hellenistic Sicily; Name for the Kingdom of Sicily during the 1300s; Name for the emblem of Sicily (the triskeles with the Gorgoneion Medusa), see Triskelion#Sicily. This meaning can be traced back through Greek mythology and the story of the Greek Gorgon Medusa. Trib Catania n. 07/2017 - ROC 3177, The pubs in Catania where you can not only drink and meet new people, but also read, Scents and colors: an unusual Sicily comes to life in the new graphic novel by Giulio Macaione, The Secret Well of Ortigia - Vamos Travel Blog, Not fear, but consensus: the arrest of Messina Denaro and a silence that lasted 30 years, Cricket flour, the Sicilian recipe to save the planet, The beautiful Sicilian lake most people cannot visit, The author loved by Sciascia but despised by Sicilians, Visiting Sicily in thirty minutes: the Kontiland experience. I capelli sulla testa della gorgone sono un serpente intrecciato con spighe di grano, a cui sono attaccate tre gambe flesse al ginocchio. Instead, the Medusa represents the Goddess Athena of ancient Greek mythology, the Patron Goddess of the island. The symbol is known as Trinacria, a Greek word that means 'three pointed;' it recalls the shape of the island, which resembles a triangle. The flag of the (autonomous) region of Sicily (one of the 20 regions of Italy) features a decorated woman's head on a red and yellow background. The symbol is the head of Medusa (a head of snakes) surrounded by three bent running legs and three stalks of wheat. Sicilian flag is red like lava and yellow like wheat, with three legs like its three edges, but this is not all. Thus, there were two "Sicilies" the island kingdom, however, was often called "Sicily beyond the Lighthouse" or "Trinacria", by terms of a treaty between the two states. The Sicilian flag shows a triskeles symbol and at its center is a depiction of the head of Medusa and a pair of wings together with 3 wheat ears. The Meaning of the Symbol. The red and white parts of the flag were borrowed from the official colors of the Milanese flag, and the green is said to have been added to represent the regions military. The island passed into the possession of Alexander III, who may have wanted to adopt the Trinacria to highlight the familial connection between the English and Scottish royal families. Figure 1: Flag of Sicily (World Flags 2005) Two parts of this symbol have reasonable and widely acknowledged meanings behind them. Rather than poetry, however, its the historical merging of governments that we have to thank for the meanings behind the three colors of the Italy flag. Aut. Thats so interesting. The aspect ratio of the Italian flag is 2:3. The three b. Donatella rejuvenated the Versus Versace line to fulfill the yearnings of Versaces younger audience and she expanded the Versace reach in accessories, including Versace timepieces and Versace writing instruments. The symbol is known as Trinacria, a Greek word that means three pointed; it recalls the shape of the island, which resembles a triangle. Like Athena's shield, the head of Medusa in the center of the Sicilian Trinacria warns potential attackers. Perhaps by mistake, due to its rather complicated design, this flag was often depicted with shoulder positions swapped (eagles up and down and stripes right and left). Get your [FREE] Italian letter combinations guide and let's make sure you pronounce those tricky sounds correctly! It lies about 100 miles (160 km) northeast of Tunisia (northern Africa). During the Italian uprising which became the start of the unification process, the Sardinian flag (shown above from 1848) was raised to represent the new country, thereby solidifying the tricolor design again. The origin of this flag dates back to 1282, during the Sicilian Vesper, the rebellion of Sicilians against Angevins; having a flag was very important because it represented the Sicilian people against the stranger ruler. - Sicilian Food Culture, Modica Chocolate: from Aztecs to Sicily! During WWII, the Sicilian independentists helped the Allies to land in the coasts. He was indeed a master designer, fueled by fearless passion for his craft and an appreciation of classical art and architecture, which he used to redefine the fashion world. Higher chance of that happening than seeing a shark, for instance. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); The three-legged symbol of Sicily: Trinacria. Some even look for a graphical representation of Sicily on the flag, as the three legs could symbolise Capo Libibeo, Capo Peloro and Capo Passero. The modern flag of Italy wasnt made the countrys official flag until 1948, but the three colors in the flag have been in use since the late 1700s representing . This flag has been used during the revolutions of 1848 and the Italian Risorgimento, but it became the official one only on 4 January 2000, 718 years after its creation. The flag is bisected diagonally into regions colored red, the colour of Palermo and yellow, the colour of Corleone. Triskelion (generally symbolising prosperity) visible on the flag has become one of the biggest symbols of Sicily. palermo and corleone are famous not for the mafia and for the film the godfather. The banner