SICILY (island)
Island in the Mediterranean, region of Italy
- Kind of place
- Island
- Patron
- Demeter
- Where
- 37.60° N, 14.02° E
The island has a triangular shape, which led to its original name Trinacria. Strabo 6.2.1 The island is considered sacred to the goddesses Demeter and Core. Diodorus 5.2 Sicily is described as the richest of the islands. Diodorus 5.2
Described in the sources
Gelon, son of Dinomenes, ruled as tyrant over Syracuse and the rest of the island of Sicily. Athenaeus 10.47 +4 Mount Aetna is located in Sicily and is the highest point on the island. Apollodorus 1.6.3 +4 Ulysses' wandering journey is said to have taken place around Sicily and Italy. Strabo 1.2.11 +4 Dionysius later became the despot ruling over Sicily and returned to the island to resume his government after being expelled. Athenaeus 15.48 +4 The city of Hycara is located within the island of Sicily. Athenaeus 13.54 +3 Cape Pelorus is located on the Sicilian side of the strait. Aeneid 3.374 part 1 +3 Daedalus fled to Sicily after escaping from Crete and sought refuge with Cocalus. Apollodorus, Epitome 1.13 +2 Sicily is an extensive triangular island that extends the north-south length of Italy and is situated among the islands fronting Italy. Strabo 2.5.30 +2 Dorians and Ionians are among the Greek groups that settled in Sicily, with the Dorians migrating there many years after the fall of Troy. Apollodorus, Epitome 6.15 +2 Heracles crossed the narrow strait to Sicily to pursue the cattle of Geryones, which had swum there, and searched for them near a bent olive tree. Diodorus 4.22 +2
Gods and worship
It produces more wheat, honey, and saffron than Italy does. Strabo 6.2.7 Enna commands the surrounding plains from its central position. Strabo 6.2.7 Sicilian men would dance around the goddesses during these rites. Athenaeus 6.56 Sicilians honored a sanctuary of the goddess Hyblaea in Gereatis. Pausanias 5.23.6 Men in Sicily would spend the night around nymph statues while drunk. Athenaeus 6.56 The people of Sicily gave great honours to Demeter for her benefactions. Diodorus 5.77
Stories and history
Minos died a violent death on this island. Herodotus 7.170.1 +1 Athena threw the island onto the fleeing giant Enceladus. Apollodorus 1.6.2 +1 Sextus Pompey caused a revolt in Sicily after escaping from Corduba. Strabo 3.2.2 +1 The Romans wrested control of the island away from the Carthaginians. Strabo 6.4.2 part 1 +1 According to Pindar, the island presses upon the shaggy breast of Typhon. Pindar, Pythian 1 ¶3 +1 The Samians settled in Zancle after escaping from the Medes and granted the city to Cadmus. Herodotus 6.24.2 +1 Pallas lifted Sicily up in ancient times. Quintus 14 ¶34 The Tyrrhenian Sea extends as far as Sicily. Strabo 2.5.19 Sicilian tables featured a variety of dishes. Athenaeus 12.34 Anaxilas transported the Messenians to Sicily. Pausanias 4.23.6
Myths set at Sicily
In the age of the gods
Before the heroes. In Godsunder these are history: everyone in the world knows them.
