The city of Naples is one of the most beautiful and fascinating in Italy. Its history is long and eventful, and its culture is unique and varied. One of the most famous legends related to the city is that of Partenope, the siren who gave it its name.
Legend has it that Partenope was a mermaid of extraordinary beauty, who lived in the Gulf of Naples. She was so beautiful that sailors, when they saw her, lost control of their ships and ended up shipwrecked.
One day, Ulysses, the protagonist of Homer's Odyssey, passed through the Gulf of Naples. Ulysses was a cunning and courageous man, and did not want to be attracted by the song of the siren. To avoid giving in to temptation, he had himself tied to the mainmast of his ship and had his ears plugged with wax.
Partenope, seeing that Ulysses was not enchanted by her singing, felt deeply offended. She threw herself into the sea and drowned. Her body was carried by the waves to the coast, where it was found by some fishermen.
The fishermen, moved by the beauty of the siren, decided to bury her in that place. At the spot where she was buried, a city arose that was called Partenope, in her honor.
Over the centuries, the legend of Partenope has been revisited and reinterpreted in many different ways. In a more recent version, Partenope is a young woman who falls in love with the centaur Vesuvius. The two lovers are separated by the jealousy of Zeus, who transforms the girl into a siren and the centaur into a volcano.
Whichever version of the legend one prefers, Partenope continues to be a fascinating and mysterious figure who represents an important part of Naples' identity.
Article published on 16 September 2023 - 21:58
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