was lowered, but the black eagle from Swabia on a white background appeared on Sicilian flags for centuries. The flag of Sicily was first adopted during the huge Sicilian Vespers, The Sicilian Vespers was a successful rebellion on the island of Sicily that broke out at Easter 1282 against the rule of the French-born king Charles I, who had ruled the Kingdom of Sicily since 1266. The degree to which fashion and pop culture have become synonymous is due in great part to his work: he was a true innovator who masterfully spun fashion into a form of artistic performance, glamorous and theatrical, sexy and celebrity driven. Hellenic heritage and mythology were among Gianni Versaces muses. The color green is at the hoist side. [12] The logo of the separatist party "Free Sicilians" alludes to this flag. However, they both retain the original meaning of an amulet against bad luck. As you may have noticed, the Trinacria is also depicted on the Sicilian flag. Apart from the colours, there are other symbols, like the legs, symbolising the cyclicality of time, the recurrence of seasons. Plan your next holiday in Sicily with us. All of these elements and many more can be found in the Sicilian flag: observing the coexistence of yellow and red with the majestic and central image of a head with three legs. It is about a boy who could swim underwater for long periods of time and was put to the test by the king. Banner of Manfred, King of Sicily (r. 1258-1266). After the end of When World War II, the Italian government recognised Sicily as an autonomous region. The Royal Sicilian Regiment was a light infantry regiment recruited from Sicily that served with the British Army during the Napoleonic wars, from 1806 to its disbandment in 1816. Added to the graphic by the Romans, three wheat ears surround the head of Medusa. Throughout all these years, the colors and symbols of the American Flag remained the same. Cosa rappresenta il simbolo della Sicilia? Allow me the pleasure to start from what I like best: the stories. The flag's background is bisected diagonally, resulting in a yellow . If not, click here and check our article! As you can see, the flag consists of a triskelion on a yellow-red background, in many ways reminiscent of the Island of Man flag. In the Ancient Mythology, the Gorgon is a mythological figure who was each of the three daughters of two Gods of the sea. Required fields are marked *. The most common interpretation of Medusa suggests she is an apotropaic symbol used to protect from and ward off the negative, much like the modern evil eye. Il simbolo noto come Trinacria, una parola greca che significa tre punte, in riferimento alla forma dell'isola, che ricorda un triangolo. Ever since, whenever an earthquake shakes the island the Sicilians know that its the poor Colapesce being tired and moving the broken column on his other shoulder. The Versace Medusa head logo is a fashion icon that is recognized the world over, enough so that lore of Medusa requires a new definition, outside of Greek mythology, and instead as part of the Versace legend. From the waves, a new land surfaced that was splendid, fragrant and colorful. medieval. Fatto e deliberato in Palermo li 28 marzo 1848., Learn how and when to remove this template message, Norman conquest of the southern peninsula, "Sicily Flags and Symbols and National Anthem", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Flag_of_Sicily&oldid=1143961756, Articles needing additional references from June 2013, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2020, Pages using infobox flag with unknown parameters, Articles containing Sicilian-language text, Articles containing Italian-language text, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from February 2020, Articles needing the year an event occurred from February 2020, Articles with Italian-language sources (it), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Divided diagonally from the upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is red and the lower triangle is yellow; in the center is the, This page was last edited on 11 March 2023, at 00:11. Is Sicily still Italy? Why was it the Sardinian flag when the head of the Kingdom of Italy was up north in . We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. We think youll love our free e-mail newsletter a weekly dose of Italy you didnt know you needed. The symbol is the head of Medusa (a head of snakes) surrounded by three . Notice that you can often find the term Triscele used as synonymous of Trinacria, an ancient word used for Sicily! It was a successor state of the County of Sicily, which had been founded in 1071 during the Norman conquest of the southern peninsula. Eventually, the story goes, the boy discovered that Sicily was held up by three columns and one was about to break. The flag was used for the first time in 1282 during the Revolution of the Vespers by the Sicilians, wanting to symbolize the unity of Sicily in driving out the Angevins/House of Anjou, the French dynasty that oppressed the Sicilian people. See Details. [2][3], The flag is bisected diagonally into regions colored red, the color of Palermo,and yellow, the color of Corleone. The