Mythical creatures, angry goddesses, and undying lovers
Italy as a land of ancient myths and legends. With its deep ancient history, it is no surprise that Italy is home to many landmarks with legendary origins. Here are four fantastical places to spark the imagination.
VERSACE’S MEDUSA LOGO AND ITS TIES TO CALABRIA
If Italy is shaped like a boot, Calabria is its toe–the most southern point of the mainland. Conquered by the ancient Greeks, Calabria was once part of Magna Graecia or Greater Greece. Greek ruins are scattered the region and stand as silent reminders to a mythical age. Calabrian-born Gianni Versace changed his world-famous fashion brand’s logo in 1993 to reflect his roots. He created the iconic Medusa head encircled with a border featuring an unmistakably Greek geometric pattern. His logo was inspired by a mosaic of the Medusa on the floor of the ruins of a Roman domus in Reggio Calabria, where he used to play with his siblings as a child. In one variation of the myth, Medusa was born as one of three Gorgon sisters. Medusa was the only sister who was not immortal. Unlike her sisters, she was blessed with great beauty, a striking face, and her best feature–luscious hair. Her beauty was so great that the god of the sea, Poseidon, could not contain his lust and forced himself on Medusa in the Temple of Athena. Enraged that her holy temple had been defiled, Athena punished Medusa (not Poseidon, of course!) by turning her hair into a coil of snakes and disfiguring her beautiful face. Any man who looked upon Medusa would turn to stone.
THE LEGEND OF THE MARMORE FALLS IN UMBRIA
The Marmore Falls (Cascata delle Marmore) is a short drive from the city of Terni in Umbria, Italy’s “green heart.” It is the tallest man-made waterfall in the world, at 541 feet (165 meters). Amazingly the falls were built during Roman times. However, there is an alternative story to how the falls came to be.Legend has it that a nymph called Nera fell in love with an attractive shepherd named Velino. Their love angered the goddess Juno, and in a jealous rage transformed the nymph into the river. A love-sick Velino jumped from the Marmore cliff into the river to be with his precious Nera. The falls were created as a lasting memory of their undying love. Nowadays, the falls are a popular tourist destination, with multiple walking routes for visitors to explore.
THE MOUTH OF TRUTH IN ROME
The Eternal City is home to the Palatine Hill, the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, and much more. Another well-known monument is Rome’s Mouth of Truth (la Bocca della Verità), which became internationally famous after appearing in a pivotal scene in Roman Holiday, a 1953 film starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. The Mouth of Truth is carved from marble and honors Neptune, the god of the sea. The 1.75-meter diameter mask portrays a bearded male with holes for his eyes, nose, and mouth. Legend has it that in the Middle Ages, liars who placed their hand inside the mouth would have it bitten off. Medieval Romans saw the sculpture as a lie detector for those who committed adultery and perjury. Today it is common to see tourists lining up to be photographed with their hands inside the Mouth of Truth.
MOOR HEADS IN TAORMINA
Taormina is a charming Sicilian coastal town. The sea-side views, ancient Greek ruins, and its status as a historical melting pot make it a popular tourist destination. Moor heads decorate much of Taormina, and date back to 1100AD. The heads are associated with a tragic love story of the Middle Ages, told during the domination of the Moors in Sicily. They tell the story of the impossible love between a Sicilian girl of noble stock and a young Muslim. When the young woman’s family discovered their tryst, her parents beheaded the couple, turned their heads into vases and hung them on the balcony as punishment. Today, artisanal Moor heads are crafted in memory of the young lovers murdered for their forbidden love. Moor heads are commonly used to decorate the balconies of Sicilian towns, in particular, the areas of Caltagirone, and Taormina.
