Sicilian mermaids: just a legend?
Sicily, an island at the heart of the Mediterranean, has always been a land of myths and legends, with the sea as its undisputed centerpiece. Among the most fascinating and mysterious mythological figures in Sicilian lore are the sirens, creatures that are half-women and half-fish according to the most popular imagery. With their enchanting songs, they seduce and lure sailors into the depths of the sea. Sicilian culture has kept this myth alive through the centuries, blending elements of folklore and literature, making sirens an integral part of the island’s cultural heritage. Among the most famous Sicilian mermaids there are the Little Mermaid of Mondello and Lighea, created by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, both of which embody unique aspects of the tradition tied to these marine creatures. Are you ready to dive into the world of Sicilian Secrets?
Seductive, alluring, dangerous. According to the most well-known imagery, sirens are mythical creatures, half-women and half-fish (although, in ancient times, they were depicted with the body of a bird…just as Homer tells us!). Hidden from human sight, they dwell in the ocean’s depths. Long cloaked in a sinful and deceitful aura, their reputation has been redeemed by stories that portray them in a more positive light. Yes, they are still objects of desire, but no longer harbingers of death. After all, who would fear little Ariel, the rebellious teenage daughter of Triton, brought to life by Disney and inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale?
And yet, beyond the more ‘pop’ sirens of recent decades, these magical figures have been at the heart of ancient narratives, with their home rooted in the Mediterranean.
Once upon a time, there were Parthenope, Leucosia, and Ligea…
Parthenope (whom we might now call ‘the siren of Naples’), Leucosia, and Ligea. These are three sirens that Homer describes as dwellers of the Mediterranean. These half-woman, half-bird beings were often associated with southern Italy’s coast and Sicily. While the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey does not specify their exact location, many scholars believe these sirens may have inhabited the shores of Sicily itself. Where? Between Scylla and Charybdis, in the Strait of Messina, known for its perilous whirlpools. These creatures were famed for their irresistible songs, which had the power to enchant and lead sailors to their doom. In Sicily, however, the siren myth blends with local elements, gaining characteristics that make them even more enigmatic, figures connected not only to the sea but also to popular and literary culture.
Lighea, the siren as told by Tomasi di Lampedusa
I am Lighea, daughter of Calliope. Don’t believe the stories made up about us: we don’t kill, we only love.
Lighea, created by one of Sicily’s greatest 20th-century authors, Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, is the main character of the short story ‘The Siren’ (also known as ‘Lighea’). She stands as a captivating example of how contemporary Sicilian literature has reinterpreted the siren myth, breathing new life into it. Published in 1961, the story tells of the encounter between a young journalist, Paolo Corbera di Salina, and the classicist Rosario La Ciura in a bar in Turin.
The professor, now an old man, recounts a tale from his youth, recalling his meeting with Lighea many years earlier on the coast of Augusta. A memory laden with love and melancholy, where Lighea, undoubtedly one of the most famous Sicilian mermaids, exists beyond time and human rules. She does not know death or aging, and offers Rosario the chance to live with her in an eternal and boundless dimension. However, the young man is torn between Lighea’s call and the duties and responsibilities of life on earth. In the end, the professor chooses to remain in the human world, but the memory of the siren haunts him for the rest of his life, like a shattered dream or an impossible love.
The ending? ‘You will not forget’. And that’s exactly how it goes. La Ciura shares this story with Corbera just before heading to a conference he will never attend. During his journey, before reaching Naples, the professor chooses to throw himself into the sea, reuniting with his beloved.
The smooth face of a sixteen-year-old emerged from the sea…that girl was smiling, a slight crease parted her pale lips and revealed her sharp, white teeth, like those of dogs. But it wasn’t one of those smiles you see all around. It expressed only itself, that is, an almost bestial joy in life, an almost divine happiness. From her messy, sun-colored hair, the sea water dripped onto her wide-open green eyes, onto her features of childish purity. Below her groin, below her buttocks, her body was that of a fish, covered in tiny mother-of-pearl and blue scales, and ended in a forked tail that slowly beat the bottom of the boat. She was a mermaid.
Lighea, with her purity and timeless allure, represents not only temptation but also the yearning for a more authentic and intense life, one that many characters in Sicilian literature seek but never fully attain. Tomasi di Lampedusa’s story fits perfectly into this context, enriching the myth of sirens with a profoundly human and universal meaning.
The Little Mermaid of Mondello: a contemporary myth
Among Sicilian mermaids, we cannot forget the Little Mermaid of Mondello. In Palermo, in its famous seaside area beloved by locals and visitors alike, stands a curious statue in the square. Curious because the siren depicted has two fins, resembling human legs! Why? This was the choice of its creator, Nino Geraci, who, when he crafted it in 1976, intended (or so some art experts explain) to symbolize a clear sentiment of female independence.
The official name of the bronze sculpture is ‘The Little Mermaid Watching the Sea’. Her body leans forward, as if to welcome those arriving from the sea with an embrace, thus ensuring a safe and happy landing. Her delicate yet sensual appearance echoes the tradition of classical sirens, while at the same time embodying a modern figure that reflects the contemporary character of Mondello, a place where the majesty of the sea blends with the urban soul of the capital city. Charm and energy combined.
A true Sicilian mermaid, Rossana Maiorca
Do sirens exist? Probably, or at least among Sicilian mermaids, there was one who truly lived. Her name was Rossana Maiorca. A real woman who became a legend. She was a freediver, more precisely a champion, who set her last record in 1992 in the waters of Fontane Bianche, near Syracuse (not far from Lighea!). On that occasion, Rossana broke the world record, reaching a depth of 58 meters.
This talented siren left us in 2005, but in her memory, there’s a statue that depicts her as the most beautiful of mythological beings. Thus, the most human of Sicilian mermaids now rests in the depths of the Plemmirio Marine Protected Area in the sea of Syracuse. She has the tail of a fish, the body of a maiden, a proud face looking towards the sun, and a long braid that caresses her back. Suspended there forever, between sky and sea.