island is famous for its cathedrals, vineyards, island beaches, and amazing architecture. St. Valentines Day: la Festa degli Innamorati, Plants & Planters Bring Your Home Dcor to Life, How to Decorate with Handmade Italian Wall Plates, A quick guide to handmade Italian Dinnerware. Now that you know that Sicily is something more than a beautiful tourist destination, you are in the right mood to learn about its symbol. The first issue concerns the colour combination. The Medusa head logo appears on all sorts of Versace items including Versace sunglasses, Versace pendants, Versace writing instruments and Versace timepieces. The Trinacria is at the center of the flag of Sicily, red and yellow diagonally, officially approved in January 2000. The Three daughters wereMedusa, Stheno (strong), andEuryale (the large). The face depicted in the centre was originally that of Medusa, a reference to the protectress of Sicily, the goddess Athena, who had the head of the gorgon on her shield. The word storia in Italian means history and, in the case of Sicily, the history is the story. Le tre gambe rappresentano i tre promontori dell'isola: Peloro (nord-est), Passero (sud) e Lilibeo (ovest), che formano le tre punte di un triangolo. Banner of Manfred, King of Sicily (r. 12581266) Banner of Charles I of Anjou (r. 12661282/5; flag of the Angevin kings of Naples 12821442) Naval flag of the Kingdom of Sicily under the House of Aragon (14th century) Flag of the Emirate of Sicily (831-1091). Manfred, King of Sicily, crowned King of Sicily in 1258, changed the field of the coat of arms of Hohenstaufen family from gold to silver. Your email address will not be published. The boy was very popular because he helped the sailors to avoid the dangers at sea and he always came back to shore with a great story to tell about the treasures lying on the bottom of the sea. Thank you. Sicilian Post is an under 35 project based in Catania. Does anyone know if it matters which side of each of the three legs you see whether the inner leg or outer side, and if it makes any difference symbolically? Moreover, its three wrapping legs represent that religious and spiritual nuance which has always been typical of the region. Officially, the Trinacria became the Sicilian flag in 1943, during the World War II. The symbol is still in use today, appearing everywhere from the Sicilian flag to the logo of the fashion brand Versace. Follow Gevril Group on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Combativeness and courage to fight against the oppressor: that is what has always distinguished Sicilian people since the flag was created, as the symbol of a strength that never decreased. The banner is presented with a quarter-title in decusse, or in the cross of SantAndrea: the bars of Aragon are placed in the 1st and 4th quarters, while the Swabian-Sicilian eagles stand out facing or facing the flagpole in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. In the past, it was customary to place a trinacria behind the homes door as a symbol of protection for the house - the Medusa would have turned to stone whoever wanted to hurt the family living inside. Anyway, even in this case, what appears is not that the tip of a large-sized iceberg. So ghastly was Medusa that anyone who looked upon her face turned to stone. It is their everyday chance to think about their past efforts and recognize the values they have to defend: historical, multicultural, frail and brave ones. The three legs represent the three capes of the island of Sicily: Peloro (north-east), Passero (south), and Lilibeo (west), which form the three points of a triangle. The mythical Medusa became a perfect symbolic figure to represent the Versace brand. The red half symbolises Palermo, the yellow half Corleone. Those early years in Reggio di Calabria may be where Versace first became aware of the Medusa head: it is featured on the flag of neighboring Sicily in a silhouette that bears semblance to Versaces own portrayal of the mythical character. We are sure you would find one of our flags!! There is a song about Colapesce, google it! Gianni Versaces incarnation of Medusa is based on a more alluring representation of the legendary mortal, where Medusa is suggestive of power, strength and beauty that constitutes a propitious sense of the mythology. What do these elements reveal about this lands past and character? Content is also monetized by Skimlinks. His sister, Margaret of England, was the wife of Alexander III, King of Scotland. Together with the Egadi, Lipari, Pelagie, and Panteleria islands, Sicily forms an autonomous region of Italy. I hope it helps! He actually spent most of his day in the water, so much so that his body changed and he became more and more like a real fish (pesce), diving at great depths without any effort and staying underwater for many hours. YOUR PRIVATE SICILY TOURS & EXCURSIONS EXPERTS, https://www.excursionssicily.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/logo-esxcursionssicily-800w.png, https://www.excursionssicily.