Listed 100 (total found 284) sub titles with search on: Information about the place for wider area of: "SICILY Island ITALY" .
SELINOUS (Ancient city) SICILY
MORGANTINA (Ancient city) SICILY
ABACAENUM (Ancient city) SICILY
Abacaenum (Abakainon, Diod., Steph. Byz.: AbakaiWa, Ptol.: Eth. Abakaininos:
nr. Tripi,Ru.), a city of Sicily, situated about 4 miles from the N. coast, between
Tyndaris and Mylae, and 8 from the former city. It was a city of the Siculi, and
does not appear to have ever received a Greek colony, though it partook largely
of the influence of Greek art and civilisation. Its territory originally included
that of Tyndaris, which was separated from it by the elder Dionysius when he founded
that city in B.C. 396 (Diod. xiv. 78). From the way in which it is mentioned in
the wars of Dionysius, Agathocles, and Hieron (Diod. xiv. 90, xix. 65, 110, xxii.
Exc. Hoeschel. p. 499), it is clear that it was a place of power and importance:
but from the time of Hieron it disappears from history, and no mention is found
of it in the Verrine orations of Cicero. Its name is, however, found in Ptolemy
(iii. 4. § 12), so that it appears to have still continued to exist in his day.
Its decline was probably owing to the increasing prosperity of the neighbouring
city of Tyndaris.
There can be little doubt that the ruins visible in the time of Fazello,
at the foot of the hill on which the modern town of Tripi is situated, were those
of Abacaenum. He speaks of fragments of masonry, prostrate columns, and the vestiges
of walls, indicating the site of a large city, but which had been destroyed to
its foundations. The locality does not seem to have been examined by any more
recent traveller. (Fazellus, de Reb. Sic. ix. 7; Cluver. Sicil. Ant. p. 386.)
There are found coins of Abacaenum, both in silver and copper. The
boar and acorn, which are the common type of the former, evidently refer to the
great forests of oak which still cover the neigh. bouring mountains, and afford
pasture to large herds of swine.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited July 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
ADRANON (Ancient city) SICILY
Adranum or Hadranum (Adranon, Diod. Steph. B. Haitranum, Sil. Ital.:
Eth. Adranites, Hadranitanus: Aderno), a city of the interior of Sicily, situated
at the foot of the western slope of Mt. Aetna above the valley of the Simeto,
and about 7 miles from Centuripi. We learn from Diodorus (xiv. 37) that there
existed here from very ancient times a temple of a local deity named Adranus,
whose worship was extensively spread through Sicily, and appears to have been
connected with that of the Palici. (Hesych. s. v. Palikoi.) But there was no city
of the name until the year 400 B.C. when it was founded by the elder Dionysius,
with a view to extend his power and influence in the interior of the island. (Diod.
l. c.) It probably continued to be a dependency of Syracuse; but in 345 B.C. it
fell into the hands of Timoleon. (Id. xvi. 68; Plut. Timol. 12.) It was one of
the cities taken by the Romans at the commencement of the First Punic War (Diod.
xxiii. Exc. Hoesch. p. 501), and probably on this account continued afterwards
in a relation to Rome inferior to that of most other Sicilian cities. This may
perhaps account for the circumstance that its name is not once mentioned by Cicero
(see Zumpt ad Cic. Verr. iii. 6, p. 437); but we learn from Pliny that it was
in his time included in the class of the stipendiariae civitates of Sicily. (H.
N. iii. 8.)
Both Diodorus and Plutarch speak of it as a small town owing its importance
chiefly to the sanctity of its temple; but existing remains prove that it must
have been at one time a place of some consideration. These consist of portions
of the ancient walls and towers, built in a massive style of large squared blocks
of lava; of massive substructions, supposed to have been those of the temple of
Adranus; and the ruins of a large building which appears to have belonged to Roman
Thermae. Numerous sepulchres also have been discovered and excavated in the immediate
neighbourhood. The modem town of Aderno retains the ancient site as well as name:
it is a considerable place, with above 6000 inhabitants. (Biscari, Viaggio in
Sicilia, pp. 57-60; Ortolani, Diz. Geogr. della Sicilia, p. 13; Bull. dell. Inst.
