Did the Greeks Colonize All of Sicily?

The question of whether the Greeks completely colonized Sicily and southern Italy has been a subject of interest for historians and scholars. The answer is a nuanced one: yes and no.

Mythology and Early Settlements

The roots of Greek influence on Sicily and southern Italy can be traced back to ancient mythology. According to Greek mythology, Sicily’s first inhabitant was Kronos, or Saturn, the father of Zeus (Jupiter). He died on the island after the “Titanomachia,” which brought Zeus to power. The Ancients believed that the first human settlers were the Italoi, who arrived in a small peninsula in the southern coast of the Apennine mountains, known today as Calabria.

Historical Colonizations

The historical colonization of Sicily and southern Italy follows a timeline:

1. Minoan Colonization (2000 – 1600 BC)

The Minoans of Crete laid the first steps with small settlements in the region.

2. Aeolian Colonization (12th Century BC)

Aeolian settlers from the Aegean islands followed, among them the “Sicalaya,” who might be the ancestors of the modern Sicilians.

3. Achaean and Pelasgian Colonization (10th Century BC)

Following the Dorian invasions, the Achaean and Pelasgian tribes migrated, leading to the Hellenization of much of the region.

4. Great Colonization (8th Century BC)

By the 8th century BC, a significant wave of Greek settlers arrived, bringing with them Greek culture and languages. This wave continued well into the Byzantine era.

Influx of Greeks During the Byzantine Period

During the 7th century AD, Sicily and southern Italy under Byzantine rule experienced a significant influx of Greeks trying to escape the religious conflicts and massacres happening in the eastern Balkans and Asia Minor.

Phoenician Influence and Presence

Unlike the Greeks, the Phoenicians made only commercial stations and did not form real cities with significant populations. The most famous Phoenician commercial station was “Ziz” near the Greek city of Panormos (Palermo).

Middle Ages and Latinization

Throughout the Middle Ages, significant events contributed to the decline of Greek identity in the region. Notable events include:

1. Educational Measures by Frederick II (1231)

Frederick II, King of the Two Sicilies, issued laws in both Greek and Latin to ensure the people could understand the laws. However, these laws included strong measures against Greek and Orthodox practices.

2. Religious Conversion (16th Century)

Religious conversion was a significant factor. The Roman Catholic Church, represented by two ecclesiastical sessions (1585 and 1588), forced the Greek Orthodox in Sicily and southern Italy to convert to Roman Catholicism or leave the country. This led to the disappearance of the Greek language and traditions by 1580.

3. Bourbon Reforms (19th Century)

King Francesco I of the Bourbons further enforced Roman Catholicism and ended many Greek churches and monasteries in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

These events effectively transformed the people of southern Italy and Sicily from Greeks to Greek descendants but with a distinct culture influenced by Roman Catholicism and modern Latin.

Famous Individual from Modern Sicily

The influential figure Luigi Piradelo, a prominent Greek from modern Sicily, emphasizes the enduring Hellenic heritage:

“I care about Hellas in my mines. The spirit of Hellas is consolation and a lighthouse for my soul. I am from Sicily and Greater Greece. There still exists a lot of Hellas in Sicily. The measure of harmony and rhythm lives on her. I am of Hellenic origin.”

These events and identities illustrate the complex and enduring legacy of Greek colonization and cultural impact on Sicily and southern Italy.