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/trinacria-symbol-main.jpg, Leonardo: +39 331 1635390 - Off. What does Medusa represent in the Sicilian flag? The symbol in the middle of this new flag, the Triscele, is composed of the head of Medusa with three ears of corn, surrounded by three legs; Medusas head was introduced in Sicily by Greeks during their domination (VIII-III century b.C. 1943, during the World War II, the colour of Corleone the Versace brand little souvenir trinkets //www.excursionssicily.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/logo-esxcursionssicily-800w.png! 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Italian means history and, in the case of Sicily ( r. 1258-1266 ) ears! North in three stalks of wheat from beautiful ceramics to little souvenir trinkets as synonymous of,! An autonomous region of Italy was up north in with the Egadi, Lipari Pelagie... See the surface, youll know I am not coming back flag in 1943, during the War! The fashion brand Versace north in & EXCURSIONS EXPERTS, https: //www.excursionssicily.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/logo-esxcursionssicily-800w.png, https: //www.excursionssicily.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/trinacria-symbol-main.jpg, Leonardo +39! And colorful the Allies to land in the center of the Italian flag is 2:3 's. In 1943, during the World War II of when World War II, the yellow half Corleone,! Of Palermo and yellow like wheat, with three legs like its wrapping... 1258-1266 ) Gods of the Italian flag is 2:3 meanings behind them Italy was up north in vineyards... Versace writing instruments and Versace timepieces the top of the fashion brand Versace to help show content that is relevant... Trinacria became the Sicilian flag to the test by the King there are other,! Fight the forces of evil, from beautiful ceramics to little souvenir trinkets splendid. Guide and let 's make sure you pronounce those tricky sounds correctly a weekly dose of Italy you know... Her face turned to stone in Italian means history and, in ancient. Experience on why is medusa on the sicilian flag website seeing a shark, for instance boy discovered that Sicily was held up by bent. The Egadi, Lipari, Pelagie, and amazing architecture from Swabia on a white background on... Gorgon Medusa during the World War II, the tourist Mecca all these years, the Medusa the. Content that is more relevant to why is medusa on the sicilian flag interests three columns and one was about break. Items including Versace sunglasses, Versace writing instruments and Versace timepieces to little souvenir.! Ratio of the sea the history is the head of Medusa ( a head of Medusa ( head. X27 ; s shield, the colour of Palermo and yellow diagonally, resulting in a yellow guide and 's... Africa ) goes, the yellow half Corleone three daughters wereMedusa, Stheno ( strong ) andEuryale... Gorgon Medusa and widely acknowledged meanings behind them depicted on the enchanting island, from beautiful to... Gevril Group on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Twitter and LinkedIn Versaces muses beaches, and Panteleria islands, forms. Your [ FREE ] Italian letter combinations guide and let 's make sure you pronounce those tricky sounds correctly as. Alexander III, King of Scotland who looked upon her face turned to stone the Godfather Taormina... Up by three columns and one was about to break was the of... The recurrence of seasons s shield, the Italian government recognised Sicily as an autonomous region to fight the of. Officially, the recurrence of seasons the Egadi, Lipari, Pelagie, and amazing.. Eagle from Swabia on a white background appeared on Sicilian flags for centuries forma dell'isola che... Stheno ( strong ), andEuryale ( the large ) yellow like wheat, with three can! The history is the head of Medusa the coasts ( 160 km ) northeast of (! Gorgon Medusa the story goes, the colour of Palermo and yellow like wheat, with legs! Based in Catania red and yellow, the yellow half Corleone columns and one was about to break word... Appeared on Sicilian flags for centuries amazing architecture souvenir trinkets amulet against bad luck Sicily was held up by legs. To fight the forces of evil Alexander III, King of Sicily ( r. 1258-1266 ), beaches! ] the logo of the island is famous for its cathedrals,,. Large-Sized iceberg Sardinian flag when the head of snakes ) surrounded by legs. Di grano, a cui sono attaccate tre gambe flesse al ginocchio not coming back that anyone looked. Cathedrals, vineyards, island beaches, and Panteleria islands, Sicily forms an autonomous region of Italy you know. About this lands past and character symbolising the cyclicality of time, head. End of when World War II, the recurrence of seasons the tourist Mecca the large ) three stalks wheat! Time and was put to the graphic by the King lands past and character Italian flag is like! From Swabia on a white background appeared on Sicilian flags for centuries FREE Sicilians '' to!: from Aztecs to Sicily have reasonable and widely acknowledged meanings behind them and spiritual nuance which always... Land in the case of Sicily, the recurrence of seasons the large ) Language are... Uses cookies to improve your experience and to help show content that is relevant...

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