Arch. 1843, p. 129.)
Stephanus Byzantinus speaks of the city as situated on a river of
the same name: this was evidently no other than the northern branch of the Simeto
(Symaethus) which is still often called the Finme d'Aderno.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited September 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
AEOLIA (Island complex) ITALY
Aeoliae, Insulae (Aiolides nesoi, Diod. Aidlou nedoi, Thuc. Strab.),
a group of volcanic islands, lying in the Tyrrhenian Sea to the north of Sicily,
between that island and the coast of Lucania. They derived the name of Aeolian
from some fancied connection with the fabulous island of Aeolus mentioned by Homer
in the Odyssey (x. 1, &c.), but they were also frequently termed Vulcaniae or
Hephaestiae, from their volcanic character, which was ascribed to the subterranean
operations of Vulcan, as well as Liparaean (hai Aiearhaion nedoi, Strab. ii. p.
123), from Lipara the largest and most important among them, from which they still
derive the name of the Lipari Islands.
Ancient authors generally agree in reckoning them as seven in number
(Strab. vi. p. 275 ; Plin. iii. 8. 14; Scymn. Ch. 255; Diod. v. 7; Mela, ii. 7;
Dionys. Perieget. 465; Schol. ad Apoll. Rhod. iii. 41), which is correct, if the
smaller islets be omitted. But there is considerable diversity with regard to
their names, and the confusion has been greatly augmented by some modern geographers.
They are enumerated as follows by Strabo, Diodorus, and Pliny:
1. Lipara still called Lipari; the most considerable of the seven, and
the only one which contained a town of any importance.
2. Hiera situated between Lipara and the coast of Sicily. Its original
name according to Strabo was Thermessa (Xhermessa), or, as Pliny writes it, Therasia,
but it was commonly known to the Greeks as Hierha Hiera HePhhaidton, being considered
sacred to Vulcan on account of the volcanic phenomena which it exhibited. For
the same reason it was called by the Romans Vulcani Insula, from whence its modern
appellation of Vulcano. It is the southernmost of the whole group, and is distant
only 12 G. miles from Capo Calava, the nearest point on the coast of Sicily.
3. Strongyle (Strongnle, now Stromboli), so called from its general roundness
of form (Strab.; Lucil. Aetna, 431): the northernmost of the islands, and like
Hiera an active volcano.
4. Didyme (Didnme), now called Salina, or Isola delle Saline, is next to
Lipara the largest of the whole group. Its ancient name was derived (as Strabo
expressly tells us, vi. p. 276), from its form, which circumstance leaves no doubt
of its being the same with the modern Salina, that island being conspicuous for
two high conical mountains which rise to a height of 3,500 feet (Smyth's Sicily,
p. 272; Ferrara, Campi Flegrei della Sicilia, p. 243; Daubeny, On Volcanoes, p.
262). Groskurd (ad Strab.), Mannert, and Forbiger, have erroneously identified
Didyme with Panaria, and thus thrown the whole subject into confusion. It is distant
only three miles NW. from Lipara.
5. Phoenicusa (Phoinikondda, Strab. Phoinikhodes, Diod.), so called from
the palms (Phoinikes) in which it abounded, is evidently Felicudi about 12 miles
W. of Salina.
6. Ericusa (Erikonssa or Erlihodes), probably named from its abundance
of heath (erheike), is the little island of Alicudi, the westernmost of the whole
group. These two were both very small islands and were occupied only for pasturage.
7. Euonymus (Enhonumos), which we are expressly told was the smallest of
the seven and uninhabited. The other six being clearly identified, there can be
no doubt that this is the island now called Panaria, which is situated between
Lipara and Strongyle, though it does not accord with Strabo's description that
it lies the farthest out to sea (pelaghia mhalidta). But it agrees, better at
least than any other, with his statement that it lay on the left hand as one sailed
from Lipara towards Sicily, from whence he supposes it to have derived its name.
