MYTHS OF SICILY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3084, 5 January 1909, Page 4

MYTHS OF SICILY.

Sicily is interesting to the lover of Greek and Roman literature and mythology as the home of several myths. Sir Archibald GeiKie, in one of his delightful essays on the connection between landscape and history, remarks that the volcanic phenomena so characteristic of the Mediterranean, must have impressed, more than any other physical feature, the dwellers by that sea. The very early Greeks, accustomed to eruptions in the Aegean Sea, were prepared to accept the stories of far more cnlos?al volcanoes, and more terrifying eruptions, in the distant West. The adventurous voyagers who saw the lofty cone of Etna emitting smoke and fire, and Stromholi continually in eruption, and who perhaps escaped from the horrors of a terrible outburst, would bring home such tales as would confirm the belief in the national mythology, and might even suggest new myths. The greater fize and vigour of the Sicilian volcanoes tended to create the impression that other characteristics of the region were on a similarly exaggerated scale. Sicily was accordingly believed to be the home of a gigantic race of shepherds, the Cyclops, people with but one eye, and that in the centra of their forehead. Ulysses had an exciting adventure with one of these folk, conquering him by putting out his eye. The legend arose of the hundred-armed giant Enceladus lying ; beneath the earth, and having Etna as an outlet for his breath. The belching of the volcano suggested the gasping of an imprisoned monster, the tremors so constantly affecting the region were bis quiverings as he lay on his bed of torture,- and the severe shakings were caused by his endeavours to chanee his position. As Sicily became more fauiiliar to the Greeks, the Cyclops became impossible above ground, so they were transferred to the unJer-world as associates of Hephaistos or Vulcan. It was noticed that while eruptions of Etna occurred at intervals, volcanic activity in the islands to the north was continuous, so the idea was suggested of a subterranean workshop, where Vulcan and the Cyclops forged thunderbolts for Jove. The abundant discharge of vapoui'3 suggested that wind was imprisoned in the earth, so the God of the Winds was represented as having his home in the same subterranean caverns.