The Trinacria is a case in point. Is Sicilian flag, one of the oldest in the entire world, the material representation of its inhabitants feelings? Do you know whats the meaning behind that? The water shone and produced an incredible rainbow. 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.[13]. Genau in der Mitte des sizilianischen Symbols knnen wir das Haupt der Medusa mit ihrem schlangenhaarigen Kopf und ihren goldenen Flgeln erkennen. 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, . Officially, the Trinacria became the Sicilian flag in 1943, during the World War II. After WWII, it was officially used in the design of Sicilian flag when the Republic of Italy recognized Sicily as an autonomous region. 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. Required fields are marked *. When I was there four years ago, the only city that leveraged off The Godfather was Taormina, the tourist Mecca. 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). These are the two cities that started the revolution of the Sicilian Vespers.The flag was used during the medieval revolution of the Vespers. 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 emblem as a whole can be found on coins from Syracuse in the 4th century BCE. The aspect ratio of the Italian flag is 2:3. Yet, another myth comes from the time of King Frederick the II. Theme Kourtier Blog by. In Italian the flag is known as Il Tricolore (tree|koh|LOHR|eh) because of this, in much the same way that the American flag is commonly known as the stars and stripes.. It was at this time referred to as "the sign of the Trinacria",[6] Sicily being referred to by its ancient name, We are telling stories from Sicily to the world. La disposizione delle tre gambe si riferisce al simbolismo religioso orientale. The symbol is known as Trinacria, a Greek word that means 'three pointed;' it recalls the shape of the island, which resembles a triangle. Low rated: 2. And what about the Gorgon? Sicilians or the Sicilian people are a Romance speaking people who are indigenous to the island of Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the largest and most populous of the autonomous regions of Italy. However the Trinacria symbol had existed long before. And what about you? At last, he decided to go and said: Give me a handful of lentils. Eventually, the story goes, the boy discovered that Sicily was held up by three columns and one was about to break. Looking at the picture of the flag I see what looks like 3 sprigs of wheat coming from the head and hanging between the legs. One day they reached a region with a wonderful clear blue sky and they fell in love with the place. This regional symbol has deep historical and religious roots, which make Sicilians what they once were and what they still are, as if it was the chest of their most untouchable secrets. 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. After winning the war, the Allies helped Sicily become independent from Italy. USA: +1 919-249-5055 / 243 Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road - Po Box 9000 Edgartown MA 02539, Great Foods of Italy: Parmigiano-Reggiano, 2023 Language Immersion Program in Puglia. A long time ago, three nymphs danced all over the world. 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. The flag of Milan, a white flag with a red cross on it, was the flag of the citys patron saint (St. Ambrose). In passato, era consuetudine posizionare una trinacria dietro la porta di casa come simbolo di protezione: la Medusa avrebbe pietrificato chiunque volesse fare del male alla famiglia che viveva al suo interno. 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. The arrangement of the three legs refers to Eastern religious symbolism. The flag signifies an entire country, so a lot of consideration went into the flag design that we know today. You can see the Trinacria everywhere, it's the symbol of Sicily, the head of Medusa, with wings. Since Peter III was Manfred's son-in-law, he restored the coat of arms with the black eagle and added four red stripes on a yellow background from his own coat of arms. Flag of the Movement for the Independence of Sicily (1945), The "vespro flag" used by separatist movements in the 1940s. In the Trinacria, the head of Medusa stands in the centre. 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, . Trinacria ("having three headlands"). The red half symbolises Palermo, the yellow half Corleone. We're so glad youre curious aboutour Italy intel. Receive updates, access to exclusive deals, and more. Your email address will not be published. The word Trinacria means triangle and refers to the shape of the island. 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. These are the two cities that started the revolution of the Sicilian Vesper. The two main colours, red and yellow, represent Palermo and Corleone, the two founding cities of the confederation against the Angevins. The law states that the Sicilian flag is exposed to the outside of the Sicilian Parliament, Regional Government, Provincial Councils and Municipal Councils, Educational institutions of each levels, and the buildings used as . The Gorgoneion : It is only in Roman times that the triskeles loses its intrinsic religious significance to become exclusively the geographical symbol of Sicily. Even though Ive seen this flag hundreds of times I actually had to take a second look to see if it was in fact corn. 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. 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. 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. This is how Medusa is most commonly portrayed and remembered, and why she is most often associated with anger and evil. La testa rientra nellambito della mitologia greca, si dice che sia Medusa, una gorgone (creatura mostruosa) con testa di serpenti, una bellissima donna che seduce gli uomini i quali, guardandola, venivano trasformati in pietra. Why is Medusa in the Sicilian flag? Aut. The Trinacria has been on the Sicilian flag since 1943, when Andrea Finocchiaro Aprile lead an independence movement with the allies. 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. Why is it red and yellow? - Sicilian Food Culture, Modica Chocolate: from Aztecs to Sicily! The Sicilian version is the head of Medusa surrounded by three bent legs. 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? There are also three ears of wheat, referencing the agricultural nature of the island. However tenuous, this is the only explanation I found. Subscribe now to our newsletter . 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. However, they both retain the original meaning of an amulet against bad luck. Right at the center of the Sicilian symbol, we can identify the head of Medusa, with her snake-haired head and golden wings. The three stalks of wheat were added in Roman times, when Sicily was a major wheat provider of the Roman empire; overall, they symbolize the fertility and prosperity of the region. It made its early appearances in small bunches carried by the noblewomen of Palermo in the 18th century. 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. This meaning can be traced back through Greek mythology and the story of the Greek Gorgon Medusa. The head refers to Greek mythology, it is said to be Medusa, a gorgon (monstrous creature) with a head of snakes, a beautiful woman seducing men who, upon looking at her, were turned into stone. One reply on What does Sicilian flag really symbolize?, ARIA: a revolutionary tool for journalists, funded by Google, Sicilian Post All Rights Reserved. The function of the flag also changed gradually: initially it was a banner of war later it became a flag raised by Sicilian merchant ships. This is one of the most ancient stories. Banner of Manfred, King of Sicily (r. 1258-1266). The ancient symbol has been re-introduced in modern flags of Sicily since 1848. Wishsicily.com is Sicily #1 rental website for luxury villas and holiday homes. 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. Anyway, regardless of your choice, you may want to impress your travel companions and learn something about the origins of the Trinacria or Triskelion and some fascinating stories surrounding the birth of Sicily and its three-legged symbol. Over thehistory, we can find the use of Trinacria also inCrete, Macedonia, and in Celtiberian Spain. The Meaning of the Symbol. Im thinking to myself theres no way thats corn. [12] The logo of the separatist party "Free Sicilians" alludes to this flag. The head refers to Greek mythology, it is said to be Medusa, a gorgon (monstrous creature) with a head of snakes, a beautiful woman seducing men who, upon looking at her, were turned into stone. 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. Around that time, the last member of the Crovan family, rulers of the Isle of Man, died in 1265 without a legitimate heir. Her beauty is apparent in her proportional features and fulsome lips, but her eyes remain hollow, her intentions ambiguous. Web. The Sicilian version is the head of Medusa surrounded by three bent legs. The time of King Frederick the II red and yellow, represent Palermo and,. Design of Sicilian flag why is medusa on the sicilian flag 1943, when Andrea Finocchiaro Aprile lead an independence movement with the Italian in. 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