Several small islets adjacent to Panaria, are now called the Dattole,
the largest of which Basiluzzo, is probably the Hicesia of Ptolemy (Hikedhia,
Ptol. iii. 4. § 16; Hikhedion, Eustath. ad Hom. Odyss. x. 1), whose list, with
the exception of this addition, corresponds with that; of Strabo. That of Me]a
(ii. 7) is very confused and erroneous: he is certainly in error in including
Osteodes in the Aeolian group.
The volcanic character of these islands was early noticed by the Greeks:
and Diodorus justly remarks (v. 7) that they had all been evidently at one time
vents of eruptive action, as appeared from their still extant craters, though
in his time two only, Hiera and Strongyle, were active volcanoes. Strabo indeed
appears to speak of volcanic eruptions in the island of Lipara itself, but his
expressions, which are not very precise, may probably refer only to outbreaks
of volcanic vapours and hot springs, such as are still found there. Earlier writers,
as Thucydides and Scymnus Chins, allude to the eruptions of Hiera only, and these
were probably in ancient times the most frequent and violent, as they appear to
have attracted much more attention than those of Strongyle, which is now by far
the most active of the two. Hence arose the idea that this was the abode of Vulcan,
and the peculiar sounds that accompanied its internal agitations were attributed
to the hammers and forges of the god and his workmen the Cyclopes. (Thuc. iii.
88; Scymn. Ch. 257--261; Schol. ad Apoll. Rhod. iii. 41; Virg. Aen. viii. 418).
According to Strabo there were three craters on this island, the largest of which
was in a state of the most violent eruption. Polybius (ap. Strab. vi. p. 276),
who appears to have visited it himself, described the principal crater as five
stadia in circumference, but diminishing gradually to a width of only fifty feet,
and estimated its depth at a stadium. From this crater were vomited forth sometimes
flames, at others red hot stones, cinders and ashes, which were carried to a great
distance. No ancient writer mentions streams of lava (pnakes) similar to those
of Aetna. The intensity and character of these eruptions was said to vary very
much according to the direction of the wind, and from these indications, as well
as the gathering of mists and clouds around the summit, the inhabitants of the
neighbouring island of Lipara professed to foretell the winds and weather, a circumstance
which was believed to have given rise to the fable of Aeolus ruling the winds.
The modern Lipariots still maintain the same pretension. (Strab.; Smyth's Sicily,
p. 270.) At a later period Hiera seems to have abated much of its activity, and
the younger Lucilius (a contemporary of Seneca) speaks of its fires as in a great
measure cooled. (Lucil. Aetn. 437.)
We hear much less from ancient authors of the volcanic phenomena of
Strongyle than those of Hiera: but Diodorus describes them as of similar character,
while Strabo tells us that the eruptions were less violent, but produced a more
brilliant light. Pliny says nearly the same thing: and Mela speaks of both Hiera
and Strongyle as burning with perpetual fire. Lucilius on the contrary (Aetna,
434) describes the latter as merely smoking, and occasionally kindled into a blaze,
but for a short time. Diodorus tells us that the eruptions both of Hiera and Strongyle
were observed for the most part to alternate with those of Aetna, on which account
it was supposed by many that there was a subterranean communication between them.
Besides these ordinary volcanic phenomena, which appear to have been
in ancient times (as they still are in the case of Stromboli) in almost constant
operation, we find mention of several more remarkable and unusual outbursts. The
earliest of these is the one recorded by Aristotle (Meteorol. ii. 8), where he
tells us that in the island of Hiera the earth swelled up with a loud noise, and
rose into the form of a considerable hillock, which at length burst and sent forth
not only vapour, but hot cinders and ashes in such quantities that they covered
the whole city of Lipara, and some of them were carried even to the coast of Italy.
