1.1 Η ΠΡΟΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ
Ως πρώτοι κάτοικοι της Σικελίας και της Ν. Ιταλίας αναφέρονται από όλους τους αρχαίους συγγραφείς, Έλληνες και Ρωμαίους, οι Έλληνες.
Ξεκινώντας από την προϊστορία, πολύ πριν το 3.000 π.χ. και όπως αναφερεται στα εργα «Νόστοι» και «Τηλεγόνεια» ο πρώτος θνητός, ο μυθικός ΙΤΑΛΟΣ, γιος του Τηλεγόνου και της Πηνελοπης, εγγονός του Οίνωτρου, εγκαταστάθηκε, σε μία μικρή χερσόνησο, στο νότιο άκρο των Απεννίνων, που αργότερα ονομάστηκε Βρεττία και σήμερα ονομάζεται Καλαβρία (καλή αύρα). Ο Ιταλός ήταν ο πρώτος κάτοικος και ταυτόχρονα ο πρώτος Έλληνας που εγκαταστάθηκε στην χερσόνησο των Απεννίνων, η οποία έμελλε αργότερα να λάβει λόκληρη το όνομα της από αυτόν τον μυθικό Έλληνα εποικιστή.
Όταν ο Ιταλός και οι συν αυτόν Έλληνες (Πελασγοί, διότι ο Ιταλός αποκαλείται βασιλιάς των Πελασγών-Οινότρων, Βιργιλίου Αινειάς, Α-530) έφτασαν στην περιοχή της Καλαβρίας, δεν γνωρίζουμε ποίοι λαοί κατοικούσαν σε αυτή τη χερσόνησο. Η περιοχή πρέπει να είχε ελάχιστους κατοίκους, να ήταν πάρα πολύ αραιοκατοικημένη και οπωσδήποτε μιλάμε για ανθρώπους σε πλήρως απολίτιστη κατάσταση, χωρίς καμία φυλετική, γλωσσική και κοινωνική συγκρότηση.
Η ΒΡΕΤΙΑ, ηταν μια αρχαιοελληνική θεότηα, Νυμφη, που μετανάστευσε την Βρεττια, σημερινή Καλαβρία από την Μυσία της Μικρας Ασίας ( Λεξικο Ελευθερουδάκη).
Η ΚΑΛΑΥΡΙΑ Στην Πελοπονησο, το απέναντι από την Τροιζήνα μεγάλο καταπράσινο νησί, η σημερινή Καλαυρία δημιουργήθηκε κατά την τριτογενή περίοδο ( 11 εκατομμύρια χρόνια πριν). http://www.koutouzis.gr/10.000pX.htm
Την εποχή των Ανθα -Υπέρη ( 1250 π.Χ), ονομαζόταν Υπέρη ή Υπέρεια, Ειρήνη και Σκελέρδεια, δηλαδη ΣΚΕΛΙΑ>ΣΙΚΕΛΙΑ!!!
Πιο πριν από το 1250, ονομαζόταν Καλαυρία ή Καλαυρείη ή Καλαβρέα. Το όνομα αυτό ίσως το πήρε από την «καλή αύρα» η οποία πάντοτε πνέει στο Σαρωνικό, ή από τον Καλαυρό ή Καλαβρό, που τον νόμιζαν γιο του Ποσειδώνα, αλλά όπως μαρτυρούν διάφορα στοιχεία πρόκειται για το δισέγγονο του Αρκάδος και της Λεάνειρας, που έζησε μετά το 1290 π.Χ. στην περιοχή.
Mia lallhj Ο Καλαβρός ήταν γιος του Ευρυμέδη, και εγγονός του Αγανου- όλοι απόγονοι του Πελασγού. Φαίνεται, λοιπόν, πως οι Αρκάδες ήρθαν στις περιοχή γύρω στα 1290 π.Χ. όχι σαν κατακτητές αλλά σαν εποικιστές.
Οταν εισέβαλαν στην Τροιζηνία τα δυο αδέλφια Πιτθέας και Τροιζήν, ο Πιτθέας έγινε βασιλιάς της Άνθειας Ο Ανθας -κι ο γιος του Αέτιος- έφυγαν στη Μ. Ασία- τότε λεγόταν αλλιώς - μαζί με άλλους και ίδρυσαν την Αλικαρνασσό. Ο Τροιζήν κατέλαβε την Υπέρεια-σημερινή Καλαυρία. Τότε ο Υπέρης αναγκάστηκε μαζί με άλλους Καλαβρούς και Αχαιούς να αποδημήσει στην Κάτω Ιταλία. Από αυτούς ολόκληρη περιοχή ονομάστηκε Καλαβρία (περίπου το 1250 π.Χ.). Εκεί αργότερα ιδρύθηκε και η πόλη Ποσειδωνία. Στην Καλαυρία υπάρχει και ένα βουνό που ονομάζεται Πόρος.
Πότε ακριβώς κατοικήθηκε η Καλαυρία της Πελοπονησου δεν έχει εξακριβωθεί. Πάντως ανασκαφές που έγιναν το 1894, έφεραν στο φως στοιχεία που μαρτυρούν ότι κατά την νεολιθική εποχή αρχή νεολιθικής εποχής 8.000 χρόνια π.Χ. κατοικείτο. Τώρα, το 2002, «ήρθε» το Κοκορέλι http://www.koutouzis.gr/10.000pX.htm που προσθέτει νέα θετικά στοιχεία.
Ο Νόνος ο Πανοπολίτης,(από την Πανόπολη της Αιγύπτου), που έγραψε την ιστορία του Θεού Διόνυσου σε 40 τόμους και αναφέρεται σε προϊστορικά γεγονότα, (πριν το 3.000 π.χ.) αναφέρει πώς μετά τον κατακλυσμό του Δευκαλίωνα, ανορθωτής της ανθρώπινης ύπαρξης στην Σικελία ήταν ο Ελυμος (Ελυμοι της Αίγεστας), στην Ν. Ιταλία ο Αχάτης, ενώ στην Αθήνα ο Αμφικτύων, αδερφός του Έλληνα και γιος του Δευκαλίωνα(Νόνος Α,150).
Ο Παυσανίας αναφέρει πώς ο δισέγγονος του Δευκαλίωνα, ο Οίνωτρος, γιος του Λυκάωνα της Αρκαδίας, έφυγε με πλοία στην Ιταλία και την χώρα που κυβέρνησε την ονόμασε Οινωτρία. Εγγονός του Οινώτρου ήταν ο Ιταλός (Παυσ. Αρκαδικά, 3).
Οι ΜΕΣΣΑΠΙΟΙ ηταν Πελασγοί που κατάγονταν από την Πελλοπόνησσο, που τοτε αποκαλουνταν Απία. (Μεσαπία= η χώρα που βρισκεται ανάμεσα σε δύο Θαλασσες). Στην Ελλάδα υπάρχουν ακόμη και σήμερα τοπονύμια και υδρονύμια με το ονομα αυτό. Το Μεσσάπιο Ορος, στα σύνορα Χαλκίδος-Βοιωτίας (70 χλμ. Βόρεια της Αθήνας), ο Μεσσάπιος ποταμός που πηγάζει από το ορος Δίρφυς της Εύβοιας και ο Μέσσαπος ποταμος στην Δυτ. Κρήτη, κοντα στην πολίχνη Λάππα, είναι μερικά.(*)
Οι Μεσσάπιοι μιλουσαν κατά 100% ελληνική γλωσσα, πραγμα που επιβεβαιώνουν ολες, ανεξαιρέτως, οι ανασκαφές.
