L'Italo-Americano

www.italoamericano.org 8 THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2025 L'Italo-Americano remains an active volcano, r e c e n t l y p u t t i n g o n a n impressive display of erup- tions that drew large crowds of visitors. When it erupts, l a v a , a s h , a n d l a p i l l i r o l l down its slopes, sometimes reaching great distances. The volcanic ash, often so abundant that it disrupts air t r a v e l a n d c o v e r s n e a r b y towns, is classified as special w a s t e a n d d i s p o s e d o f accordingly. However, some r e s e a r c h e r s h a v e f o u n d innovative ways to repur- pose it. A team from the Uni- versity of Catania is working o n t h e R E U C E T p r o j e c t , which aims to use volcanic ash and lapilli as substitutes for traditional materials in civil engineering—incorpo- rating them into concrete, mortar, plaster, road foun- dations, and even insulating panels. Along Etna's slopes, the l a n d s c a p e v a r i e s g r e a t l y . Above Linguaglossa, dense f o r e s t s t h r i v e , h o m e t o endemic plant species. In contrast, vast barren areas, particularly on the western side, are entirely devoid of vegetation, covered by solid- ified lava flows known as s h a t t e r e d s w o r d t o b e r e p a i r e d . T h e A r c h a n g e l Michael carried him to Sici- l y , w h e r e h i s b l a d e w a s r e f o r g e d . W h e n A r t h u r awoke inside a cave on Mon- gibello, he was so awed by the breathtaking landscape t h a t h e t h o u g h t h e h a d a r r i v e d i n p a r a d i s e . H e decided to remain and, with the help of his sister, the fairy Morgana, built a hid- den chamber deep within the volcano. The legend goes on to say that every time Etna erupts, it is because Arthur has left Sicily and returned to England, carrying with him the precious fruits and flowers of the island to share with English children. T h e r e a r e m a n y m o r e m y t h s a n d l e g e n d s a b o u t E t n a , e a c h a t t e m p t i n g t o explain its power and mys- t e r y . T h e e r u p t i o n s , t h e rivers of fire, the incandes- cent lapilli, the sudden open- ing of new craters, and the transformation of roads and landscapes all contribute to the awe-inspiring spectacle that continues to captivate those who witness it. B u t E t n a i s n o t j u s t a m o u n t a i n o f m y t h s . I t s c i a r e . T o t h e e a s t , t h i c k woodlands stretch along the edges of the Valle del Bove, while urban settlements are found on the southeastern and southern slopes. Higher up, the terrain transitions into snow-covered zones, eventually reaching perma- nent glaciers near the sum- mit. The surrounding region benefits from highly fertile volcanic soil, making it ideal for agriculture. Inhabited and cultivated land extends u p t o a b o u t 3 , 2 8 0 f e e t (1,000 meters) above sea l e v e l , w h i l e f o r e s t s r e a c h approximately 4,920 feet (1,500 meters). Parts of the volcano's slopes are protect- ed within the Etna Natural Park. A cable car leads to the summit, beyond the point where vehicles are allowed. The volcano is also home to two ski resorts—Etna South and Etna North—offering breathtaking views of the Gulf of Catania, the Simeto Valley, Taormina, and even the Calabrian coastline. Poet Sebastiano Gras- so and composer Gaetano Emanuel Calì honored the volcano in a popular song w r i t t e n i n t h e e a r l y 2 0 t h c e n t u r y , c e l e b r a t i n g t h e grandeur of Etna: "We are all children of Mongibello, A land of fire, of songs, of love. These oranges are ours alone, And Sicily takes pride in them. From far away, visitors c o m e i n c r o w d s , S a y i n g , ' S i c i l y , w h a t a s c e n t y o u have! Tonchi, tichiti tonchiti, t o n c h i t o n c h i t o n c h i t i , Tonchi, tichiti, tonchiti la la