The political system of Europe has undergone many changes over the centuries. Borders moved, some countries disappeared, others appeared. Echoes of those events can now be seen in the official attributes of states and regions. Let's carefully examine the flag of Sicily.
The cloth causes interest already at first sight. The fact is that a very extravagant image is put on the flag of the island, the essence of which is hidden in history. But let's talk about everything in order.
Flag of Sicily: Description
When studying banners, pay attention to all the little things. So we will do. The flag of Sicily (photo above) has two colors: red and yellow, dividing the cloth diagonally. They correspond to the cities located in the region: Palermo and Corleone. Their inhabitants at one time organized resistance to the ruling Sicily Anjou house.
The most interesting is the image in the center of the banner. It is called triskelion. Translated, the word means "triangle." It is believed that the ancient Greeks called the island when they first saw it. They were struck by the shape of the earth, resembling a geometric figure.
The flag of Sicily shows clear connections with mythological characters and has deep historical roots. Triskelion resembles Medusa Gorgon. Most likely, the authors of the banner decided to use the mythical images that symbolically characterize the region.
Triskelion
The flag of Sicily looks quite exotic for a modern person thanks to the symbol depicted in the center. This is a female head from which three legs and an ear stick out. Each element has its own decoding. Together, they create a single ensemble, revealing a network of a rather complicated history of this territory.
Sicily has long been a tidbit for neighbors, neighbors and distant. Countless times the island was tried to conquer or recapture from the next owner. All these events left their mark on the worldview of the population of this region. People in the blood have a desire to protect their land from the entire aggressive world. This meaning is embedded in the central symbol of the banner. Legs, strangely sticking straight out of my head, are deciphered in two ways. On the one hand, they symbolize the three extremities of the island. On the other hand, some researchers see the rays of the sun in them. You can agree with each of the wordings.
Sicily flag: history
Before moving on, let's look from the side at what the inhabitants of this region had to transfer.
Sicily since ancient times was considered the sunniest and most fertile region of Italy. Here people were engaged in agriculture, grew fruit trees, and harvested a rich harvest. This natural wealth was the reason for the constant raids. Neighboring lands could not give birth so generously, people were starving, trying to find a more comfortable place where "they feed better."
By the way, nothing has changed since then. Since 1268, this territory was ruled by Karl of Anjou, brother of the French king. This man oppressed the locals, arranged bloody showdowns and terrible requisitions. Such rule led to an uprising organized by the inhabitants of two large cities. They in 1282 approved the first flag of Sicily, which is the prototype of the present.
The motivation of the rebels was reflected in the banner
Living constantly under the threat of robbery is very difficult. But that was precisely the proportion of Sicilians. People sought protection from the conquerors. It is this idea that underlies the application of the head of the Medusa Gorgon on the banner. This mythological character was supposed to protect the population, as well as inspire people to fight against numerous enemies.
Optimism was added to them by three legs and ears. They remind people that their homeland is rich, generous and fertile. Spikes are a sign of the breadbasket, and legs, as already mentioned, indicate the gentle sun. Together, the characters create a configuration showing the enemies that the inhabitants love their land and are ready to fight for it. More, as was then thought, they will not tolerate any aggression.
The legend of Gorgon
Medusa, according to myth, was a beautiful girl, the only mortal daughter of the sea elder Fork. She was famous for her magnificent hair flowing along her body, like a mountain waterfall. Once she sinned with Poseidon in the temple of Athena, which angered this celestial woman. Punishment followed immediately. Athena turned the impudent girl into a terrible monster, and her hair - a subject of pride - into hissing snakes. In addition, anyone who looked up at her immediately turned to stone.
Agree, the goddess’s revenge was very cruel and sophisticated. But the inhabitants of Sicily liked the ability of the Medusa Gorgon to influence enemies. They placed her image on their banner as a symbol of the power of weapons and the inevitability of retaliation. By the way, the myth ended with the death of a terrible diva. Perseus defeated her, armed with a mirror shield. And the magic head was placed on the auspices of Athens (that is, the chest). She was considered a formidable weapon of retaliation.
Conclusion
We studied the flag of Sicily. What does it mean for modern man? Current citizens do not believe myths, but venerate their ancestors. The symbol depicted on the banner is designed to remind the inhabitants of the island of the plight of those who lived on it many centuries ago. A fertile land is both happiness and responsibility at the same time. The current type of flag was approved in 2000. Officially, the female head is in no way connected with the mythical diva, who turned everyone to stone.
Triskelion transmits to society the idea of the wealth, generosity and hospitality of this autonomous region of Italy. However, somewhere at the subconscious level, any person feels the threat associated with an ancient legend. And the inhabitants of the island do not argue. They, like their ancestors, want to protect their land from aggression and ruin.