Unlike Italian, which is almost entirely Latin based, Sicilian has elements of Greek, Arabic, French, Catalan, and Spanish. Sicilian flag is red like lava and yellow like wheat, with three legs like its three edges, but this is not all. The reason why the wolf is considered the symbol of Italy is because the legend says that the twins brothers who founded the city of Rome, Romulus and Remus, were raised by a she-wolf who cared for and protected them from wild animals as she raised them as her own children. In the middle, is a head of Medusa. Is Sicily still Italy? Radicini, Ninni. The flag signifies an entire country, so a lot of consideration went into the flag design that we know today. Trinacria was the earliest known name of the island of Sicily. The water shone and produced an incredible rainbow. 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. triskelion The flag's background is bisected diagonally, resulting in a yellow . A horizontal tricolour of teal, white-edged black and yellow with the red isosceles triangle based on the hoist-side bearing the yellow five-pointed star that bears a Kalashnikov rifle with the bayonet attached to the barrel crossed by a farming mattock superimposed on an open book. 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. The word Trinacria means triangle and refers to the shape of the island. So no worries, you can feel safe on Sicil y, and youre sure to see the flag at some point. [5] 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.. Author: en.wikipedia.org. Figure 1: Flag of Sicily (World Flags 2005) Two parts of this symbol have reasonable and widely acknowledged meanings behind them. The aspect ratio of the Italian flag is 2:3. The red and white came from the flag of Milan, and the green from the color of the regions military. The first use of a green/white/red tricolor design for a flag in what is now Italy was in 1796 when it represented a republic in the north. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You can see the Trinacria everywhere, it's the symbol of Sicily, the head of Medusa, with wings. Sicily adopted its first official flag in 1995. In 1254, for a brief spell, Sicily was ruled by Edmund Crouchback, son of Henry III, King of England. The origin of this flag dates back to 1282, during the Sicilian Vesper, the rebellion of Sicilians againstAngevins; having a flag was very important because it represented the Sicilian people against the stranger ruler. We are sure you would find one of our flags!! Medusa was mainly known for her ability to turn mortal men to stone with one gaze. So ghastly was Medusa that anyone who looked upon her face turned to stone. The color green is at the hoist side. The red of Palermo and the yellow of [], Great info have one in my yard love knowing the history now thanks Jerry Dindia. The flag changed in 2000 to the current design. The symbol is the head of Medusa (a head of snakes) surrounded by three bent running legs and three stalks of wheat. Triskelion (generally symbolising prosperity) visible on the flag has become one of the biggest symbols of Sicily. Trinacria was the earliest known name of the island of Sicily. 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 . 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. [12] The logo of the separatist party "Free Sicilians" alludes to this flag. The Meaning of the Symbol The symbol of Sicily known as the Trinacria or Triseklion is said to be derived from a myth about three nymphs. The Strait of Messina separates it from the region of Calabria in Southern Italy. In the Sicilian version, its supposed to be an amulet against bad luck. 09 Nov. 2014. Join the conversation! Moreover, its three wrapping legs represent that religious and spiritual nuance which has always been typical of the region. Your email address will not be published. Cosa rappresenta il simbolo della Sicilia? The Triskeles -with- Gorgoneion symbol is found in antiquity, depicted on coins minted in Syracuse in the 4th century BC. But the goddess was also known for her help to fight the forces of evil. 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. Everywhere in Sicily, you've probably found the Trinacria on the flags, souvenirs or ceramic artwork. A creative and strategic powerhouse in her own right, Donatella wanted to ensure the Versace brand was poised to flourish in the 21st century. 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. Every Sicilian in the world recognizes this flag it is the Sicilian flag and brings to us a lot of memories and feelings. The diagonal division in red and yellow goes back to 1943 when it was used by the separatist movement led by Andrea Finocchiaro Aprile. 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 Kingdom of Sicily[8][9][10] was a state that existed in the south of the Italian peninsula and for a time the region of Ifriqiya from its founding by RogerII of Sicily in 1130 until 1816. They celebrate the extraordinary fertility of the island of Sicily that at the time used to be the granary of the empire of Rome. A typical Archaic Medusa head on a 6th century BC akroterion, or end-tile from the Temple of Athena in Miletus/Miletos in Ionia (modern Turkey), with the grimace, tongue, snake-hair and all. 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). The Trinacria has been the symbol of Sicily since the days of the Magna Graecia expansion into the Mediterranean. 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. 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. They wanted to remark their detachment from the Italian government. See Details. Plan your next holiday in Sicily with us. Instead, the Medusa represents the Goddess Athena of ancient Greek mythology, the Patron Goddess of the island. 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. 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. The flag of Sicily. flag of a British crown possession, flown subordinate to the Union Jack, that consists of a red field (background) bearing a central triskelion, or triskele, of three bent legs joined together at a central point. Colapesce did not waste any time: he plunged, came back promptly with the precious goblet and narrated the wonderful submarine landscape he had just admired. Yet, another myth comes from the time of King Frederick the II. Follow Gevril Group on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. A ceramic plaque with three bent legs and three wheat ears surrounding the head of Medusa is widely known as the symbol of Sicily. The American Flag uses the colors red, white, and blue, similar to the colors of American political parties. 