la la la la. The scent of orange blos- soms fills the air, Spring has returned once again. R o s e s i n b l o o m , t h e scorching sun—Beautiful Sicily, you are a garden in bloom. What a fragrance, what a fragrance, Of violets and roses! Long live Sicily and its people! Tonchi, tichiti tonchiti, t o n c h i t o n c h i t o n c h i t i , Tonchi, tichiti, tonchiti la la la la la la." w h o w a s c a s t d o w n f r o m O l y m p u s b y h i s m o t h e r , H e r a , f o r b e i n g t o o u g l y . Raised by two nymphs, he became a master craftsman. According to the playwright Euripides, Hephaestus lived inside Etna, where, along with the Cyclopes, he forged Zeus' thunderbolts. H e p h a e s t u s w a s a l s o a brilliant goldsmith. So tal- ented, in fact, that his moth- er, Hera, assuming he would not recognize her, commis- sioned him to craft a mag- nificent throne. But when she sat on it, she found her- self trapped, held prisoner by the very creation she had requested. This was Hep- haestus' revenge. To break the spell, she had no choice but to offer him Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, as his wife. However, their mar- riage was far from happy — A p h r o d i t e b e t r a y e d a n d mocked him repeatedly. In the end, Hephaestus aban- doned Olympus and took refuge on Etna. A surprising legend even connects King Arthur to t h e v o l c a n o . M o r t a l l y w o u n d e d i n b a t t l e b y h i s own son, Arthur wanted his E tna, Idda (She), M u n g i b e d d u (Mongibello), 'a M u n t a g n a — these are some o f t h e n a m e s u s e d f o r Europe's largest, widest, and tallest volcano, located in the plain of Catania. It is often referred to in the feminine form, as if it were a mother — one that occasionally grum- bles but rarely causes harm. Visible from great distances, it is the highest active vol- cano not only in Europe but on the entire Eurasian plate, s t a n d i n g a t 3 , 4 0 3 m e t e r s (11,161 feet) above sea level. At its base, it spans over 40 kilometers in diameter (25 miles) with a perimeter of a b o u t 1 3 5 k i l o m e t e r s ( 8 4 miles). Given its geological and cultural importance, it was recognized as a UNES- CO World Heritage Site in 2013. Throughout history, Etna has had many names. The G r e e k s c a l l e d i t A i t n a (Αἴτνα -ας ) , a n a m e a l s o given to the cities of Katane and Inessa, which derived from the Greek word aitho (αἴθω), meaning "to burn." The Romans referred to it as Aetna, while the Arabs used different names: Ǧabal al-burkān ("mountain of the volcano"), Ǧabal Aṭma Ṣ i q i l l i y a ( " t h e h i g h e s t m o u n t a i n o f S i c i l y " ) , a n d Ǧabal al-Nār ("mountain of fire"). The name Mongibello comes from a blend of Latin and Arabic: mons (Latin for "mountain") and gibel (from Arabic jebel, also meaning "mountain"), making it, quite literally, the "mountain of mountains." Another theory suggests it may derive from the Latin Mulciber—meaning "he who soothes fire." No matter what name is used, t h e v o l c a n o r e m a i n s t h e s a m e : a m a j e s t i c f o r c e o f nature that continues to mes- merize with its eruptions, attracting thousands of visi- tors each time it awakens. O v e r t h e c e n t u r i e s , numerous myths and leg- e n d s h a v e b e e n w o v e n around Etna. Greek mytholo- gy made it the home of Vul- can, the god of fire, who kept Proserpina, the daughter of the harvest goddess, impris- oned there for six months each year. Another legend tells the story of Hephaestus, the god of blacksmithing, TERESA DI FRESCO Etna: Sicily's fiery heartbeat of nature, history, and myth Mount Etna, covered in snow and with its unmistakable smoke plume (Photo: Alberto Masnovo/Dreamstime) HERITAGE HISTORY IDENTITY TRADITIONS PEOPLE

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