- The Abduction of Persephone. Hermes is sent by Zeus to persuade Hades to release Persephone, who was abducted from a meadow while gathering flowers. Hades is compelled to keep Persephone with him for one third of every year because she ate a pomegranate seed. Apollodorus 1.5.1 +5 Hades
- The Domain of Aphrodite. Aphrodite establishes her divine presence across multiple locations, including Sicily, Cyprus, and Asia. Her domain extends to all humanity, with specific claims of origin in Crete and a seat in Paphos. Aeschylus, Suppliant Maidens 547-555 +3 Aphrodite
In the age of heroes
- The Contest with Mopsus. Calchas, a seer, encounters Mopsus, a prophet considered superior to him, leading to a divination contest. Calchas dies of vexation after Mopsus correctly answers a riddle that Calchas fails to solve. Apollodorus, Epitome 6.2 +5 Calchas
- The Death of Minos. Minos is driven to Sicily by a storm during a campaign against Cocalus, where he is treacherously killed by Cocalus's daughters in a hot bath. His bones are later returned to Crete and buried in a magnificent tomb. Apollodorus, Epitome 1.15 +5 Minos
- The Escape from Minos in Sicily. Minos hunts Daedalus across the sea to punish him for escaping his captivity. Daedalus hides with King Cocalus in Sicily, but Minos eventually locates him and wages war against the king. Apollodorus, Epitome 1.14 +5 Daedalus
- The Prophecy to Aeneas. Aeneas arrives at the house of the prophet Helenus, who welcomes him as kin and performs sacrifices to seek divine guidance. Helenus reveals a detailed prophecy of the journey ahead, including dangerous reefs, specific rituals, and the final location of the new city, though the Fates limit what he can reveal about Aeneas's father's death. Aeneid 3.320 +5 Helenus
- The Pursuit of Daedalus. hook: "Minos, king of Crete, views Daedalus as an obstacle to his escape and launches a massive naval pursuit across the sea.", "goal: "Minos sets out to capture Daedalus, who has fled Crete, by searching Sicily and demanding his surrender from King Cocalus.", "outcome: "Minos discovers Daedalus is hiding with Cocalus after observing a thread pass through a spiral shell he had displayed."}, Apollodorus, Epitome 1.14 +5 Minos
- The Visit to the Cimmerians. Ulysses travels to Sicily and Italy, accompanied by Baius and Misenus, in a journey that mixes historical truth with fictional embellishments. The outcome is a narrative where the poet alters facts to create terrifying scenes, though local traditions support the reality of the actors. Strabo 1.2.12 +5 Odysseus
- The Journey Through Sicily. Heracles travels around Sicily transporting cattle and pursuing creatures that swam to the island. He defeats the Sicani in battle while moving through the interior. Diodorus 4.22 +3 Heracles
- The Attack on the Trojan Fleet. Scylla, a nymph transformed into a rock, attacks the Trojan fleet. The story ends with her barking in the deep waters of Sicily. Ovid Met. 14.1-74 (5) +2 Scylla
- The Sacrifice at Anchises' Tomb. Aeneas lands in Sicily to honor his father's ashes and performs a solemn sacrifice at Anchises' tomb. He offers libations, animals, and prayers, interpreting a snake as a sign of his father's spirit. Aeneid 5.1 +2 Aeneas
- Founding of Colonies. hook: "Philoctetes is forced to leave Meliboea due to internal civil conflicts.", Strabo 6.1.3 +1 Philoctetes
- Search for Dionysus. hook: Pirates attack and kidnap Bromius, prompting Silenus to sail with his children to search for him. goal: Silenus aims to find and rescue Bromius from the pirates. outcome: Silenus is driven to Sicily while pursuing the pirates. Euripides, The Cyclops 1-40 +1 Silenus
- The Burning of the Ships. hook: "Aeneas arrives at the camp to find his fleet burning in a frenzy caused by the women.", "goal: "Aeneas prays to Jupiter for the safety of his fleet and seeks guidance on whether to stay in Sicily or continue to Italy.", "outcome: "Aeneas is advised to leave the crews of lost ships with Acestes and separate the weak from the main group."}, Aeneid 5.604 part 2 +1 Aeneas
2 more
- The Arrival in Sicily. Meriones arrives in Sicily after the fall of Troy, where local Cretans welcome him due to shared kinship. The Cretans who landed with him are granted citizenship by the local community. Diodorus 4.79 Meriones
- The Settlement in Sicily. Aeneas arrives in Sicily with the Trojan Elymus. He takes possession of Eryx and Lilybaeus, and in another account, disembarks at Aegesta. Strabo 13.1.53 Aeneas