History of Levanzo

The history of Levanzo, also known as  "Levanto" and then "Levanzo" in modern times; in the sixteenth century it was called  "Levanto" (or “East”) by the Genoese, for remember a small village in the province of Genoa. Apart from the significant and very important examples of Prehistoric times, we do not have about the Aegadian Islans some important sources that speak at length about them.

Specifically, with regard to Levanzo, we have very few traces of Roman times, except for a building to salt the fish, even if today Archaeology (including one the underwater Archaeology) is bringing to light increasingly numerous and important evidences.

However, even the small island (just six square kilometers) was involved, albeit marginally, in the events relating to Sicily;  occupied first by Cuma in the fifth century BC,  the Athenians attempt to take it from the Cumans, while the Sicilians called for help to the Carthaginians, who immediately began the invasion of Sicily and probably also settled in Mozia and Favignana. The Aegadian Islands were involved in the first half of the third century BC, when the Roman fleet was heavily defeated by the Carthaginians under the command of Hannibal (247-182 BC) and also in the Second Punic War (third century BC) in the waters of Levanzo several battles took place.

With the fall of the Roman Empire the Aegadian Islands passed into the hands of Genserico (389-477 AD), the king of the Vandals about 440 AD, until in 551 the Byzantines were expelled in turn ousted by the Saracens in 827. In the following centuries it was dominated by the Normans, Swabians,  Angevin, Aragonese, Spaniards,  Genoese,  French and  Counts Pallavicino, who activate various economic enterprises, which were then continued by the Florio family, who enhance structures on the fish processing.

Etymology

"Phorbantìa Nésos" (“Island of Phorbantia”) according to Ptolemy (90-168 AD) and "Buccina", according to Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD), is the ancient island of Levanzo in the  Egadi Archipelago. But what does "Phorbantia” mean? The hypothesis proposed by various scholars all are particularly fascinating. According to P. Champault, "Phorbantia" would not be a Greek name, but would have a Phoenician derivation. If the hypothesis is correct, "Phorbantia" would mean "mare" and also "knight". This name is derived no doubt from the Semitic root “prš”, "horse", "a saddle horse". And not only "horse" but also "rider" (See P. Champault, "Phéniciens et Grecs  en Italie d'après  l’Odyssée" Bibliobazaar, 2008: 393). The hypothesis could have its own unique texture, validated by other linguistic studies, which point out that the name "Phorbantia" could be a form of a Greek ancient name: "[...]'Levanzo', of which the classic name is "Phorbantia" (‘Phorbantìa’ according to Ptolemy), could be a Greek form of a local name as ‘Herbantia’, according to the equation with the  Latin ‘herba’ ('grass') and the Greek 'Forbé' ('pasture') [...]" (See, “Biblioteca del centro di studi filologici e linguistici sicilani”,1956:  25).

Apart from the difference in meaning, that somehow combines the two cases is that both assume that "Phorbantia" is an archaic term preceding the Greek colonization. However, Frederick E. Brenk  notes that the name might have an affinity with the Greek cult of “Phorbas”: “[...] At Ialysos and elsewhere on Rhodes, Phorbas was most likely honored with propitiatory sacrifice at the opening of the sailing season. In the Rhodian-Knidian saga he himself had been shipwrecked ... but had landed safely and been treated hospitality by the local ruler. Levanzo on the west tip of Sicily, only about 10 kilometers from 'Drepanum' (modern Trapani) Aeneas point of departure to Italy, was known in classical time as 'Phorbantia'. It has been conjectured that Rhodian seafarers had established a 'Phorbanteion' there, such as at Athens. The rites for Phorbas ad Rhodes might have included throwing the victim or part of it into the sea ... If similar rites were performed on Phorbantia to assure good sailing, his introduction into the voyage from Sicily to Italy would be particularly act. Phorbas would them be associated with Sicilian landscape and mythology, with propitiatory sacrifice before sailing [...]” ( See Frederick E. Brenk, “Clothed in Purple Light, “Studies in Virgil and in Latin Literature”, Verlag, Stuttgard, 1999: 71-72).

Both the hypothesis are worthy of great consideration, but determining which is right  is difficult; though, nevertheless, we note that the shipping and Phoenician colonization were older than the Greek, and it is possible that the Greeks have established the cult of "Phorbas" because of the similarity of the name of the island with that of their god  who "propitiated the navigation."  The Scholars, therefore, who "suspect" a Greek form of a name far older are probably many reasons. Therefore, giving the "primogeniture" to the Phoenicians, who colonized the island long before the Greeks, we can say that "Phorbantia" means "The Island of the Horse or Rider" ("L'ile 'Paras' etait donc indistinctement  l'ile du cheval et du cavalier "(See P. Champault: 373).

With  regard to the Latin name "Buccina" of Pliny (but we do not actually know if  "Buccina" is to be referred to Levanzo), the etymology refers to the Latin term "bucca" (mouth); "bucca" means  “inflated cheek”, species in the act of eating, but “bucina” and “buccina”  (diminutive of “bucca”), as reminds us the same Pliny, is also the “shell”.  “ ‘Buccini’ were shells that the Ancients used  to dye clothes purple " (See“Nuovo giornale dei Letterati d'Italia”,  Modena, 1773, Vol. I: 318). For this reason "Buccina" could mean "island in the shape of a shell," in the concavity of which  the ships found their port. For Completeness of  these observations, and recalling that the island of “Buccina” has not been identified with certainty, we remember also the curious fact that the "buccina", as the shells, if brought to the ear gives the hiss of the wind. "Buccina" was also the "horn" that was played in ancient times to the call and involving the swelling of the cheeks. It was sometimes used the "Triton", a horn which was sounded to warning.

However,  what is the relationship of "bucca" ("cheek inflated") with the name  of  “Buccina” mentioned by Pliny? Once again one must go back to the sagacious observations of  P. Champault, who deepening the issue of "Phorbantia", notes that the Aegadian Islands have a relationship with Aeolus, the god of the winds. Champault takes into account the geographical diversity of the ancient world and the fact that the sea level was still different from the current one. At a certain point he notes that "Ptolemy donne pour les Aegades, cinq noms dans l'ordre suivant [Ptolemy gives  five names about Aegadian Islands in the following order]: Phorbantia, Aegusa, Hiera, Paconius, 'Insula Aeolia'."  Or "the island of Aeolus." Given the different situation of the islands and the sea in the ancient time, we can not identify with certainty the exact location of the "Aeolia Insula," but the fact is that the whole area was swept by the winds. Among other things, in the mythological iconography Aeolus is often depicted "with puffy cheeks" in the act of blowing winds. If this hypothesis is true, "Buccina" would mean the "Island of the Winds," "the island where the winds blow", or "the island of Aeolus”, the god of the winds  for “antonomasia” (See Champault: 396 et seq.).