Sicilian Peoples: The Sicanians

Best of Sicily ^ | 2004 | Vincenzo Salerno

[SunkenCiv]

Little is known of the Sicans' literature or mythology. Developed some time before 1200 BC, the Phoenician alphabet was used in some form in early Etruscan and Greek, and also influenced the writing systems of Hebrew and Aramaic. The only known alphabet of the Sicanians was essentially Phoenician. It would not be inappropriate to postulate that an identifiably "Sicanian" culture existed in many parts of Sicily by 1600 BC; it certainly existed before the presumed date of arrival of the Elymians and Sicels a few centuries later... It is difficult to overlook the frequency with which Greek and Roman writers mention the Sicanians -- among them Appollodorus, Diodorus Siculus, Herodotus, Homer, Strabo, Pausanias and Ovid. Indeed, one of the Greeks' earliest names for Sicily was "Sikania." In his Histories, Herodotus mentions the Sicanian city of Kamikos (near present-day Sant'Angelo Muxaro in the Agrigento area), and the legendary Sicanian king Kokalos figures in the myth of Daedalus and Icarus... ...Their origins are elusive. Of Sicily's three most ancient peoples (Sicanians, Sicels, Elymians), the indigenous Sicanians (or Sicans) of central and western Sicily were present at the earliest date, as the evidence suggests a more recent introduction of the Sicel ("Siculian") civilization in eastern Sicily and the Elymian one in the northwest... Archeologically and socially, differences between the Sicans and Sicels were subtle in more "recent" times (i.e. 600 BC), though their languages -- eventually using characters based on Phoenician -- were distinctive of each other... Much of our knowledge of the earliest Sicilians comes to us from Greek literary sources or, in some cases, quasi-historical ones.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

I’m part Sicilian, enough to get invites to the standard parties ;)
When I think of Sicilian art, it’s the cave art of Addaura, some ten thousand years old they say. You can see some on this page: http://www.sandrashaw.com/AH1L02.htm

Rather sophisticated for its era! Note it depicts humans in motion.

[beebuster2000]

better explanation of sicilians imho:

Prof. Hopper Explains Sicily

[ZULU]

I thought the Elymians were older than the Sicanians

[Individual Rights in NJ]

HAHA YES! WE WERE taught that way!

I have to admit, I’m a pretty bad culinary Sicilian.....I actually despise tomatoes =(....

The only way I’ll eat em is in marinara or salsa..

Yep... consider me completely Americanized (But I hate Mayo too!)

[Individual Rights in NJ]

I think I have more the Greek Sicilian from the ancient times.

I’m not dark— like at all (though not quite as pale as a Briton)... nor do I have any of the typical Sicilian features other than one hell of a hairy chest (but baby face to match @ 29- lol). I don’t even have black hair or brown eyes!

Most people when I travel around the world think I am Serbian. I’ve had a Russian in St. Pete’s tell me if I wasn’t then he’d give me his wife and two daughters as well as the coat off his back, heh.

[editor-surveyor]

Vincenzo needs a little education.

There is nothing ‘phoenician’ about the Hebrew alphabet; it came from the finger of God. Each character was originally a picture of something.

More likely, the reverse is true. The Hebrew influence over the Greek characters is beyond question.

[Revolting cat!]

[SunkenCiv]

:’) The tomato didn’t make it to Euro-cuisine until after Columbus. Also, since it looks so much like the (poisonous but decorative) ‘Love Apple’ (a distant relative), and even took on that nickname, many wouldn’t try eating ‘em for a long while.

[angcat]

I am very pale with green eyes. My father and sister have blue eyes. My mom is dark with brown eyes. My nose is the only giveaway lol .