Και ο ΙΑΠΥΓΑΣ, ο γενάρχης των ΙΑΠΥΓΩΝ ήταν Ελληνας. Το ονομά υου Ιάπυξ, σημαίνει «ο σκιρωνοζέφυρος» (Δ.ΒΔ. ανεμος) (Αριστοτελ.973β,14- λεξικό Δημητράκου)
Μαζί με τον Οίνωτρο, μετανάστευσε στην Ιταλία και ο αδερφός του ο ΠΕΥΚΕΤΙΟΣ, γενάρχης των Πευκετίων ο οποίος ίδρυσε αποικίες στο νότιο άκρο της Απουλίας, στην ΠΕΥΚΕΤΙΑ ( Παυσ. 4 βιβλ, 3,5- Διόνυσ. Αλικαρν Α΄, 11- Απολλόδωρου, Γ', 97).
Μαζί με τους ανωτέρω μετανάστευσε στην Ιταλία και ο ΛΕΥΚΟΣ γιος του Τάλως, του χάλκινου γίγαντα που φρουρούσε την Κρήτη, τον οποίο και σκότωσαν οι αργοναύτες. Ο Λεύκος, μετά τον θάνατο του πατέρα του, ανέτρεψε τον βασιλιά την Κνωσού Ιδομενέα και σκότωσε την κόρη του. Ο Ιδομενέας αναγκάστηκε να φύγει στην Απουλία για να γλυτώσει την ζωή του. Και ο Λεύκος όμως αναγκάστηκε να ακολουθήσει τον δρόμο του Ιδομενέα. Οι καταστροφές που έκανε στην Κρήτη προκάλεσαν γενική δυσαρέσκεια, με αποτέλεσμα να καταφύγει και αυτός την Ιταλία και να βασιλεύσει στην περιοχή που ονομάζεται ΛΕΥΚΑΝΙΑ (Λουκανία σήμερα)(**).
Στην ιδια πλευρά του Πελάγους κατοικησαν και οι ΑΥΣΩΝΕΣ. Ο γενάρχης τους ο Αύσων ήταν γιος του Οδυσσέα και της Καλυψούς, ή του Ατλαντα και της Κίρκης κατά μια άλλη εκδοχή του μύθου.
Και μαζί με ολους αυτούς την Απουλία κατοίκησε και ο ΔΑΥΝΟΣ, γενναρχης του εθνους των ΔΑΥΝΩΝ, επίσης γιος του Βασιλια της Αρκαδίας Λυκάονα. Ο Διομήδης, αφου επέστρεψε από την Τροία, εγκατέλειψε την άπιστη γυναίκα του την Αιγιαλεία και κατέπελευσε στην ΔΑΥΝΙΑ οπου αφου υποστήριξε στρατιωτικά τον Δαύνο, ελαβε ως αντάλλαγμα τμήμα της χώρας του προς τα βορεια και μια θυγατέρα του Δαύνου ως σύζυγο.
ΟΙ ΣΙΚΑΝΟΙ ΚΑΙ ΟΙ ΣΙΚΕΛΟΙ
Στην Πελοπονησο, το απέναντι από την Τροιζήνα μεγάλο καταπράσινο νησί, η σημερινή Καλαυρία δημιουργήθηκε κατά την τριτογενή περίοδο ( 11 εκατομμύρια χρόνια πριν). http://www.koutouzis.gr/10.000pX.htm
Την εποχή των Βασιλέων Ανθα -Υπέρη ( 1250 π.Χ), ονομαζόταν Υπέρη ή Υπέρεια, Ειρήνη και Σκελέρδεια, δηλαδη ΣΚΕΛΙΑ>ΣΙΚΕΛΙΑ!!!
Ο Νόνος ο Πανοπολίτης,(από την Πανόπολη της Αιγύπτου), που έγραψε την ιστορία του Θεού Διόνυσου σε 40 τόμους και αναφέρεται σε προϊστορικά γεγονότα, (πριν το 3.000 π.χ.) αναφέρει πώς μετά τον κατακλυσμό του Δευκαλίωνα, ανορθωτής της ανθρώπινης ύπαρξης στην Σικελία ήταν ο Ελυμος (Ελυμοι της Αίγεστας), στην Ν. Ιταλία ο Αχάτης, ενώ στην Αθήνα ο Αμφικτύων, αδερφός του Έλληνα και γιος του Δευκαλίωνα(Νόνος Α,150).
Στην Σικελια τώρα, ιστορικα και όχι μυθολογικά, ως πρώτοι κάτοικοι, με την έννοια της συμπαγούς φυλής, αναφέρονται οι Κρήτες Σικανοί, οι οποίοι έδωσαν και το όνομα τους στο νησί, αρχικά ως Σικανία και μετά Σικελία. Φαίνεται ότι ο προϊστορικός εποικισμός της Σικελίας με Κρήτες και άλλες φυλές του Αιγαίου ήταν συνεχής, αδιάκοπος και μακροχρόνιος και ίσως να ξεκινάει και από το 10.000 π.χ., όταν ξεκίνησε η ναυτική δραστηριότητα των Κρητών, όπως αποκάλυψαν τα αρχαιολογικά ευρήματα του σερ Άρθουρ Εβανς στην Κρήτη, τα οποία και επιβεβαιώνουν τον Πλάτωνα και άλλους αρχαίους συγγραφείς, που αναφέρουν τον κατακλυσμό του Δευκαλίωνα και την Ατλαντίδα (Πλάτων Τίμαιος & Κριτίας).
Ο μυθικός ΣΙΚΑΝΟΣ, βασιλιάς των Σικανών, ήταν γιος του Βριάρεω, πατέρας των Κυκλοπων και της Αίτνας. Ο ίδιος είχε τρεις γιούς. Τον Κύκλωπα, τον Αντιφάνη και τον Πολύφημο.
Η Αίτνα ήταν νύμφη της Σικελίας, κόρη του Ουρανού και της Γης, αδερφή του Κρόνου, που αναφέρεται ως πρώτος κάτοικος της Σικελίας, όπου βρίσκεται και ο τάφος του. Όταν ο Ήφαιστος και η Δήμητρα μάλωσαν για το ποιος θα γίνει προστάτης του νησιού, η Αίτνα μεσολάβησε ως διαιτητής. Έτσι ο Ήφαιστος πήρε μόνο το ηφαίστειο το οποίο το έκανε εργαστήρι του, ενώ η Δήμητρα (που συμβολίζει τον μεγάλο σιτοβολώνα της Σικελίας) έγινε προστάτης του νησιου!
Δημητρα: Η Θεά προστάτιδα της Σικελίας.
Το όνομα της είναι σύνθετο από το Δα-μήτερ, προέρχεται από την Αιολική διαλεκτο (από την οποια θα δημιουργηθεί χιλιάδες χρονια αργοτερα η Λατινικη γλωσσα) και σημαινει «Μητερα Γη». Το Δα=Γή. ( Γι αυτό και πιστευουμε ότι ο Ναος στην Εγεστα, ηταν εν τελει ναος της Θεάς Δημητρας). Όπως αναφερουν τα Ομηρικα επη, ο Ησιοδος και ο Διοδωρος ο Σικελιωτης, η κόρη της Θεάς Δημητρας, η Περσεφόνη επαιζε στην περιοχη της πολης Εννα ( κεντρο της Σικελιας) παρεα με τις Νυμφες. Ξαφνικα ειδε έναν πανεμορφο ναρκισσο και θελησε να τον κοψει. Ηταν ομως η παγιδα που της ειχε στησει ο θεος Πλουτων. Εμφανιστηκε και την αρπαξε. Εκτοτε στο μερος της αρπαγης εμφανιστηκε μια πηγη που ονομαστηκε «Κυανη». Η Δημητρα περιμενε 9 μερες να εμφανιστει η Περσεφονη και κατοπιν αρχισε να την αναζητει. Και ψαχνοντας, έφτασε την Ελευσινα… οπου και εγκαθιδρυσε τα περιφημα Ελευσινια Μυστηρια.
