The first human evidence on these islands dates back to 14000 Years ago, while the first historical colonizations date back to the 8th century BC. when they arrived in the Egadi i Phoenicians, evidence of whose arrival was found in Favignana; then followed i Greeks of the colonies of Sicily, so i Punishers who inhabited western Sicily and finally the islands fell under the dominion of the Romans.
They were at the center of bloody battles during the First Punic War (254 A.C.), until in 241 A.C.. Amilcare Barca signed the surrender to the Romans right in Favignana; The Roman fleets left for Africa from the Egadi Islands, during the II and III Punic Wars (in 204 and 149 A.C.).
Following the Wars against Carthage, the islands that definitively fell under the power of Rome, they experienced a period of relative calm, interrupted only later, in 440 A.C.. since the arrival of Vandals of Genseric who sacked them and deported their inhabitants.
FAVIGNANA
The most important island of the Egadi was named by the Phoenicians Katria, by the Greeks Aegusa, and by the Romans Capraia and Favonian, in reference to the Favonius wind, from which the current name derives.
Traces of settlements have been found on the island Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic, of which the necropolis with cave tombs is of great importance, near the cemetery, in the areas of Monte Faraglione and near the Minguddu and Canalozzo rocks.
Especially in Monte Faraglione the important ones are visible caves of the East and d'Uccria, with Mesolithic remains.
In the tombs near Mulino a Vento and Cala Monaci, finds attributable to the culture of Castelluccio and settlements of theBronze Age with findings dating back to the period between 1750 and the 1400 A.C..
In Cala San Nicola the remains of the so-called “Women's bathrooms”, from the Roman era. In the Stele Cave on a pillar are visible engraved letters and a Eucharistic symbol dating back to the 12th-13th century BC.
Other articles:
- Favignana: the coves from the town to the Scalo Cavallo
- Palazzo Florio: the soul of Favignana, design of the great Damiani Almeyda
- The tuff Favignana, For centuries the island's wealth !
LEVANZO
The island was called under the Greeks Phorbantia e Bucina under the Romans, subsequently the Arabs called it Gazirat al yes it is possible (the Arida), while the current name Levanzo dates back to the Renaissance.
A Cala Minnola remains of the plants were found salagione from the Roman era.
In the so-called Grotta del Genovese, on the western coast of the island and others 30 m. slm., discovered by the painter Francesca Minellono in the 1950s, but which had already been reported in the 19th century, rock paintings and graffiti have been found, dating back to the Upper Paleolithic, when the island was still connected to the mainland.
In the cave, private property, but well protected by the superintendence of cultural heritage of the Sicilian Region, which can only be reached by sea, evidence of the various cultures that have followed one another on the island have been found there. It is divided into two environments, of which the first functions as a vestibule and a rear room, dark and sheltered, which is accessed through a tunnel and which ends with a cavity. In this environment, graffiti and paintings of prehistoric life scenes are visible on the wall.
The engravings found here based on carbon analyses 14 have been dated to 10000 A.C.. and depict 29 animals - among which specimens of Bos primigenius are identifiable, Deer elephant, A hydruntinus horse ass- and anthropomorphic figures; the whole representation would make you think of a kind of dance, perhaps having the function of propitiating the hunting trip.
The paintings in the cave, instead, it seems that they can be traced back to 6000 years later, there are about a hundred of them and they depict men, fish, animals and various idols.
The images are poorly naturalistic and very schematic, without eyes or mouth but, despite it all, they express power and vigor. The animals are very stylized, a fawn is made in a single graffiti stroke, the movement of the bulls expresses well the strength of their charge, in contrast to the quiet grazing of the donkeys; the human figures are instead represented with their faces covered by a mask, squat, with short, thin legs, but with movements that betray the agility of a dance.
In other later depictions, of the Copper Age, you can see painted red lines that would suggest a count; at that time paintings completely replaced graffiti.
It was in that period that Levanzo separated from the mainland and became an island. The Grotta del Genovese became a sanctuary, the animals, painted in black, they are no longer represented as a force to be subjugated, but they have a more peaceful and domestic appearance, as particularly demonstrated by the image of a dog holding its muzzle raised towards its owner; fish appear, including tuna; as has been said, the anthropomorphic figures are very stylised: the man has widened arms and legs and ends in an elongated tip which distinguishes him from the female figure who instead has a small head, the limbs are short and the body shape is extremely rounded. Among the figures, a red one stands out, older than the black ones, which could represent the shaman of the tribe or the person who performed rites in the cave as a sanctuary.
To visit it you need to contact the owner and caretaker who lives in Levanzo all year round.
Other articles
- Archeology: Levanzo found the 12th rostrum used by one of the ships in the Battle of the Egadi
- The battle of the Egadi: 241 A.C.. Chronicle of a naval battle that will remain in history
- Levanzo: the works of the Roman era salting Cala Minnola
- Levanzo trekking: from the country to the Grotta del Genovese
MARETTIMO
The island was called Hiera, i.e. “sacred”, under i Greeks e i Romans, while the current name refers to the thyme plant that grows there.
Man arrived there only after having inhabited the other two islands.
Archaeological remains of some importance are found on Mount Capraro and consist of vestiges of Romanian Case with the walls in lattice work. It can be reached via an easy path from the town after a steep but picturesque climb. There is a fountain with drinking water on site.
Other articles:
- Trekking a Marettimo: from Scalo Vecchio to the Roman Houses, Semaphore and back
- The Castle of Punta Troia Marettimo
- Marettimo, ancient Hiera
photo ©Giorgio De Simone
