Ortygia
Island in Syracuse, Sicily, Italy From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ortygia (/ɔːrˈtɪdʒiə/ or-TIJ-ee-ə; Italian: Ortigia [orˈtiːdʒa]; Ancient Greek: Ὀρτυγία, romanized: Ortygía) is a small island which is the historical centre of the city of Syracuse, Sicily. The island, also known as the Città Vecchia (Old City), contains many historical landmarks.
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
 Aerial view of Ortygia, the historic heart of ancient Syracuse | |
| Location | Syracuse, Sicily, Italy |
| Criteria | Cultural: ii, iii, iv |
| Reference | 1200 |
| Inscription | 2005 (29th Session) |
| Area | 146 ha (360 acres) |
| Buffer zone | 2,149 ha (5,310 acres) |
| Coordinates | 37°3′33″N 15°17′8″E |
 Location of Ortygia in Italy  Ortygia (Sicily) | |
The name originates from the Ancient Greek órtyx (ὄρτυξ), which means "quail".[1]
Overview
Summarize
Perspective
Ortygia is a small island and the historical heart of the city of Syracuse, Sicily. The island contains many of the city's most ancient landmarks, including the Temple of Apollo, the Fountain of Arethusa, and the Cathedral of Syracuse, which was originally a Greek temple.[2]
In 2005, Ortygia was inscribed as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica". The island represents the core of ancient Syracuse and showcases a continuous layering of cultural influences from Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, and Norman periods.[2]
Its urban fabric, religious structures, and public spaces reflect the political and religious evolution of the Mediterranean region over more than two millennia. As such, Ortygia is considered an essential component of the heritage designation, embodying both the architectural and historical significance of the wider site.[2]
The Homeric Hymn to Delian Apollo has it that the goddess Leto stopped at Ortygia to give birth to Artemis,[3] the firstborn of her twins. Artemis then helped Leto across the sea to the island of Delos, where Leto gave birth to Apollo.[4] Other ancient sources state that the twins were born in the same place – which was either Delos or Ortygia[5] – but Ortygia, according to Strabo[6] was an old name of Delos. Further, there were perhaps a half-dozen other places called Ortygia, so that the identification is uncertain.[7]
It was also said that Asteria, the sister of Leto, metamorphosed into a quail (Ortyx), threw herself into the sea, and was metamorphosed into the island of Ortygia. Another myth suggested that it was Delos, rather than Ortygia.[8]
Eos, the goddess of the dawn, fell in love with the mortal hunter Orion and abducted him to Ortygia, where he met Artemis and joined her retinue.[9] He was slain by the goddess either because the gods did not approve of goddesses taking mortal men to lovers,[9] or for challenging her in an archery contest, or trying to force himself upon one of her maids.[10]
Ortygia was the mythological home of Arethusa, a chaste nymph who, while fleeing a river god, was transformed by Artemis into a spring, traversed underground and appeared here as the Fountain of Arethusa, thus providing water for the city.[11] Arethusa and her pursuer, the river god Alpheus, came from Arcadia in Greece.
History
Ortygia, being an island just off the coast, was easily transformed into a natural fortress with harbors and was big enough that it could hold a significant population in ancient times. Therefore, the history of Ortygia is synonymous with the early history of Syracuse.
Location
Ortygia is located at the eastern end of Syracuse and is separated from it by a narrow channel. Two bridges connect the island to mainland Sicily. The island is a popular location for tourists, shopping, entertainment and is also a residential area.
Subdistricts
Landmarks
- Cathedral of Syracuse
- Piazza del Duomo, Syracuse
- Piazza Archimede
- Fountain of Arethusa
See also
References
External links
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