α) Να υπάρχουν γραπτές πηγές που να αναφέρουν την ύπαρξη αυτής της φυλής.
β) Υλικά αρχαιολογικά ευρήματα, τα οποία να μας δείχνουν πού κατοικούσε, πότε, και προς τα πού μετακινήθηκε η υποτιθέμενη φυλή των Σικελών. Ελλείψει κάθε υλικής απόδειξης είναι βέβαιο ότι το όνομα Σικελία προήρθε είτε από την Σκέλια της Πελοπονησου, απ΄οπου μεταναστευσαν οι Σκέλοι ή Καλαυροι για την σημερινη Νοτια Ιταλια, ειτε από την παραφθορά του Σικανία, είτε από το ότι οι κάτοικοι αυτοί αποκλήθηκαν Σκέλοι (Σικελοί), επειδή κατοικούσαν και στα δύο σκέλη των στενών, της Σκύλας και της Χάρυβδης, ειτε ακόμη διοτι στην Σικελία, που ηταν ο σιτοβολώνας της Ν.Ιταλίας, και ηταν το νησι κατοικια της Δημητρας, της Θεας του σιταριου και της Σικαλης ( Η σίκαλη είναι δημητριακο αρχαιοτερο από το σιταρι και την προιστορικη εποχη καλιεργούνταν αποκλειστικά σίκαλη, είτε…(βλέπε, στ΄) ).
γ) Ετυμολογική ανάλυση του ονόματος Σικελία, που να επιβεβαιώνει την οποιαδήποτε, μη ελληνική, εθνολογική καταγωγή των Σικελών
δ) Κάποια αυτόχθονη μυθολογική παράδοση, με θεούς και ήρωες. Διότι είναι αδύνατο οι Σικελοί να μην ήταν Έλληνες και από την άλλη να έχουν ως θεούς και ήρωες τον Μίνωα, τον Ηρακλή, τον Ήφαιστο, την Αίτνα, την Ορτυγία, τον Κρόνο, την Ρέα, τον Δία κ.λ.π.
ε) Πέρα από τις παραπάνω αρχαιολογικές, γραπτές και μυθολογικές πηγές, έχουμε την σοβαρότατη ύπαρξη του πανάρχαιου λόφου Σικελία στην Αθήνα: «Εκειτο δε ούτος ού πόρω της πόλεως και ήτο ού μέγας» (βρίσκονταν πολύ κοντά στην πόλη και δεν ήταν μεγάλος). Ο γερμανός αρχαιολόγος Λόλλιγκ πίστευε ότι ο λόφος Σικελία είναι ο λόφος του Φιλοπάππου, η τοποθεσία του όμως είναι ο λόφος των παλαιών σφαγείων, στην αριστερή όχθη του ποταμού Ιλισού, σύνορα Νέου Κόσμου-Καλλιθέας, εκεί που βρίσκεται το γήπεδο του Έσπερου και το Πάντειο Πανεπιστήμιο. Ο λοφος αυτος αποκαλούνταν Σικελία πριν από τον αρχαϊκό (8ο αιώνα π.χ.) αποικισμό του νησιού, αρα ηταν αδυνατο για τους Αθηναιους να εχουν περιοχη με το ιδιο ονομα.
στ) Στα αρχεία της πόλεως Ουγκαρίτ της Φοινίκης (Λιβάνου), που αποτελούνται από πλίνθινες πινακίδες, βρέθηκε μία επιστολή του τελευταίου βασιλιά της, του Αμπουραπί, προς τον βασιλιά της Αλασίας (Κύπρου), στην οποία περιγράφει την εισβολή που δέχτηκε η πόλη του το 1185 π.χ. από τους «Λαούς του Αιγαίου», τους οποίους και αποκαλεί συλλογικά ως ομοσπονδία των Σικελάγια (στα Πελασγικά «αυτοί που κατοικούν σε κοίλα, δηλ. πλοία ) και ονοματίζει ως μέλη της Ομοσπονδίας τους Ντανυέν (Δαναούς-Αχαιούς), τους Φιλισταίους, τους Σικελάγια κ.α (Φινκελστάιν σελ.46).
Στα Αιγυπτιακά αρχεία ( ιερογλυφικά) επίσης αυτος ο λαός ονομάζεται Σεκελές,. Ανηκε στους Λαους της θάλασσας που επιτέθηκαν στην Αίγυπτο και κατέλυσαν την δυναστεία των Φαραω τον 12 αιώνα, μαζι με τους Ντενυέν (Δαναούς), Σέρδεν (Σαρδηνούς ή πιθανότερα Σάρδειους δηλαδη Λυδούς, τους Πελεσέτ (Φιλιασταίους), τους Λούκκα ( Λυκείους) και τους Τέρες ( Ετρουσκους).
Δεν μπορεί λοιπόν όλα αυτά να είναι τυχαία ή ανυπόστατα και κάποιοι να επιμένουν να διδάσκουν ότι οι Σικελοί ήταν ανεξάρτητη φυλή, εντόπια ή Ιλλυρικής καταγωγής και εμείς να παίρνουμε την ολοφάνερη προπαγάνδα τους στα σοβαρά.
Στέφανος Σωτηρίου
Θα προσέθετα.....
(*) Κάβο Ματαπάς λέγεται το ακρωτήριο Ταίναρο. Η ονομασία προέρχεται από την παλαιότερη ονομασία της περιοχής του Ταινάρου "Μεταπέα άκρα".
Φαίνεται σχετικό με τους Μεσσάπιους, ως προς το όνομα αλλά και τις μετακινήσεις τους.Πιθανόν η κοιτίδα τους (τους προϊστορικούς χρόνους) να ήταν η Λακωνική. Το όνομα του Ταινάρου Μετ(τ)απέα (=Μεσσαπέα) άκρα, το τοπωνύμιο "Μέζαπος" (η ομηρική πόλις Μέσσα-Μέσση)που είναι παραφθορά του "Μέσσαπος" αλλά και η ύπαρξη βορειότερα (στο Δήμο Φάριδος) της πόλεως "Μεσσαπέαι", είναι αρκετά σημαντικές ενδείξεις.
Η σημασία που δίνεται στη λέξη Μεταπέα (=μεταξύ δύο θαλασσών), ίσως επιδέχεται αμφισβήτηση.
Εφόσον Απία λεγόταν η Πελοπόννησος, Μεσσ(α)απία, είναι η εσωτερική Απία,μακριά από την θάλασσα, ή η κεντρική Απία.
Οι μεταναστευτικές μετακινήσεις τις εποχές που αναφερόμαστε, είχαν κατεύθυνση από νότο, προς βορά.Επί πλέον ο βασιλιάς της Φθίας Αχιλλέας, είναι γνωστό πώς είχε σημαντικούς δεσμούς με την Λακωνική.
Η ονομασία του Μαλιακού κόλπου οφείλεται στους Μαλιείς, αρχαίους κατοίκους της Μαλίδος.
Οι Μαλιείς ήταν αρχαίο ελληνικό φύλο που κατοικούσε στην ανατολική κοιλάδα του Σπερχειού.Είναι αυτονόητη η σχέση του ονόματος με το άλλο ακρωτήριο της Λακωνικής το Μαλέας, το οποίο, μάλιστα έχει την ίδια ονομασία από την εποχή του Σειλινού στενού συνεργάτη του Διονύσου.
(**) Λεκάνια (βουνό), διατηρήται και σήμερα η ονομασία στην Λακωνική, κοντά στην αρχαία Πύρριχο, παραφθορά του Λευκάνια.
