Presentation for the third mobility of the Erasmus+ KA229 project entitled "Playing Europe"

1. Erasmus +KA229 ‘’Playing Europe’’
Sicilian Symbols and
the legend of Colapesce
IIS “MARIO ORSO CORBINO” PARTINICO ITALIA
2020-2023

2. Sicilian symbols
The flag of Sicily shows a
figure of three legs
arranged in rotational
symmetry, and at its
centre the head of
Medusa, a pair of wings
and three wheat ears.
Sicilian flag is red like lava
and yellow like wheat,
with three legs like its
three edges, but this is not
all. This regional symbol
has deep historical and
religious roots.

3. Sicilian Symbols
Sicilian carts are a symbol of
Sicilian tradition and folklore.
Known all over the world, their
origin dated around the
8th century.
The carts were built by skilled
craftsmen and once were used to
deliver any kind of goods.

4. Sicilian Symbols
Prickly pears or Fichi d’India
are typical Sicilian fruits.
They are plants originating
from Mexico, but they are
also common in the warm
areas of Africa, America and
Asia.

5. Sicilian Symbols
The Sicilian Pigna is a symbol
of fertility, prosperity and
abundance.
The pinecone has always
been an auspicious synonym
that embodies the symbolic
meanings of life force,
immortality and divinity.

6. Sicilian Symbols
The Moor's Heads are now a symbol for
Sicily, they have a very ancient and
important history, a legend made of passion
and jealousy between two lovers. These
vases, emblem of Sicilian culture and art, are
the result of a legend that has spread over
the centuries.
It is said that around the year 1000, during
the domination of the Moors in Sicily, a
beautiful girl lived in the Arab area in
Palermo.
One day, from her balcony, she was noticed
by a Moor. He immediately fell in love with
her and she did not hesitate to declare her
love for him.
Soon the young woman discovered that her
beloved had to return to the East where his
wife and children were waiting for him.
In the middle of the night, feeling betrayed
and humiliated, the girl killed her Moor while
he was sleeping.
Later she cut off the head and created a sort
of vase in which she planted a basil. From
this terrible event it was born the tradition of
terracotta pots with the same features as the
Moor's Head.

7. The legend of Colapesce
Nicola was a son of a fisherman, his
nickname was Colapesce for his
ability to dive and swim in the water
like a fish.
He usually told about the wonderful
views underwater and sometimes he
brought back some treasures.
His fame came to the king of Sicily
Frederick II, who decided to put him
to the test: the king and his court
therefore went off on a boat and
threw a cup that was immediately
recovered by Colapesce.

8. The legend of Colapesce
The king then threw his crown in
a deeper place and Colapesce
again managed the enterprise.
The third time the king put to the
test Cola throwing a ring in a
place even deeper and in that
occasion Colapesce saw that Sicily
stayed on 3 columns, but one of
them was full of cracks and it was
marked by time, in another
version it was consumed by the
fire of Etna.
The legend wants he replaced
the pillar and decided to stay
under the water, holding up the
column to prevent the island from
sinking.
https://youtu.be/BdYlo6DAJ8w

9. Erasmus +KA229 ‘’Playing Europe’’