A Place of Legends (& Libertos)

This was a pretty exciting day for us .. our son-in-law Steve, and grandkids Beka & Jason all descend from the Sicilian family of Libertos, and today we're visiting Syracuse, Sicily. This part of Italy is rich and diverse, influenced by various civilizations including Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and Spanish. Sicily is located off the "toe" of Italy's boot-shaped peninsula, separated by the Strait of Messina, where the piercingly blue, clear waters are lapping at the shores of Ortygia Island.

Although I think Steve's paternal ancestors were from the Western side of Sicily, as a genealogist, I love the thought that we're traveling in the country of his and my grandchildren's ancestors.

Syracuse was founded by the Corinthians in 734 BC and became one of the richest and most powerful cities on the island and of the entire Greek civilization. According to Cicero it was “the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all". At the time, the power resided with cities whose names you'll likely recognize, such as Rome, Alexandria, and Athens. Prior to this journey, I hadn't realized how important this part of Sicily was in the world of ancient times.

Magna Graecia refers to the areas of southern Italy and Sicily that were colonized by ancient Greek settlers, starting around the 8th century. This term, which means "Great Greece" in Latin, reflects the significant cultural and economic impact these Greek colonies had on the region. Greek city-states established numerous colonies along the coasts of southern Italy and Sicily due to population pressures, trade opportunities, and political conflicts in their homelands. These colonies brought Greek culture, language, art, and philosophy to the Italian peninsula, significantly influencing the local populations and later Roman culture. The cities of Magna Graecia became wealthy through trade, agriculture, and craftsmanship, often rivaling or surpassing their mother cities in Greece.

Sicily, the ancient crossroads of Mediterranean civilization, was home to two intellectual individuals: Pythagoras and Archimedes. Their talent echoes through time, and while here I recalled that the Libertos descend from the Sicilians. Which led me to search for some similarities, such as these:

• Pythagoras gifted us his famous theorem, which relates the sides of a right triangle: the square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of squares of the other two sides (a² + b² = c²). This fundamental principle underpins much of geometry and trigonometry.
• But, it's Archimedes who truly mirrors the multifaceted creativity and innovation we've witnessed in Steve, Jason and Beka. Archimedes revolutionized mathematics, physics, engineering, and astronomy, leaving an indelible mark on human knowledge. He lived in Syracuse, Sicily, from approximately 287 BC to 212 BC, and here are some of the key contributions from him:

1. Scientific: Archimedes made groundbreaking discoveries in mathematics, particularly in geometry. He accurately approximated the value of pi and developed methods for calculating areas and volumes of various shapes. [This Sicilian trait is found in Beka calculating and constructing amazing quilts utilizing a variety of fabric shapes]
2. Inventions: He is credited with inventing numerous devices, including the compound pulley system and the Archimedes screw, a machine for lifting water. [Definitely Sicilian Steve]
3. Principle of buoyancy: Archimedes discovered the principle that a body immersed in fluid experiences a buoyant force equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces. Legend has it that he made this discovery while taking a bath, prompting him to run naked through the streets shouting "Eureka!" (I have found it!). [Sicilian Jason? No, probably not]
4. Defense of Syracuse: During the Second Punic War, he helped defend Syracuse against Roman siege by designing war machines and possibly using mirrors to set Roman ships on fire (though this is debated by historians). [Yes, very possibly Sicilian Jason]
5. Famous quote: He is said to have stated, "Give me a place to stand, and I shall move the Earth," referring to the power of levers. [Yes, now that's JUST LIKE Steve and Jason!]

While on tour here in Syracuse, we observed just how the ancient civilization of Sicily used levers to hoist stone out of the Latomia del Paradiso, an ancient stone quarry that is part of an archeological site today.

The quarry was carved out using hand tools and manual labor over many years. Workers cut blocks of limestone from the rock face, leaving behind the distinctive tall, narrow excavations we observed on our tour. It's a large, deep excavation with steep rock walls, featuring caves and grottos carved into the rock face.

Then we ventured into these caves and grottos, including the famous Ear of Dionysius, known for its unusual acoustics. These formations likely resulted from a combination of deliberate carving and natural erosion over time.

We were informed that the various purposes of the excavation, included: Extracting building materials for the construction of ancient Syracuse,
possibly serving as a water storage facility for the city, and later, potentially being used as a prison for captured enemies.

Over time, the abandoned quarry filled with vegetation, transforming into the unique garden-like environment that earned it the name "Paradise Quarry." Completing the tour, we visited some other significant archaeological sites:

• The Greek Theater, one of the largest and best-preserved theaters from the ancient world, and
• The Roman Amphitheater, where we stood before its entrance and gangways, imagining the gladiators who once occupied that space.

Our day exploring this historical site was truly fascinating, immersing us in the charming Sicilian atmosphere. I hope these insights and photos provide my followers and family with a brief glimpse into Sicily's rich contributions throughout the ages. Who knows? Perhaps some of this history truly does relate to the Liberto family!