Γρηγόρης Παπαδοθωμάκος
με την ευγενική αρωγή του Δημητρη Μπρασάκη
English version
1. ITALIAN, THE FIRST RESIDENT of the APENNINE PENINSULA.
1.1 PREHISTORY
According to mythology, Sicily’s first habitant was the God Kronos (Saturn in Latin), the father of Zeus. He died in the island, after the horrible “Titanomahia”, that brought his son Zeus (Jupiter) in the throne of Gods. In the mountain of S.Calogero, north west of Agrigento, is found the grave of Kronos, well known as Cronion. (Klimis from Alexandria, “against Greeks”, p-30).
(In Greek, and according to Plato-book “kratylos”- the word mythology means the real –ancient history. “ Mythology is a science, written with codes…”. So that’s why the Greek has another word for the fairy tails. The Paramythi, and Para mythology).
As first residents of Sicily and N. Italy were reported by all the ancient writers, (Greeks and Roman writers), the Greeks.
Beginning from the prehistory, very before the 3.000 b.C. and as it is reported in the ancient manuscripts "Nostoi" and "Tilegoneia" the first human, the fabulous ITALOS, son of Tilegonos and Pennelope, grandson of Oinotros, was arrived, in a small peninsula, in the southern coast of the Apennine mountains, that were named Vrettia (today Calabria = good breeze). The Italos was the first resident and at the same time the first Greek that was inaugurate in the Apennine peninsula, which later receives her name from this fabulous Greek settlement. (Italos in the Aeolian dialect mean the owner of good and many Cows. Italo=Ox,Cow, Tavros,Vetuli, Italo…). (Hesyhios from Alexandria, lexicon of archaic Greek Dialects).
When the Italian and the other Greeks who came with him (The Pelasgians), arrived in this peninsula, established a state, the “state of Oinotri” and he became the king of Pelasgian people of Oinotri, (Virgil Aineias, A-530).
The VRETTIA, was an ancient Greek Goddess, a Nymph who was emigrate in the place called Vrettia, current Calabria, from the Mysia, region of Asia Minor (Eleyceroydakis encyclopedical lexicon). The Vrettioi inaugurated in the same place where was inaugurate the Italian itself and give their name to the region, until it is renamed in the medieval ages, to Calabria.
According to mythology, Vrettos was son of Herakles and Valite, daughter of Valitos. (Stefanos Byzantios, lexikon…).The Vrettioi was also Greeks and Greek speaking population and the many currencies excavations, in the current Calabria, do not leave absolutely no one drought, that, everything is written in the mythology for them, is the truth , and absolutely real history
The KALAVRIA. In the Peloponiso, in the small peninsula of Trizina, exist a green island by name kalavria. The current Kalavria was created at the tertiary period (11 millions years ago).
In the era of the kings Anthas and Yperis (1250 b.C), was named Yperi or Ypereia, and also Skelerdeia, (that means SKELIA>SIKELIA( sicily)!!!
The name Kalavria or Kalariei or Kalavrea, was an oldest name a lot of years before the 1250 b.C. This name perhaps is taken from the "good breeze" which is always present in the Saronikos golf, or from the Kalavro or Kalavrian, who was son of Poseidon (Neptune in Latin), and as testify various elements he was the grandson of the Arcadian and the Leanere, who lived in the region since 1290 b.C.
An other mythological source says that the Calabrian was son of Evrymedis, and grandson of Aganos - all descendants of Pelasgos. It appears, therefore, that the Arcadians came in the region around the 1290 b.C. not as conquerors but as settlements.
When the two brothers from Arcadia, Pittheas and Troizinios, arrived in the region, Pittheas penetrate in the peninsula Trizinia and became king of the city of Anthea.
Antheas, the fallen king of Anthea- and his son Aetios, were forced to leave the Troizinia and escape to Asia Minor where, with some other people, found the city of Halikarnassos (The birthplace of Herodotos).
After Anthea, Pittheas occupies and the other city, the Ypereia. Then, Yperis, the fallen king of Ypereia was forced with other Kalavrians and Achaeans to escape in the south Italy.
He established first the city HYPERIA in Sicily, and after that penetrate in to Calabria
By them, the entire region was named CALABRIA. KALAVRIA at this times was the current Apulia (about 1250 b.c.). Later, they found also the city Poseidonia in the Kalavria (Medieval-Byzantine- and current, region of “Vasilicata”). In the same Italian region today, exists also a mountain with the name Poros (Poros is the current name of a small city, next to ancient Hypereia in the Peloponessian Kalavria).
When precisely was resided the Peloponesian Kalavria it is not been ascertained. In any case excavations who started in 1894, brought in the light elements that testify that begins at the Neolithic period. In 2002 the Kokoreli excavations, came to testify everything that adds new positive elements.
The fabulus Kalavros (Calabrian) is also reported as son of Zeus, while as son of Neptune the Messapios, who moved in southern Italy from the Island Eubea and Beotia, where exist until nowdays the Mountain “Messapion”, the river “Messapios” in Eubea, and the citi of “Messapion” .
Nonos the Panopolitis, (from the Panopolis of Egypt), who wrote the history of God Dionyssos in 40 volumes and report us for prehistorically elements, (before the 3.000 b.C.) it reports how: after the flood of Deykalion, restorer of human life in Sicily was Elymos (Elymoi of Egetsa), in the N. Italy the Ahatis, while in Athens Amfiktyon, brother of Greek ( Hellinas) and son of Deykalion (Nonos A, 150).
Pafsanias reports how the Oinotos, grandson of Defkalion and son of Lykaon of Arkadia, left with boats from his homeland in Greece, and arrived in Apennine and the country that put under his control named Oinotria. Grandson of Oinotros was the fabulius Italian (Pafsanias. Arcadica, 3).
MESSAPIOI were Pelasgians who came from the Peloponisos, Eubea and Beotia to. The Peloponesos had another name at this years. It was called Apia . (Messapia = the country that laid between two Seas, or two rivers). In Greece exist today a lot of toponymes and hydronymes with this name. The Messapion Mountain, in the borders of Chalcis-Viotia (70 km north of Athens), the Messapios river that springs from mountain Dirfys of Eubea and another Messapios river in the western Crete, near the village Lappa. Certainly the Messapians spoke 100% a Greek language, element that confirm all, without exception, the excavations and the stone scripts.
And IAPYGAS, the patriarh of the IAPYGES was Greek. The name Iapyx, means "the shizononozefyros" (N.- NW. wind) (Aristotel.973v, 14- lexicon Dimitrakou)
Together with the Oinotros, settlement in Italy was and his brother PEUKETIOS (Pefketios), patriarh of the Pefketians which found colonies in southern regions the Apoulia, in the PEFKETIA (Pefko means The Pino tree) (Pafsanias, 4 tom, 3,5- Dionysios Alikaranseus A, 11- Apollodoros from Rodos, G, 97).
In the same time, another settlement came in the south Apenine peninsula and he was LEUKOS (White- lux- Λυκ-αυγές- Λυκ-ο-φως…) son of Talos, the cupreous giant who has guarded the island of Crete, who was killed by the Argonauts. Leukos, after the death of his father, reversed the king of Knosos Idomeneas and killed his daughter. Idomeneas was forced to leave Crete and escape to the south Italy in order to save his life.
And Leukos however was forced to follow the street of Idomeneas after while. The destructions that he made in Crete caused general dissatisfaction, so he must also to escape in Italy were established a kingdom, and became king in the region with the name LEUKANIA (Lefkania- Loukania today).
In the sea side of Leukania use to live also the people of AUSONES (Afsones). Their patriarch was the Ausonas, who was son of Odysseus and Kalypso, or from other source, son of Atlas and Kirki.
And with all them in south Italy lived also the DAUNOS People. Patriarch of DAUNOS ( Davnos) was the Daunos, son of the King of Arcadia Lykaonas.
Diomidis, one of the Trojan warriors, after his return from Troy, left his unfaithful woman Aigialeia (Egialia) and arrived in the Daunia, where, support the Daunos with his military and received as return a part of Davnos country, to the north, and a daughter of Davnos as wife .
