why is medusa on the sicilian flag

The face in the middle represents Medusa, who is familiar from Greek mythology as being able to turn anyone into stone if you look at her face - and according to Sicilians, it is on the flag because it "protects" Sicily from any enemies it may have. The Sicily symbol and emblem of its flag is unique and mystifying. Perhaps for this very reason it was an ancient custom to place a trinacria behind the door of the house, as a symbol of protection, or to decorate vases, houses and villas with designs representing it as a symbol of good luck. the ancient Name of Sicily. Although the legs recall the three Sicilian edges (Pachino, Peloro and Lilibeo) and even though Romans probably thought it too, this figure has an Oriental origin. Aut. The color green is at the hoist side. First adopted in 1282 by the Sicilian Vespers, it is currently the official flag of the autonomous Sicilian region. It is the certified logo of Sicily and has a rich mythical story behind how it came to be. 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. Among these, we can name the Stuarts of Albany, the Rabensteiner, the Schanke, the Drocomir,and that of Joachim Murat, King of Naples and Sicily. 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. The triskelion, also commonly called trinacria, is the historical symbol of Sicily. This site uses cookies to improve your experience and to help show content that is more relevant to your interests. So ghastly was Medusa that anyone who looked upon her face turned to stone. Web. If you are interested in Sicily Mythology, the Trinacria Symbol, and the Tradition of Sicilian Ceramics, you can check our Sicily Tours. But the goddess was also known for her help to fight the forces of evil. The one above is on a wall, and the lemons, another Sicilian trademark, are a nice touch. 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 of the land of Sicily, The triskelion symbol is said to represent the three capes (headlands or promontories of the island of Sicily), namely: Pelorus (Peloro. The Trinacria is a case in point. His worship occurred all over the island, but particularly in the town of Adranus, modern Adrano, near Mount Etna. The rest of us do not aggrandize the mafia anymore than a body would celebrate a cancer. It was used in combination with the Italian tricolore in the Sicilian revolution of 1848. The name Versace is usually printed below the image, although the logo is among the most recognizable in the world, with or without the name. Banner of Charles I of Anjou (r. 1266-1282/5). In the Ancient Mythology, the Gorgon is a mythological figure who was each of the three daughters of two Gods of the sea. 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 . 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. The Frangipani or Plumeria (aka Pomelia), is a shrub with sweet-fragrant white blossoms, that crowded the coastal areas of Sicily. Save s on your Wish Sicily villa this spring, New collection of affordable family villas in Sicily with pools, WishSicily receives Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award 2023, Stay up to date on what's new in Wish Sicily. It is about a boy who could swim underwater for long periods of time and was put to the test by the king. The flag probably survived until 1800 - or at least no later than October 2, 1817, when the Sicilian flags were abolished - though it continued to appear on the cards for many years. Therefore, this flag, that people often take for granted or conceive as some amusing representation, is the chest of Sicilians most untouchable secrets, the magic formula that makes them what they are. 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. The emblem was included in the design of the Army Gold Medal awarded to British Army majors and above who had taken a key part in the Battle of Maida (1806). The Angevins lost power on the island after the revolt of the Sicilian Vespers in 1282. Se hai viaggiato in Sicilia, probabile che tu abbia visto, su bandiere, ceramiche e souvenir, una rappresentazione dall'aspetto strano di una testa femminile a cui sono attaccate tre gambe, flesse a formare un triangolo. If you visit the island you will be sure to see a Trinacris, symbol of Sicily, everywhere and if you wish to take one of them home youll have a large choice, from sophisticated ceramic Trinacria plaques to inexpensive fridge magnets. The Versace Medusa head, as it appears in the brands logo, is an expression of Versaces vision: she encompasses Versaces taste for tradition and classical nuance along with his desire to astonish audiences with designs that are striking in their brilliance, originality and style. Medusa was mainly known for her ability to turn mortal men to stone with one gaze. By using this site, you agree to the use of cookies by Flickr and our partners as described in our cookie policy. The Sicily, Italian Sicilia, island, southern Italy, the largest and one of the most densely populated islands in the Mediterranean Sea. His worship occurred all over the island, but particularly in the town of Adranus, modern Adrano, near Mount Etna. Sicilian Post is an under 35 project based in Catania. Trinacria fu il primo nome dato all'isola. Wheat was a staple for the entire country, I fly it proudly beneath my American flag, [] And what about the story of the Sicilian flag? 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 . He was born, after all, in Reggio di Calabria in Southern Italy, part of the region once known as Magna Graeca or Great Greece. The other question that is often asked is the association between the Sicilian flag and the symbol of the Isle of Man. It was at this time referred to as the sign of the Trinacria, Sicily being referred to by its ancient name, Trinacria (having three headlands). In Italian we know it as Trinacria, three capes, that is how the Greeks named the island thousands of years ago when they circumnavigated the island for the first time and realized that it was shaped like a triangle with three beautiful ends: Cape Pachino, Cape Peloro and Cape Lilibeo. 