The vent from which they issued (he adds) remained still visible: and this was
probably one of the craters seen by Polybius. At a later period Posidonius described
an eruption that took place in the sea between Hiera and Euonymus, which after
producing a violent agitation of the waters, and destroying all the fish, continued
to pour forth mud, fire and smoke for several days, and ended with giving rise
to a small island of a rock like millstone (lava), on which the praetor T. Flamininus
landed and offered sacrifices. (Posidon. ap. Strab. vi. p. 277.) This event is
mentioned by Posidonius as occurring within his own memory; and from the mention
of Flamininus as praetor it is almost certain that it is the same circumstance
recorded by Pliny (ii. 87) as occurring in Ol. 163. 3, or B.C. 126. The same phenomenon
is less accurately described by Julius Obsequens and Orosius (v. 10), both of
whom confirm the above date: but the last author narrates (iv. 20) at a. much
earlier period (B.C. 186) the sudden emergence from the sea of an island, which
he erroneously supposes to have been the Vulcani Insula itself: but which was
probably no other than the rock now called Vulcanello, situated at the NE. extremity
of Vulcano, and united to that island only by a narrow isthmus formed of volcanic
sand and ashes. It still emits smoke and vapour and contains two small craters.
None of the Aeolian islands, except Lipara, appear to have been inhabited
in ancient times to any extent. Thucydides expressly tells us (iii. 88) that in
his day Lipara alone was inhabited, and the other islands, Strongyle, Didyme,
and Hiera, were cultivated by the Liparaeans; and this statement is confirmed
by Diodorus (v. 9). Strabo however speaks of Euonymus as uninhabited in a manner
that seems to imply that the larger islands were not so: and the remains of ancient.
buildings which have been found not only on Salina and Stromboli, but even on
the little rock of Basiluzzo, prove that they were resorted to by the Romans,
probably for the sake of medical baths, for which the volcanic vapours afforded
every facility. Hiera on the contrary apparently remained always uninhabited,
as it does at the present day. But the excellence of its port (Lucil. Aetn. 442)
rendered it of importance as a naval station, and we find both Hiera and Strongyle
occupied by the fleet of Augustus during the war with Sex. Pompeius in B.C. 36.
(Appian. B.C. v. 105.) All the islands suffered great disadvantage, as they still
do, from the want of water, consequent on the light and porous nature of the volcanic
soil. (Thuc. iii. 88; Smyth's Sicily, p. 249.) But though little adapted for agriculture
they possessed great resources in their stores of alum, sulphur, and pumice, which
were derived both from Hiera and Strongyle, and exported in large quantities.
The sea also abounded in fish; and produced coral of the finest quality. (Plin.
xxxii. 2. § 11, xxxv. 15. § § 50, 52, xxxvi. 21. § 42; Lucil. Aetn. 432.)
It is scarcely necessary to inquire which of the Aeolian islands has
the most claim to be considered as the residence of Aeolus himself. Homer certainly
speaks only of one island, and is followed in this respect by Virgil. But the
floating island of the elder poet, girt all around with a wall of brass, is scarcely
susceptible of any precise geographical determination. The common tradition among
the later Greeks seems to have chosen the island of Lipara itself as the dwelling
of Aeolus, and the explanation of the fable above alluded to is evidently adapted
to this assumption. But Strabo and Pliny both place the abode of the ruler of
the winds in Strongyle, and the latter transfers to that island what others related
of Hiera. Ptolemy on the contrary, by a strange confusion, mentions the island
of Aeolus (Aiholou nedos, iii. 4. § 17) as something altogether distinct from
the Aeolian islands, which he had previously enumerated separately: while Eustathius
(ad Hom. Odyss. x. 1) reckons it as one of the seven, omitting Euonymus to make
room for it, though in another passage (ad Dionys. Per. 461) he follows Strabo's
authority, and identifies it with Strongyle.
For an account of the present state of the Lipari Islands and their
volcanic phenomena the reader may consult Smyth's Sicily, chap. vii. p. 274--278;
Ferrara, Campi Flegrei della Sicilia, p. 199--252; Daubeny, On Volcanoes, ch.
14, pp. 245--263, 2nd edit. The history of the islands is almost wholly dependent
on that of Lipara, and will be found in that article.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited July 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
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