Genius of Palermo
Encyclopedia
«Panormus conca aurea suos devorat alienos nutrit»
(Palermo the golden dell, devours hers and feeds the foreigners. Latin
inscription on the edge of the basin of the Genius statue at City Hall of Palermo.)
The Genius of Palermo (in Italian
Genio di Palermo, also called as Genio or Palermo) is one of the city symbols and the laic patron of Palermo
.
Was the ancient numen
and genius loci
of the Sicilian
city.
The Genius is the emblem of Palermo, the personification of the city, and symbol of its inhabitants, of every origin or ethnic, cultural, religious and social. Perhaps its origins are pre-Roman, but there is a mythology Check on the archetipo of the legendary and mysterious patron deity, whose origins are uncertain and symbols. According to the myths passed down from Ovid in the first century symbolized the genius loci, or the metamorphosis of the male figure.
The snake symbolized Scipio Africanus
helped by Palermo in the war against the Carthaginians
of Hannibal. Scipio would have won the gratitude a hollow golden city, with a central statue of a warrior who had a snake from his chest.
The symbolism of the serpent, may have more than one meaning: it is linked to land and water, fertility, rebirth and renewal, the animal is also a symbol of prudence, antagonist of the sun, and bearer of knowledge related to physical force.
In addition to the snake, the attributes of Engineers are the crown, scepter and the dog.
In 1400 the jurors of Palermo
adopted the image of engineering in their arms.
The Genius of Revolution Square will find a new role during the riots of 1848, becoming the symbol of the desire for freedom and emancipation from Palermo Bourbon rule: in that time the people in revolt gathered around the statue, draped in the flag in protest. Personifying the ideals of the city took on a role as a lay patron, complementary to that of Santa Rosalia.
(Palermo the golden dell, devours hers and feeds the foreigners. Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
inscription on the edge of the basin of the Genius statue at City Hall of Palermo.)
The Genius of Palermo (in Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
Genio di Palermo, also called as Genio or Palermo) is one of the city symbols and the laic patron of Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
.
Was the ancient numen
Numen
Numen is a Latin term for a potential, guiding the course of events in a particular place or in the whole world, used in Roman philosophical and religious thought...
and genius loci
Genius loci
In classical Roman religion a genius loci was the protective spirit of a place. It was often depicted in religious iconography as a figure holding a Cornucopia, patera and/or a snake. There are many Roman altars found in Western Europe dedicated in whole or in part to the particular Genius Loci...
of the Sicilian
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
city.
The Genius is the emblem of Palermo, the personification of the city, and symbol of its inhabitants, of every origin or ethnic, cultural, religious and social. Perhaps its origins are pre-Roman, but there is a mythology Check on the archetipo of the legendary and mysterious patron deity, whose origins are uncertain and symbols. According to the myths passed down from Ovid in the first century symbolized the genius loci, or the metamorphosis of the male figure.
The snake symbolized Scipio Africanus
Scipio Africanus
Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus , also known as Scipio Africanus and Scipio the Elder, was a general in the Second Punic War and statesman of the Roman Republic...
helped by Palermo in the war against the Carthaginians
Carthage
Carthage , implying it was a 'new Tyre') is a major urban centre that has existed for nearly 3,000 years on the Gulf of Tunis, developing from a Phoenician colony of the 1st millennium BC...
of Hannibal. Scipio would have won the gratitude a hollow golden city, with a central statue of a warrior who had a snake from his chest.
The symbolism of the serpent, may have more than one meaning: it is linked to land and water, fertility, rebirth and renewal, the animal is also a symbol of prudence, antagonist of the sun, and bearer of knowledge related to physical force.
In addition to the snake, the attributes of Engineers are the crown, scepter and the dog.
In 1400 the jurors of Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
adopted the image of engineering in their arms.
The Genius of Revolution Square will find a new role during the riots of 1848, becoming the symbol of the desire for freedom and emancipation from Palermo Bourbon rule: in that time the people in revolt gathered around the statue, draped in the flag in protest. Personifying the ideals of the city took on a role as a lay patron, complementary to that of Santa Rosalia.
See also
- Apotheosis of PalermoApotheosis of PalermoThe Apotheosis of Palermo is a fresco by Vito D'Anna in the Palazzo Isnello, Palermo, Italy, considered one of the most representative works of the Sicilian Baroque painting.Is one of the seven monumental representations of the Genius of Palermo....
- GeniusGenius (mythology)In ancient Roman religion, the genius was the individual instance of a general divine nature that is present in every individual person, place or thing.-Nature of the genius:...
- Genius lociGenius lociIn classical Roman religion a genius loci was the protective spirit of a place. It was often depicted in religious iconography as a figure holding a Cornucopia, patera and/or a snake. There are many Roman altars found in Western Europe dedicated in whole or in part to the particular Genius Loci...
- History of PalermoHistory of Palermo-First settlements:Human settlement in the Palermo area goes back to Prehistoric Age. It is as one of the most ancient sites in Sicily. Interesting graffiti and prehistoric paintings were discovered in the Addaura grottoes in 1953 by archaeologist Bovio Marconi...
- PalermoPalermoPalermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
- Santa RosaliaSanta RosaliaSaint Rosalia , also called La Santuzza or "The Little Saint", is the patron saint of Palermo, Italy, El Hatillo, Venezuela, and Zuata, Anzoátegui, Venezuela.-Legend:...