2.Flag of Sicily - Wikipedia. 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. White is the center band, and the outer stripe is red. 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. At last, he decided to go and said: Give me a handful of lentils. There she is, her face a fearsome grimace, with fanged grinning mouth, protruding tongue and bulbous eyes. The next king of Sicily island was Peter III of Aragon of the House of Barcelona. Dont worry though: she is not meant to turn the islands inhabitants or the guiltless visitors into stone. The Gorgoneion : It is only in Roman times that the triskeles loses its intrinsic religious significance to become exclusively the geographical symbol of Sicily. Other scholars argue that three running legs mean the racing of time in the cycle of nature. 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. Gevril Group, watchmaker and wholesale watch distributor, is the exclusive U.S. agent for exquisitely designed and crafted European luxury and fashion watch brands, distributing and servicing some of the best affordable luxury and Swiss watches and trendy fashion watches. The flag officially became the symbol of Sicily in 1282 after a successful revolt by the Sicilians against Charles the I. In the Symbol of Sicily, the head of Medusa appears with entwined serpents hair and ears of corn . Corleone is an Italian town and comune of roughly 11,158 inhabitants in the Metropolitan City of Palermo, in Sicily. Flag of the Voluntary Army for the Independence of Sicilyit (1945-1946), EVIS flag consists of Senyera and the blue canton with Trinacria. . At Messina, the colours took on even greater significance, as Sicilians flooded there to defend against the advance of the Papal army sent to reinstate the disgraced Angevins. Sorry can someone show me the ears of corn, I only see the the snakes, Its absolutely wheat, not corn. Why are there 3 legs on the Sicilian flag? Why do men have three legs? Please subscribe to the Gevril Group newsletter and blog. Medusa herself features heavily in popular culture, including in the Clash of the Titans films and the game Assassin's Creed. 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). And what does it mean? Around that time, the last member of the Crovan family, rulers of the Isle of Man, died in 1265 without a legitimate heir. 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. The symbol of Sicily known as the Trinacria or Triseklion is said to be derived from a myth about three nymphs. After WWII, it was officially used in the design of Sicilian flag when the Republic of Italy recognized Sicily as an autonomous region. Unfortunately for Medusa, Athena caught them in the act. Medusa was one of the three Gorgons in classical Greek mythology, and the only one who was mortal. 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. The meaning of the Sicily symbol is mainly mythological but some historians have dated it back to being an old religious symbol. As a creative force, Gianni Versace drew heavily on the inspirations of his upbringing and surroundings, which were permeated with Greek art and mythology. 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. 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. In 1296, the quartering of the Swabian and Aragonese arms was changed to the Saint Andrew's cross, with stripes at the top and bottom, and with eagles on the right and left. The Trinacria is a case in point. medieval. Yes, that odd-looking female head with three legs attached to it. [13] Separatist movement [ edit] [] the oldest flag in the world, along with the Scottish flag and the four Moors of Sardinia. The most familiar rendition of her story is this: the young, golden-haired and beautiful Medusa caught the eye of the god Poseidon who, on impulse, decided to ravish the maiden in the temple of another god, Athena. 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. 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. I did some research and found out that, while the origin of the Isle of Mans triskeles is uncertain, there is a connection between the two islands. 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. In the Trinacria, the head of Medusa stands in the centre. Kalashnikov rifle 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. Thank you. Sicily, Italian Sicilia, island, southern Italy, the largest and one of the most densely populated islands in the Mediterranean Sea. This is why, they say, the island has three corners which symbolise each feet of the nymphs. She streamlined certain areas of Versace design while expanding and diversifying the overall product line. Medusa was one of the three Gorgonsin classical Greek mythology, and the only one who was mortal. It was at this time referred to as "the sign of the Trinacria",[6] Sicily being referred to by its ancient name, The flag is yellow and blue. In a fit of rage and jealousy, Athena turned Medusa into a hideous monster with serpent hair. (once an important agricultural centre of the countryside), the first districts to join their forces during the fight against the king. In 1296, with the rise of Frederick III, of the House of Aragona, on the throne of Sicily, what was to be the flag of the Kingdom of Sicily until 1816 was introduced. It made its early appearances in small bunches carried by the noblewomen of Palermo in the 18th century. Like most flags of the world, the flag of Sicily has undergone various changes through time, but its two main elements have always been there: the head of Medusa (the mythological Greek "Gorgon") and the so-called " triskelion " (triscele or trinacria in Italian). Lets find out more about the history of Sicily. The Italian flag is a tricolor flag of three equally sized vertical pales of green, white and red. Moreover, in ancient mythology, the arrangement of the three legs suggests a rotation. The emblem as a whole can be found on coins from Syracuse in the 4th century BCE. The Sicilian triskeles is shown with the head of Medusa at the center. 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. Cant be corn because corn came from the new world, along with tomatoes and potatoes in the 1500s. A few days went by without any news, then the King saw some lentils and his ring return to the surface. Sometimes, you might see American Flags with gold fringes along the edges. These are the two cities that started the revolution of the Sicilian Vesper. Some rare theories have sparked up that the yellow half symbolises the sun and the red one symbolises blood, but it seems to be pretty stretched. 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