Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography Volume II.djvu/996

 .976 SICILIA. mountains seem to liave been somewhat vague and fluctnatinsr ; but we may assirjn the mame of Nep- TUNius JIoNS to the tliaiii which rises at Cape Peloi-us, auij extends from thence to tiie neisrhbour- hooii of 'rauromeiiium; while that of MoNs Nebiio- DES seems to have been applied in a more general sense to the whole northerly range extending from near Tauromenium to the neighbourhood of Panor- mus; and the Heraei JIontes of Diodorus can be no others than a part of the same range. (See the respective ai'ticles.) But incomparably the most important of the mountains of Sicily, and the most striking physical feature of the whole island, is the great volcanic mountain of Aetna, which rises on the E coast of the island, and attains an elevation of 10.874 feet, while its base is not less than 90 miles in circumference. It is wholly detached from the mountains and hills which surround it, being bounded oii the N. l>y the river Acesiries or Alcan- tara, and the valley through which it flows, and on the W. and S. by the Symaethus, while on the E. its streams of lava descend completely into the sea, and constitute the line of coast for a distance of near 30 miles. The rivers already mentioned con- stitute (with trifling exceptions) the limits of the volcanic district of Aetna, but volcanic formations of older date, including beds of lava, scoriae, &c., are scattered over a considerable extent of the SE. por- tion of the island, extending from the neighbourhood of Palagonia to that of Pulazzolo, and even to Syracu.se. These indeed belong to a much more ancient epoch of volcanic action, and can never have been in operation since the existence of man upon the island. The extensive action of volcanic fires upon Sicily was, however, observed by the ancients, and is noticed by several writers. The apparent connection between Aetna and tiie volcanoes of the Aeolian Islands is mentioned by Strabo, and the same author justly appeals to the craters of the Palici. and to the numerous thermal springs through- out the island, as proofs that the subterranean agencies were widely diffused beneath its surface (Strab. vi. pp. 274, 275). Few countries in Europe surpass Sicily in general productiveness and fertility. Its advantages in this re.^pect; are extolled by many ancient writers. Strabo tells us (vi. p. 273) that it was not inferior to Italy in any kind of produce, and even surpassed it in many. It was generally believed to be the native country of wheat (Diod. v. 2), and it is certain tl;at it was not surpassed by any country either in the abundance or quality of this production. It was equally celebrated for the excellence of its honey and its saffron, both of which were extensively ex- ported to Rome; as well as for its sheep and cattle, and excellent breeds of honses, among which those of Agrigentuin seem to have been the most cele- brated (Strab. I. c. Sil. Ital. xiv. 23; Virg. Aen. iii. 704). There were indeed no extensive plains, like ihose of Campania or Cisalpine Ganl ; the largest being tiiat now called the Piano di Catania, extend- ing along the banks of the Symaethus, and known in ancient times as the Leontinus or Laestiiy- GONius Campus. But the whole island was inter- sected by numerous streams, and beautiful valleys; and though a considerable part of its surface (as already observed) was occupied either by mountains or rocky hills, the slopes and underfalls of these abounded in scenery of the most charming descrip- tion, and were adapted for the growth of vines, olives, and fruits of every description. SICILIA. The climate of Sicily may be considered as inter- mediate between those of Southern Italy and Africa. The northern part of the island, indeed, closely re- .sembles the portion of Italy with which it is more immediately in contact; but the southern and south- western parts present strong indications of their more southerly latitude, and have a parched and arid appearance (at least to the eyes of northern travellers), except in winter and spring. The abund- ance also of the dwarf palm {Chamaerops humilis Linn.), a plant unknown to other parts of Europe, tends to give a peculiar aspect to these districts of Sicily. The climate of the island in general was certainly not considered unhealthy in ancient times; and though at the present day many districts of it suffer severely from malaria, there is good reason to believe that this would be greatly diminished by an increased population and more extensive cultivation. It is remarkable, indeed, in Sicily, as in the south of Italy, that frequently the very sites which are now considered the most unhealthy were in ancient times occupied by flourishing and populous cities. In many cases the malaria is undoubtedly owing to local causes, which might be readily obviated by draining marshes or affording a free outlet to stag- nant waters. II. History. The accounts of the early population of Sicily are more rational and consistent than is generally the case with such traditions. Its name was obvi- ously derived from that of the people who continued in historical times to be its chief inhabitants, the SicuLior SiCELs (Si/ceAoi); and the tradition uni- versally received represented these as crossing over from the mainland, where they had formerly dwelt, in the extieme southern portion of Italy. The tra- ditions and notices of this people in other parts of Italy, and of their previous wanderings and nngra- tions, are, indeed, extremely obscure, and will be discussed elsewhere [Siculi] ; but the fact that they were at one time settled in the Brultian penin- sula, and from thence pa.ssed over into Sicily, may be safely received as historical. There is every pro- bability also that they were not a people distinct in their origin from the races whom we subsequently find in that part of Italy, but were closely connected with the Oenotrians and their kindred tribes. In- deed, the names of S.KeAos and 'lTas are consi- dered by many philologers as of common origin. There seems, therefore, little doubt that the Sicels, or Siculi, may be regarded as one of the branches of the great Pelasgic race, which we find in the earliest times occupying the southern portion of Italy : and this kindred origin will account for the facility with which we find the Sicels subsequently adopting the language and civilisation of the Greek colonists in the island, at the same time that there remain abundant traces of their common descent with the people of Italy. But the Sicels, who occupied in the historical period the greater part of the interior of the island, were not, according to the Greek writers, its earliest inhabitants. Thucydides indeed assigns their immi- gration to a peiiod only three centuries before the settlement of the first Greek colonies (Thuc. vi. 2); and Diodorus, without assigning any date, agrees in representing them as the latest comers among the native population of the island (Diod. v. 6). The first notices of Sicily allude to the existence of races of gigantic men, of savage manners, under the