THE SIKANOI AND THE SIKELOI
“In the Peloponiso, in the small peninsula of Trizina, exist a green island by name kalavria. The current Kalavria was created at the tertiary period (11 millions years ago).
In the era of kings Anthas and Yperis (1250 b.C), was named Yperi or Ypereia, and also Skelerdeia, (that means SKELIA>SIKELIA > sicily)…
The ancient historian, Nonos the Panopolitis, (from the Panopolis of Egypt), who wrote the history of God Dionysos in 40 volumes and is reported in prehistory (before the 3.000 b.C.) it reports how: after the flood of Defkalion, the restorer of human existence in Sicily was the Elymos (Elymoi of Aigesta- Egesta), and in the S. Italy was the Ahatis, while in Athens was the Amfiktyon, brother of Greek ( Hellinas) and son of Defkalion (Nonos A, 150).
In Sicily now, historical and no mythologjkal, as first residents, with the significance of compact race, are reported the Cretans “Sikanoi”, who gave and their name in the island, initially as Sikania and afterwards as Sikelia (sicily). It appears that prehistorical reside in Sicily with Cretans and other races from Aegean sea, was continuous in long-lasting and possibly it begins also from 10.000 years b.C., when began the naval activity of Minoan Cretans, as revealed the archaeological discoveries from ser Arthur Evans in Crete, which confirm also the Plato and the other ancient writers, who reports the flood (kataklysmos) of Defaliona and the Atlantida (Plato, Timaios and Kritias).
In the Dictionary of Hesyhios (Dictionary of ancient Greek Dialects, that contains the ancient types of Greek words), the world Sika-nos, became from the Sika=Lakonas, or the resident of Lakedaimonia, from the word Sika, that means sword, - handnife. “Xifiris, xifoforoi Lakones… » (The capital of Laconia was the Sparta)
SIKANOS, king of the Sikanian tribe, was the son of Vriareos, who was father of Cyclops and Aitna (Etna). The Sikanos himself had three sons. The Cyklops, the Antifanis and the Polyfimos.
Aitna was a nymph of Sicily, doughter of Ouranos (Sky) and Geas (Earth). Ouranos was brother of Kronos (Saturn), who is reported as first resident of Sicily, where is laid also his grave. When the God Ifaistos (Hefestos-god of Fire and Iron- Vulcan) and Dimitra (Ceres) has a strong disagree for who will become protector of the island, Aitna intervened as arbitrator. Thus, Ifaistos took only the volcanos (Etna and Stromboli), where made his laboratory, while Dimitra (that she symbolizes the big granary of Sicily) became protector of the island!
Dimitra: The Goddess protector of Sicily. Her name is compound word from the Da-miter, emanates from the Aeolian dialect (by which it will be created thousands years later the Latin language) and means "Mother Eatrth". (For this reason we believe that the Temple in the Egesta, was a temple in Honor of Goddess Dimitra- Mother Earth). As report to us the Homeric epos “Odysseia”, Isiodos (Hesiodos) and Diodoros the Sikeliotis, the daughter of Goddess Dimitra, the Persephone, used to play with her friends, the Nymphs in the region of the city Enna (center of Sicily).
Suddenly she saw a wonderful flower, narcissus, and she wanted it to cuts. This was however the trap that the God Pluto, god of the underground World, made to catch her.
Since then in the place of Persephoni’s kidnapping, exist a source of water, which was named "Cyani”(Azure). The Goddess Dimitra waited for 9 days the return of Persephone and then she began to look for her. And searching, she reached in the Elefsina… where she established also the eminent “Elefsinian Mysteries”.
The theory that in 10th cent.b.C. was inuagurate, coming from the northern Italy, a new race, a tribe of the Illyrian nation, called Sikeloi, is not valid, because it is not proved with no way. In order to be supported this opinion it should:
a) Exist written sources that would report the existence of this race.
b) Material archaeological discoveries, which will show to us where this supposed tribe lived before, when, how and where was moved.
In deficiency of any material proof it is certain that the name Sicily became:
*Or from the Peloponessian Skelia, place from where are emigrated to Italy the Kalavrian Skeloi or Kalavroi, to current Southern Italy and Sicily, or from corruption of the word Sikania.
*Or from this residents who were called himself “Skeloi” (Sikeloi'), because use to live in the two bangs of the narrow canal, the Scylla’s and the Hayrides (Messini and Righion- Reggio).
*Or still because in Sicily, who was the granary of Italian Peninsula, and was the island under protection and residence also of Goddess of granaries .
(Sikalis = RYE is a kind of granary – cereal, more ancient than the wheat and in the prehistorical and historical era was the basical culture in the Sicily ).
c) Etymological analysis of the original name “Sikelia”, that would confirm the any, not Greek, ethnological origin of the word and the Sicilians.
d) Some autochthon mythological traditions, with gods and heroes. Because it is impossible, to except as normal think the thesis that, the Sicilians are not Greek origin population, and from the other side, to have as gods and heroes only the Greeks. The Cretan Minos, Herakles, Hefestos, Dimitra, Persephone, Aitna (Etna), Ortygia, Kronos (Saturn), Daidalos (Dedalus), Rea… and so many others.
e) Beyond the report and archaeological excavation, the written historical and mythological sources, we found the most serious existence of a very ancient evidence in Athens. The hill “Sicily”: "Ekeito de outos ou' poro tou asteos kai den ito megas" (It was very near to the city and was not so big). The German archaeologist Lollig believed that the hill Sicily is the current hill of Filopappos, but his locality however is the hill of old slaughterhouses, in the left bank of river Ilyssos in the borders between the suburbs Neos Cosmos and kallithea. Today there is the stadium of “Esperos” and the Panteion University. This hill was called Sicily many centuries before the archaic Greek (8th century b.c.) colonization in the island. So it is very strange the existence of this name in Athena, centuries before the Athenians colonized the Sicily.
(Trinakria is the other Greek name, who give the geographic description of the island. The three akres (ends) This name was well known from the Cycladic era, about 3.000 b.C.)
*The Archaic Greek colonization in 8th century b.C. was the forth (4) Greek colonization.
First was from the Minoan Cretans, long before 2000 b.C. In Heraclea Minoa in Sicily, city from 1.600 b.C., exist the Grave of King Minos!
Second was from the Pelasgian and Achaean tribes from Peloponesus, Beotia , Aitolia and Epirus, about 1500-1300 b.c.
Third was after the fall of Troy, from the Aeolians, (Etruscans - Tyrenians and other Greek speaking tribes, from the Asia Minor and the Islands Lemnos, Lesvos, Tenedos, Imvros and oth.)
Forth: When the Athenians, the Chakideans, the Spartans…, arrived in Sicily and south Sicily, in the 8th century b/C., found there an oldest Greek population. They found and Mycenaean and Minoan cities like Thapsos in Sicily, the island Castiglione in the golf of Napoli, the Valle di San Montano in Pithicouses islands, the Scoglio del tonno east of Tarantas, the Punta delle terrare north of Otranto (Hydrounta), the Torre Casteluccia in kallipoli, the Agripina, the Hippion Argos, and many other Minoan and Mycenaean cities, who are under archeological excavation today.
*The Phoenicians had not colonies in Sicily, but only commercial stations (Colony is a city with various population and not only solders, institutions, like temples, parliament, stadiums, hippodromes, schools and oth.). So the most known commercial station of the Phoenician, was the “Ziz”, near the Greek city of Panormos (Palermo).
st) In the documents of city Ougarit of Fenicia (Lebanon), that is constituted by plinth (brick) plates, was found a letter of her last king, the Ampourapi, to the king of Alasia (Cyprus), in which he describes the invasion that got his city in 1185 b.C. from the "Populations of the Aegean", which he calls collective as “federation of Sikelagia” (in the Pelasgian greek: "those who live in the “Kila” = “concave”, that is to say boats) and names also as members of their Federation the Danye'n (Danaou's=Achaean’s), the Filistines, the Sikelagia and other (Israel Finkelstain, Archaeology and old testament p.46).