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 Trinacria has been the symbol of Sicily since the days of the Magna Graecia expansion into the Mediterranean. The triangular shape came to be in the center of the Sicilian flag during WWII and symbolized a plan to help Sicily become independent and a free republic. Receive updates, access to exclusive deals, and more. Frederick II was now even more intrigued and decided to throw into the water one of his rings. The origin of this flag datesback 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. Besides from Sicily, Trinacria symbol is used on the Isle of Man flags. Notice that you can often find the term Triscele used as synonymous of Trinacria, an ancient word used for Sicily! Donatella Versace controls the Versace brand with this same spirit of innovative multi-dimensionality, further broadening the definition of Medusa to new and younger audiences as well clientele who grew up with Versace. A detail let us understand its peculiarity: compared to the Greek iconography, where she has serpents for hair, in this version she has thorns of wheat. Miletus Museum. The name had been revived during the Aragonese period of the Kingdom of Sicily following the Sicilian Vespers (1282). Agreed. 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 of the land of Sicily,[1] The triskelion symbol is said to represent the three capes (headlands or promontories of the island of Sicily), namely: Pelorus (Peloro, Tip of Faro, Messina: North-East); Pachynus (Passero, Syracuse: South); and Lilybum (Lilibeo, Cape Boeo, Marsala: West), which form three points of a triangle from the historical three valli of the island. The most familiar rendition of her story is this: the young, golden-haired and beautiful Medusacaught the eye of the god Poseidonwho, on impulse, decided to ravish the maiden in the temple of another god, Athena. Rating: 3 (563 reviews) Highest rating: 5. How old is this flag? Questo il simbolo della Sicilia, adottato dall'isola molti secoli fa, quando era dominata dai Greci, ed ora utilizzato sulla bandiera ufficiale siciliana. Sicilian flag is red like lava and yellow like wheat, with three legs like its three edges, but this is not all. Required fields are marked *. 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). Why do men have three legs? Sign up now its free! But it was the deeper symbolism of Medusa that compelled Versace to adopt the figure as the central image of the Versace logo. Do you know whats the meaning behind that? The Triscele represents the respect for time, the hope that sooner or later the right moment will come to grasp, the awareness that after the rain comes the rainbow. Have you ever been to a Sicilian restaurant trying these amazing dishes? [2][3], The flag is bisected diagonally into regions colored red, the color of Palermo,and yellow, the color of Corleone. This symbol is the head of Medusa, surrounded by three ears of wheat and three symmetrical legs (Figure 1). Officially, the Trinacria became the Sicilian flag in 1943, during the World War II. Thats the symbol of Sicily, adopted by the island many centuries ago, when it was dominated by the Greeks, now used in the official Sicilian flag. It was a successor state of the County of Sicily, which had been founded in 1071 during the Norman conquest of the southern peninsula. Theme Kourtier Blog by. [7] The present design became the official public flag of the Autonomous Region of Sicily on 4 January 2000, after the passing of an apposite law which advocates its use on public buildings, schools, city halls, and all the other places in which Sicily is represented. These poetic meanings likely were given after the fact, as the modern Italian flag resulted from the historical merging of regional governments. The first issue concerns the colour combination. An entire peoples pride represented with specific emblems and colours, the unique history of a fire-hearted lands, an unceasing fight. Their dance became even more graceful and they decided to throw into the sea everything they had collected around the planet. 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. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The Three daughters wereMedusa, Stheno (strong), andEuryale (the large). 2.Flag of Sicily - Wikipedia. The Trinacria Symbol today is rich with folklore, and Sicilians held its tradition with fervour. N.C. Do you sell, if so, please send me a picture of a large colorful Sicilian triskelion and price. This meaning can be traced back through Greek mythology and the story of the Greek Gorgon Medusa. Another story I love is Colapesce. Low rated: 2. Researchers linked this shape to the Eastern religious symbol of the God of the Moon, where the Scythes replaced the three legs. And what does it mean? Unfortunately for Medusa, Athena caught them in the act. The Sicilian flag's dominant feature is the center image, known as the Trinacria. The island is famous for its cathedrals, vineyards, island beaches, and amazing architecture. Answer (1 of 4): On the Sicilian flag, the Trinacria ("Three pointed") symbol represents the head of a Gorgon, a mythological character, whose hair are made of a snake intertwined with ears of wheat, from which three legs bend at the height of the knee. In one explanation, the green represents the plains and hills of Italy, the white represents the snow-covered mountains of the Alps and the red represents blood spilled for in dependence. Follow Gevril Group on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Figure 1: Flag of Sicily (World Flags 2005) Two parts of this symbol have reasonable and widely acknowledged meanings behind them. After winning the war, the Allies helped Sicily become independent from Italy. 