garden of the mediterranean

three/triangle symbolism.

the number three, as well as the shape of a triangle, has a significant amount of symbolism that is important to sicily, being best known inthe form of the sicilian symbol the triskelion (in sicilian/italian: trinacria), which is on the sicilian flag - the medusa head surrounded by three bent legs, and three stalks of wheat. the medusa head is a symbol of the patron greek goddess of athena's protection of sicily, which is known in mythology to have been adorned on athena's shield. 

the three bent legs represent the three capes of the island - peloro (punta del faro), messina; passero, syracuse; lilibeo (cape boeo), marsala - and create the three points of the triangle which is the island's shape. 

the three stalks of wheat represent the fertility of sicily's land. this symbolism appears frequently in her design, from the way her bangs are parted in three, to her curl resembling a triangle shape, and the three stalks of wheat and flowers on her dress, as well as the appearance of three stripes on the hem of her dress (gold-red-gold), and then the flowers in three on her headdress - it all has meaning to sicily.

agriculture symbolism.

sicily is practically known for it's agriculture, which is why it has been called "the garden of the mediterranean"; powers that have sought it for the longest time throughout it's history, have done so for it's fertile lands that are that way due to it's volcanic eruptions, and helped along by the island's pleasant climate. some of the main agricultural products produced are wheat, citrons, oranges, lemons, tomatoes, etc. i have bolded wheat & oranges because those are what are frequent in her design. wheat is represented in the stalks of wheat both in her dress and earrings, on her dress in threes, and in her earrings they are climbing up the hoops of it. wheat is a very common produce in sicily, which is why it's a symbol of sicily in many ways, most notably, as mentioned before, in the trinacria. oranges, represented in the form of zagara blossoms, which are orange blossoms that sprout along sicily's orange trees. zagara blossoms are known widely as the flower of sicily, not exactly officially, but what most would think of if trying to associate a flower with the island. why? likely because of how sicily's orange trees are a common produce, and it's signature blood orange 'moro'. they are in her design in the form of the patterns on her dress and headdress, as well as the the flowers on her earrings. agriculture is very important to sicily (and southern italy as a whole), even today being a huge basis of the economy of the south and sicily, important to the island historically and modernly.

anything extra.

her dress is based off the traditional tarantella dress, though there are several different types of dresses represented in sicily traditionally, i have chosen a very standard long skirt and corset over a poofy blouse. it is very heavily referenced to this one. the colors of it - primarily red & gold - are obviously from the flag. in the flag, the red represents palermo, and the gold/yellow represents corleone - palermo being it's capital, and corleone being a city that, in medieval times, was renowned for it's agriculture. woa, another appearance of agriculture. other means for the colors in her outfit, white, black, and pink, do not hold too much but can be noted. white is known best for purity, and being angelic in a religious tone. given sicily is very religiously sound, it could be considered significant.

black denotes strength and authority; it is considered to be a very formal, elegant, and prestigious color. black is also a very prominent color in traditional sicilian fashion, and for a long while it was usually only what women would wear. not uncommon in much formal fashion in sicily.

pink is a color of love, and expresses tenderness, femininity, and kindness. a bit gushy for the likes of marianna, but it's whatever. the pink in her design is rather muted/mauve-looking.

You see many people tend to think that Sicily began with only the Greeks and Romans, which just isn’t true. Before even the Phoenicians had established trade on the island, it’s natives had lived there -- the Sicani, Sicels, and Elymi. These three tribes were closely related in culture, though still separate. Little is recorded about them, which is perhaps why it’s common thought that the Greeks were the first people there.

These tribes were very likely Moorish, people that had come from North Africa to Iberia, and then later migrated to Sicily around 2000-1600 BCE. Again, little is recorded, so a lot of things are vague and vary.

But the biggest thing is that were Moorish; that means dark skin, dark curly hair, and dark eyes - which you can see up above, is presented very clearly. And well.. this is Marianna’s father. But that’s not the only reason she has dark features; you see, a majority of the Siclian population is ethnic. That’s why it’s common to see brown/tan skin tones, dark brown eyes, and dark curly hair among the Sicilian (and really, generally southern Italian) population. “Sicilian” is a mixed, diverse race, as Sicily was once considered the boiling pot of Europe, so it’d be unfair to give her light skin, hair, or eyes.

(Note: her mother is Ancient Greece, whom I also drew but posted to my Romano ask blog, since she’s his mother, too - but Sicania is not his father.)

I’ll be posting more here about her father once I can finish his full design.