In the Aigyptian temples (hieroglyfik letters) also this population is named Sekele's. They belongs to “people of the sea”, who attack the Egypt and destroy the dynasty of Faraon at the 12 century, with their Danye'n (Danaou's), Serden (Sardinous, or more probably Sardeious, that is to say Lydous, from the Asia Minor coasts), the Peleset from Crete (Filistaious- later Palestinians), the Loukka (Lykeious from Asia Minor) and the Teres (Etrouskans from the island of Lemnos- in front of Troia).
We cannot therefore all these to take as accidental or non exist.
++++++++++++++++++++++
*The territory of Sicily and S.Italy was (particularly) under Greek control, (Byzantine) until the 12th century, when the Greek feudarh Melos, of Varis (Bari), called the Normandians as mercenary’s, to help him to be independent from Constandinopolis.
*The Greek language dominate in the territory until the 13 century (The Lows of the German King (conqueror) of Tow Sicily’s, Frederic II, was written in Greek, to be understandable of the population, and in (scholar for the Lows) Latin (The original text -is in my position- published in Germany from the Thea Von Liebeck, Leipzig library 1977). The Petrarh came to Reggio to learn Greek, and the Englishman, humanist, Roger Bacon in his famous letter to Pop (1280), wrote that in Sicily the most places are still, compactly, Greek speaking!
*After the Synod’s of Messina (1520) and Otranro, (1580) the Sicilians, Calabrians, Apoulians … were forced to leave the Orthodox Cristianity. More than 1300 churches and monasteries, were forced to close or, to change language in their ceremonies. The Greeks became Roman Catholics, so, the Sicilians-Calabrians… lost the language and their heritage.
*In 1821, the French Bourbons, rulers of the South Italy, closed the last 16 Greek monasteries in Caldaria and Apulia.
*In 1932, the German glossolog – linguist, Gerhard Rholfs, publish his research in four Books by the titles:
a) The Hellenism in Sicily, b) The Hellenism in Caldaria, c) The Greek toponymes 4) Etymology of toponymes, name’s and of the surnames.
The Mussolini’s regime in Rome, react imminently and very strong. The books were prohibited, and the Greek speaking population from Sicily, Caldaria, Apoulia and Tsilento region of Napoli, regretted and send it in the war Fronts, in the first line.
*The most Famous Greek of current Sicily was the Luiggi Piradelo.
“… I do care the Hellas in my mine. Her spirit is consolationι and lighthouse for my soul. I am from Sicily, in other words from Greater Greece and there still exists a lot Hellas in Sicily. The measure, the harmony and the rhythm lives on her. I am of the same Hellenic heritage, even if from another place. Yes, yes don't be surprised. My family name is Pirangellos. The Pirandello is the phonetic alteration of it, Pirangello-Pirandello…”
Luigi Piradelo to Costas Ouranis The whole interview in the magazine “Nea Estia”, No 191, December 1934 , Costas Ouranis Foundation, Plaka , Athenes Greece.
*Today, the Greeks are still presents in Sicily, with churches in all cities in eastern coast, with a monastery in Catania (mantranici), and a cultural center, and the biggest center for Hellenic studies in the world, in Palermo (Panormos).
In Calabria, Apulia and Vasilikata, where the wave of Greek renaissance is more dynamic, the Greek dialects “Griko”, and “Grekanika”, are still alive and have the support of the Italian government and the E.U.
By
Stephano Sotiriou, Historian, Email: nipesot@yahoo.com
MAPS
Greek cities in 5th century B.C.
In the 4th century b/C. the Greek population in Magna Grecia was about 13-15 million!
English version
1. ITALIAN, THE FIRST RESIDENT of the APENNINE PENINSULA.
1.1 PREHISTORY
According to mythology, Sicily’s first habitant was the God Kronos (Saturn in Latin), the father of Zeus. He died in the island, after the horrible “Titanomahia”, that brought his son Zeus (Jupiter) in the throne of Gods. In the mountain of S.Calogero, north west of Agrigento, is found the grave of Kronos, well known as Cronion. (Klimis from Alexandria, “against Greeks”, p-30).
(In Greek, and according to Plato-book “kratylos”- the word mythology means the real –ancient history. “ Mythology is a science, written with codes…”. So that’s why the Greek has another word for the fairy tails. The Paramythi, and Para mythology).
As first residents of Sicily and N. Italy were reported by all the ancient writers, (Greeks and Roman writers), the Greeks.
Beginning from the prehistory, very before the 3.000 b.C. and as it is reported in the ancient manuscripts "Nostoi" and "Tilegoneia" the first human, the fabulous ITALOS, son of Tilegonos and Pennelope, grandson of Oinotros, was arrived, in a small peninsula, in the southern coast of the Apennine mountains, that were named Vrettia (today Calabria = good breeze). The Italos was the first resident and at the same time the first Greek that was inaugurate in the Apennine peninsula, which later receives her name from this fabulous Greek settlement. (Italos in the Aeolian dialect mean the owner of good and many Cows. Italo=Ox,Cow, Tavros,Vetuli, Italo…). (Hesyhios from Alexandria, lexicon of archaic Greek Dialects).
When the Italian and the other Greeks who came with him (The Pelasgians), arrived in this peninsula, established a state, the “state of Oinotri” and he became the king of Pelasgian people of Oinotri, (Virgil Aineias, A-530).
The VRETTIA, was an ancient Greek Goddess, a Nymph who was emigrate in the place called Vrettia, current Calabria, from the Mysia, region of Asia Minor (Eleyceroydakis encyclopedical lexicon). The Vrettioi inaugurated in the same place where was inaugurate the Italian itself and give their name to the region, until it is renamed in the medieval ages, to Calabria.
According to mythology, Vrettos was son of Herakles and Valite, daughter of Valitos. (Stefanos Byzantios, lexikon…).The Vrettioi was also Greeks and Greek speaking population and the many currencies excavations, in the current Calabria, do not leave absolutely no one drought, that, everything is written in the mythology for them, is the truth , and absolutely real history
The KALAVRIA. In the Peloponiso, in the small peninsula of Trizina, exist a green island by name kalavria. The current Kalavria was created at the tertiary period (11 millions years ago).
In the era of the kings Anthas and Yperis (1250 b.C), was named Yperi or Ypereia, and also Skelerdeia, (that means SKELIA>SIKELIA( sicily)!!!
The name Kalavria or Kalariei or Kalavrea, was an oldest name a lot of years before the 1250 b.C. This name perhaps is taken from the "good breeze" which is always present in the Saronikos golf, or from the Kalavro or Kalavrian, who was son of Poseidon (Neptune in Latin), and as testify various elements he was the grandson of the Arcadian and the Leanere, who lived in the region since 1290 b.C.
An other mythological source says that the Calabrian was son of Evrymedis, and grandson of Aganos - all descendants of Pelasgos. It appears, therefore, that the Arcadians came in the region around the 1290 b.C. not as conquerors but as settlements.
When the two brothers from Arcadia, Pittheas and Troizinios, arrived in the region, Pittheas penetrate in the peninsula Trizinia and became king of the city of Anthea.
Antheas, the fallen king of Anthea- and his son Aetios, were forced to leave the Troizinia and escape to Asia Minor where, with some other people, found the city of Halikarnassos (The birthplace of Herodotos).
After Anthea, Pittheas occupies and the other city, the Ypereia. Then, Yperis, the fallen king of Ypereia was forced with other Kalavrians and Achaeans to escape in the south Italy.