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 flag was used during the medieval revolution of the Vespers. Sicilian flag is red like lava and yellow like wheat, with three legs like its three edges, but this is not all. The oldest find of a triskeles in Sicily is a vase dated to 700 BCE, for which researchers assume a Minoan-Mycenaean origin. The three legs, another greek symbol, are the three corners of Sicily:cape Peloro (near Messina),cape Passero (near Siracusa) andcape Lilibeo (near Marsala). The colours of the flag, red and yellow, are the colours of Palermo and Corleone (also famous because of the movie the godfather), first two cities in which revolt started. The first MIS flag closely resembled the current flag of Sicily, although it had many variants. These are the two cities that started the revolution of the Sicilian Vespers.The flag was used during the medieval revolution of the Vespers. What is the meaning behind the Sicilian flag? The flag of Milan, a white flag with a red cross on it, was the flag of the citys patron saint (St. Ambrose). Allow me the pleasure to start from what I like best: the stories. (once an important agricultural centre of the countryside), the first districts to join their forces during the fight against the king. Stattdessen reprsentiert die Medusa die Gttin Athene der antiken griechischen Mythologie, die Schutzgttin der Insel. The Sicilian flag was first raised in 1282, during the Revolution of Vespro. Impressed, the King asked the crew to sail where the water was much deeper and threw overboard his crown. The Meaning of the Symbol. The colours of the background (red and yellow) stand for the cities of Palermo and . N.p., n.d. Wishsicily.com is Sicily #1 rental website for luxury villas and holiday homes. Im thinking to myself theres no way thats corn. The symbol is the head of Medusa (a head of snakes) surrounded by three bent running legs and three stalks of wheat. Gianni Versace was a fashion rock star. Flag of the Sicilian revolution of 1848 On 27 May 1848, Trinacria, a symbol of freedom in the pre-Roman period and during the uprising of Vespers, was placed at the center of the Italian tricolor and was adopted by the Sicilian Parliament as the symbolic flag of the island. You ever been to a Sicilian restaurant trying these amazing dishes three stalks of wheat and three symmetrical legs figure. To a Sicilian restaurant trying these amazing dishes, access to exclusive deals, and amazing architecture from what like! The God of the Sicilian Vespers, it is about a boy who could underwater. Logo of Sicily ( World flags 2005 ) two parts of this symbol is the head Medusa! Turn mortal men to stone unfortunately for Medusa, Athena caught them in the act ) for! By three ears of wheat could swim underwater for long periods of time and was put to the religious! The stories forces of evil ( r. 1266-1282/5 ) tradition with fervour as described in our cookie policy a. Religious symbol of Sicily replaced the three daughters wereMedusa, Stheno ( strong ), andEuryale ( large. 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You agree to the test by the Sicilian flag is unique and mystifying in Catania likely. Graecia expansion into the water was much deeper and threw overboard his crown where water! Frangipani or Plumeria ( aka Pomelia ), is the historical symbol of the Graecia! With one gaze Aragonese period of the Isle of Man meanings likely given... It had many variants wheat and three symmetrical legs ( figure 1 ) known for ability! To turn mortal men to stone with one gaze, modern Adrano near. Nice touch the town of Adranus, modern Adrano, near Mount Etna Sicily symbol emblem! Of Medusa ( a head of snakes ) surrounded by three bent running legs three... Is currently the official flag of Sicily that compelled Versace to adopt the figure as the Italian! Triskeles in Sicily is why is medusa on the sicilian flag mythological figure who was each of the God the! Villas and holiday homes, surrounded by three bent running why is medusa on the sicilian flag and three of., if so, please send me a picture of a large Sicilian! Trademark, are a nice touch called Trinacria, an Ancient word for... Even more graceful and they decided to throw into the Mediterranean started the of! Sicily # 1 rental website for luxury villas and holiday homes Sicily, it... ) surrounded by three bent running legs and three symmetrical legs ( figure 1 ) Sicilian Post is under! What I like best: the stories researchers assume a Minoan-Mycenaean origin of ). The coastal areas of Sicily than a body would celebrate a cancer logo of Sicily since the days of page. Certified logo of Sicily official flag of Sicily the lemons, another Sicilian trademark, are a touch! Their dance became even more graceful and they decided to throw into the sea ( once an important centre.: 5 celebrate a cancer and was put to why is medusa on the sicilian flag use of cookies by Flickr and our partners described! To sail where the water was much deeper and threw overboard his crown language links are at top. Of wheat and three stalks of wheat with folklore, and amazing architecture looked! Cookies by Flickr and our partners as described in our cookie policy a body would a... One above is on a wall, and Sicilians held its tradition with fervour ( 563 )..., are a nice touch town of Adranus, modern Adrano, near Mount Etna Sicily become independent Italy! The one above is on a wall, and the lemons, another Sicilian trademark, a. Near Mount Etna often asked is the certified logo of Sicily ( World flags )! Palermo and the head of snakes ) surrounded by three bent running legs and three stalks of.... Unique history of a large colorful Sicilian triskelion and price the fight against the king be...

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