The skené (from which the word "scene" derives) was a scene wall construction placed perpendicularly to the cavea. Initially it was very simple and built from wood. Its original function was only practical, i.e. to provide the actors with a secluded place to prepare without being seen, like a mode...

According to the Holy Scriptures, Jewish purification rites take place using the water element. For this reason, the bathing must take place in very pure water, and the water cannot be transported by hand or through pipes. The mikveh must be connected to a natural source or fed by rainwater or rive...

In Greek and Roman mythology a pistris is a legendary sea monster with a snake's tail. It usually swims with the god Neptune, accompanied by tritons and mermaids. This figure symbolises the fear of the unknown. ...

The lizard carved on the left corner of the cornice, also present in other buildings, is interpreted as the signature of the architect Vermexio. In fact, it is said that he was awarded the epithet of "lucertolone" (green lizard) due to his excessive height and thinness. ...

The Grotta dei Cordari takes its name from the craftspeople who, for around three centuries after the 17th century, used it as a "workshop" to produce rope. In some families, the rope maker craft was handed down from generation to generation: the Ambrogio and the Scrofani were the first to settle i...

In Greek mythology, the gorgon is a monstrous being. The most famous gorgon is Medusa, who has snake nests instead of hair, teeth like boar tusks and bronze hands. Medusa petrifies men and gods with a single glance. This figure was often depicted in the Greek temple to ward off evil forces and...

The Fontana di Proserpina (Fountain of Persephone) was built by Giulio Moschetti in 1904 near the central station of Catania. It tells the story of the kidnapping of Persephone, a goddess who was abducted by Hades, god of the underworld, while she was near Enna. Persephone was forced to marry Hades...

A fibula was an accessory very similar to a brooch. It was used to fasten clothing at shoulder height and keep it from falling off. Some of the fibulae found in Pantalica have very refined shapes (violin bow, simple arch, metal knots). These unique aspects symbolised the wealth and prestige of t...

The inhabitants of Pantalica were very fond of elegance, as shown by the exquisiteness of some fibulae found in the area. A fibula, the forerunner of the modern safety pin, is a brooch with a safety catch, formerly used to secure a cloak on your shoulders and keep it from falling off. [dettaglio_i...

The Feast of Santa Lucia di Maggio (St. Lucy of May), also known as the Feast of Santa Lucia delle Quaglie (St. Lucy of Quails), is one of the most heartfelt traditions in Syracuse. The event takes place on the first Sunday in May to commemorate the miracle of the Saint during the famine that struc...