He established first the city HYPERIA in Sicily, and after that penetrate in to Calabria
By them, the entire region was named CALABRIA. KALAVRIA at this times was the current Apulia (about 1250 b.c.). Later, they found also the city Poseidonia in the Kalavria (Medieval-Byzantine- and current, region of “Vasilicata”). In the same Italian region today, exists also a mountain with the name Poros (Poros is the current name of a small city, next to ancient Hypereia in the Peloponessian Kalavria).
When precisely was resided the Peloponesian Kalavria it is not been ascertained. In any case excavations who started in 1894, brought in the light elements that testify that begins at the Neolithic period. In 2002 the Kokoreli excavations, came to testify everything that adds new positive elements.
The fabulus Kalavros (Calabrian) is also reported as son of Zeus, while as son of Neptune the Messapios, who moved in southern Italy from the Island Eubea and Beotia, where exist until nowdays the Mountain “Messapion”, the river “Messapios” in Eubea, and the citi of “Messapion” .
Nonos the Panopolitis, (from the Panopolis of Egypt), who wrote the history of God Dionyssos in 40 volumes and report us for prehistorically elements, (before the 3.000 b.C.) it reports how: after the flood of Deykalion, restorer of human life in Sicily was Elymos (Elymoi of Egetsa), in the N. Italy the Ahatis, while in Athens Amfiktyon, brother of Greek ( Hellinas) and son of Deykalion (Nonos A, 150).
Pafsanias reports how the Oinotos, grandson of Defkalion and son of Lykaon of Arkadia, left with boats from his homeland in Greece, and arrived in Apennine and the country that put under his control named Oinotria. Grandson of Oinotros was the fabulius Italian (Pafsanias. Arcadica, 3).
MESSAPIOI were Pelasgians who came from the Peloponisos, Eubea and Beotia to. The Peloponesos had another name at this years. It was called Apia . (Messapia = the country that laid between two Seas, or two rivers). In Greece exist today a lot of toponymes and hydronymes with this name. The Messapion Mountain, in the borders of Chalcis-Viotia (70 km north of Athens), the Messapios river that springs from mountain Dirfys of Eubea and another Messapios river in the western Crete, near the village Lappa. Certainly the Messapians spoke 100% a Greek language, element that confirm all, without exception, the excavations and the stone scripts.
And IAPYGAS, the patriarh of the IAPYGES was Greek. The name Iapyx, means "the shizononozefyros" (N.- NW. wind) (Aristotel.973v, 14- lexicon Dimitrakou)
Together with the Oinotros, settlement in Italy was and his brother PEUKETIOS (Pefketios), patriarh of the Pefketians which found colonies in southern regions the Apoulia, in the PEFKETIA (Pefko means The Pino tree) (Pafsanias, 4 tom, 3,5- Dionysios Alikaranseus A, 11- Apollodoros from Rodos, G, 97).
In the same time, another settlement came in the south Apenine peninsula and he was LEUKOS (White- lux- Λυκ-αυγές- Λυκ-ο-φως…) son of Talos, the cupreous giant who has guarded the island of Crete, who was killed by the Argonauts. Leukos, after the death of his father, reversed the king of Knosos Idomeneas and killed his daughter. Idomeneas was forced to leave Crete and escape to the south Italy in order to save his life.
And Leukos however was forced to follow the street of Idomeneas after while. The destructions that he made in Crete caused general dissatisfaction, so he must also to escape in Italy were established a kingdom, and became king in the region with the name LEUKANIA (Lefkania- Loukania today).
In the sea side of Leukania use to live also the people of AUSONES (Afsones). Their patriarch was the Ausonas, who was son of Odysseus and Kalypso, or from other source, son of Atlas and Kirki.
And with all them in south Italy lived also the DAUNOS People. Patriarch of DAUNOS ( Davnos) was the Daunos, son of the King of Arcadia Lykaonas.
Diomidis, one of the Trojan warriors, after his return from Troy, left his unfaithful woman Aigialeia (Egialia) and arrived in the Daunia, where, support the Daunos with his military and received as return a part of Davnos country, to the north, and a daughter of Davnos as wife .
THE SIKANOI AND THE SIKELOI
“In the Peloponiso, in the small peninsula of Trizina, exist a green island by name kalavria. The current Kalavria was created at the tertiary period (11 millions years ago).
In the era of kings Anthas and Yperis (1250 b.C), was named Yperi or Ypereia, and also Skelerdeia, (that means SKELIA>SIKELIA > sicily)…
The ancient historian, Nonos the Panopolitis, (from the Panopolis of Egypt), who wrote the history of God Dionysos in 40 volumes and is reported in prehistory (before the 3.000 b.C.) it reports how: after the flood of Defkalion, the restorer of human existence in Sicily was the Elymos (Elymoi of Aigesta- Egesta), and in the S. Italy was the Ahatis, while in Athens was the Amfiktyon, brother of Greek ( Hellinas) and son of Defkalion (Nonos A, 150).
In Sicily now, historical and no mythologjkal, as first residents, with the significance of compact race, are reported the Cretans “Sikanoi”, who gave and their name in the island, initially as Sikania and afterwards as Sikelia (sicily). It appears that prehistorical reside in Sicily with Cretans and other races from Aegean sea, was continuous in long-lasting and possibly it begins also from 10.000 years b.C., when began the naval activity of Minoan Cretans, as revealed the archaeological discoveries from ser Arthur Evans in Crete, which confirm also the Plato and the other ancient writers, who reports the flood (kataklysmos) of Defaliona and the Atlantida (Plato, Timaios and Kritias).
In the Dictionary of Hesyhios (Dictionary of ancient Greek Dialects, that contains the ancient types of Greek words), the world Sika-nos, became from the Sika=Lakonas, or the resident of Lakedaimonia, from the word Sika, that means sword, - handnife. “Xifiris, xifoforoi Lakones… » (The capital of Laconia was the Sparta)
SIKANOS, king of the Sikanian tribe, was the son of Vriareos, who was father of Cyclops and Aitna (Etna). The Sikanos himself had three sons. The Cyklops, the Antifanis and the Polyfimos.
Aitna was a nymph of Sicily, doughter of Ouranos (Sky) and Geas (Earth). Ouranos was brother of Kronos (Saturn), who is reported as first resident of Sicily, where is laid also his grave. When the God Ifaistos (Hefestos-god of Fire and Iron- Vulcan) and Dimitra (Ceres) has a strong disagree for who will become protector of the island, Aitna intervened as arbitrator. Thus, Ifaistos took only the volcanos (Etna and Stromboli), where made his laboratory, while Dimitra (that she symbolizes the big granary of Sicily) became protector of the island!
Dimitra: The Goddess protector of Sicily. Her name is compound word from the Da-miter, emanates from the Aeolian dialect (by which it will be created thousands years later the Latin language) and means "Mother Eatrth". (For this reason we believe that the Temple in the Egesta, was a temple in Honor of Goddess Dimitra- Mother Earth). As report to us the Homeric epos “Odysseia”, Isiodos (Hesiodos) and Diodoros the Sikeliotis, the daughter of Goddess Dimitra, the Persephone, used to play with her friends, the Nymphs in the region of the city Enna (center of Sicily).
Suddenly she saw a wonderful flower, narcissus, and she wanted it to cuts. This was however the trap that the God Pluto, god of the underground World, made to catch her.
Since then in the place of Persephoni’s kidnapping, exist a source of water, which was named "Cyani”(Azure). The Goddess Dimitra waited for 9 days the return of Persephone and then she began to look for her. And searching, she reached in the Elefsina… where she established also the eminent “Elefsinian Mysteries”.
The theory that in 10th cent.b.C. was inuagurate, coming from the northern Italy, a new race, a tribe of the Illyrian nation, called Sikeloi, is not valid, because it is not proved with no way. In order to be supported this opinion it should:
a) Exist written sources that would report the existence of this race.
b) Material archaeological discoveries, which will show to us where this supposed tribe lived before, when, how and where was moved.
In deficiency of any material proof it is certain that the name Sicily became:
*Or from the Peloponessian Skelia, place from where are emigrated to Italy the Kalavrian Skeloi or Kalavroi, to current Southern Italy and Sicily, or from corruption of the word Sikania.
*Or from this residents who were called himself “Skeloi” (Sikeloi'), because use to live in the two bangs of the narrow canal, the Scylla’s and the Hayrides (Messini and Righion- Reggio).
*Or still because in Sicily, who was the granary of Italian Peninsula, and was the island under protection and residence also of Goddess of granaries .
(Sikalis = RYE is a kind of granary – cereal, more ancient than the wheat and in the prehistorical and historical era was the basical culture in the Sicily ).
c) Etymological analysis of the original name “Sikelia”, that would confirm the any, not Greek, ethnological origin of the word and the Sicilians.
d) Some autochthon mythological traditions, with gods and heroes. Because it is impossible, to except as normal think the thesis that, the Sicilians are not Greek origin population, and from the other side, to have as gods and heroes only the Greeks. The Cretan Minos, Herakles, Hefestos, Dimitra, Persephone, Aitna (Etna), Ortygia, Kronos (Saturn), Daidalos (Dedalus), Rea… and so many others.
e) Beyond the report and archaeological excavation, the written historical and mythological sources, we found the most serious existence of a very ancient evidence in Athens. The hill “Sicily”: "Ekeito de outos ou' poro tou asteos kai den ito megas" (It was very near to the city and was not so big). The German archaeologist Lollig believed that the hill Sicily is the current hill of Filopappos, but his locality however is the hill of old slaughterhouses, in the left bank of river Ilyssos in the borders between the suburbs Neos Cosmos and kallithea. Today there is the stadium of “Esperos” and the Panteion University. This hill was called Sicily many centuries before the archaic Greek (8th century b.c.) colonization in the island. So it is very strange the existence of this name in Athena, centuries before the Athenians colonized the Sicily.
(Trinakria is the other Greek name, who give the geographic description of the island. The three akres (ends) This name was well known from the Cycladic era, about 3.000 b.C.)
*The Archaic Greek colonization in 8th century b.C. was the forth (4) Greek colonization.
First was from the Minoan Cretans, long before 2000 b.C. In Heraclea Minoa in Sicily, city from 1.600 b.C., exist the Grave of King Minos!
Second was from the Pelasgian and Achaean tribes from Peloponesus, Beotia , Aitolia and Epirus, about 1500-1300 b.c.
Third was after the fall of Troy, from the Aeolians, (Etruscans - Tyrenians and other Greek speaking tribes, from the Asia Minor and the Islands Lemnos, Lesvos, Tenedos, Imvros and oth.)
Forth: When the Athenians, the Chakideans, the Spartans…, arrived in Sicily and south Sicily, in the 8th century b/C., found there an oldest Greek population. They found and Mycenaean and Minoan cities like Thapsos in Sicily, the island Castiglione in the golf of Napoli, the Valle di San Montano in Pithicouses islands, the Scoglio del tonno east of Tarantas, the Punta delle terrare north of Otranto (Hydrounta), the Torre Casteluccia in kallipoli, the Agripina, the Hippion Argos, and many other Minoan and Mycenaean cities, who are under archeological excavation today.
*The Phoenicians had not colonies in Sicily, but only commercial stations (Colony is a city with various population and not only solders, institutions, like temples, parliament, stadiums, hippodromes, schools and oth.). So the most known commercial station of the Phoenician, was the “Ziz”, near the Greek city of Panormos (Palermo).
st) In the documents of city Ougarit of Fenicia (Lebanon), that is constituted by plinth (brick) plates, was found a letter of her last king, the Ampourapi, to the king of Alasia (Cyprus), in which he describes the invasion that got his city in 1185 b.C. from the "Populations of the Aegean", which he calls collective as “federation of Sikelagia” (in the Pelasgian greek: "those who live in the “Kila” = “concave”, that is to say boats) and names also as members of their Federation the Danye'n (Danaou's=Achaean’s), the Filistines, the Sikelagia and other (Israel Finkelstain, Archaeology and old testament p.46).
In the Aigyptian temples (hieroglyfik letters) also this population is named Sekele's. They belongs to “people of the sea”, who attack the Egypt and destroy the dynasty of Faraon at the 12 century, with their Danye'n (Danaou's), Serden (Sardinous, or more probably Sardeious, that is to say Lydous, from the Asia Minor coasts), the Peleset from Crete (Filistaious- later Palestinians), the Loukka (Lykeious from Asia Minor) and the Teres (Etrouskans from the island of Lemnos- in front of Troia).
We cannot therefore all these to take as accidental or non exist.
++++++++++++++++++++++
*The territory of Sicily and S.Italy was (particularly) under Greek control, (Byzantine) until the 12th century, when the Greek feudarh Melos, of Varis (Bari), called the Normandians as mercenary’s, to help him to be independent from Constandinopolis.
*The Greek language dominate in the territory until the 13 century (The Lows of the German King (conqueror) of Tow Sicily’s, Frederic II, was written in Greek, to be understandable of the population, and in (scholar for the Lows) Latin (The original text -is in my position- published in Germany from the Thea Von Liebeck, Leipzig library 1977). The Petrarh came to Reggio to learn Greek, and the Englishman, humanist, Roger Bacon in his famous letter to Pop (1280), wrote that in Sicily the most places are still, compactly, Greek speaking!
*After the Synod’s of Messina (1520) and Otranro, (1580) the Sicilians, Calabrians, Apoulians … were forced to leave the Orthodox Cristianity. More than 1300 churches and monasteries, were forced to close or, to change language in their ceremonies. The Greeks became Roman Catholics, so, the Sicilians-Calabrians… lost the language and their heritage.
*In 1821, the French Bourbons, rulers of the South Italy, closed the last 16 Greek monasteries in Caldaria and Apulia.
*In 1932, the German glossolog – linguist, Gerhard Rholfs, publish his research in four Books by the titles:
a) The Hellenism in Sicily, b) The Hellenism in Caldaria, c) The Greek toponymes 4) Etymology of toponymes, name’s and of the surnames.
The Mussolini’s regime in Rome, react imminently and very strong. The books were prohibited, and the Greek speaking population from Sicily, Caldaria, Apoulia and Tsilento region of Napoli, regretted and send it in the war Fronts, in the first line.
*The most Famous Greek of current Sicily was the Luiggi Piradelo.
“… I do care the Hellas in my mine. Her spirit is consolationι and lighthouse for my soul. I am from Sicily, in other words from Greater Greece and there still exists a lot Hellas in Sicily. The measure, the harmony and the rhythm lives on her. I am of the same Hellenic heritage, even if from another place. Yes, yes don't be surprised. My family name is Pirangellos. The Pirandello is the phonetic alteration of it, Pirangello-Pirandello…”
Luigi Piradelo to Costas Ouranis The whole interview in the magazine “Nea Estia”, No 191, December 1934 , Costas Ouranis Foundation, Plaka , Athenes Greece.
*Today, the Greeks are still presents in Sicily, with churches in all cities in eastern coast, with a monastery in Catania (mantranici), and a cultural center, and the biggest center for Hellenic studies in the world, in Palermo (Panormos).
In Calabria, Apulia and Vasilikata, where the wave of Greek renaissance is more dynamic, the Greek dialects “Griko”, and “Grekanika”, are still alive and have the support of the Italian government and the E.U.
By
Stephano Sotiriou, Historian, Email: nipesot@yahoo.com
MAPS
Greek cities in 5th century B.C.
In the 4th century b/C. the Greek population in Magna Grecia was about 13-15 million!
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