<strong>Mermaid myth:</strong> In a fishy fight for provenance, two Italian locations claim ownership of ancient myths of mermaids and sirens. Naples and the tiny island of Ventotene (pictured) both trade on the sirens' call.
Mermaid myth: In a fishy fight for provenance, two Italian locations claim ownership of ancient myths of mermaids and sirens. Naples and the tiny island of Ventotene (pictured) both trade on the sirens' call.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Siren calls: </strong>Ventotene is a small volcanic isle far out in the Tyrrhenian Sea west of Naples. Legend has it the sirens would sunbathe on rocks, luring sailors to their doom on craggy cliffs by screaming and wailing at them.
Siren calls: Ventotene is a small volcanic isle far out in the Tyrrhenian Sea west of Naples. Legend has it the sirens would sunbathe on rocks, luring sailors to their doom on craggy cliffs by screaming and wailing at them.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Fabled spot: </strong>The deadly spot where the sirens are said to have harassed the Greek hero Odysseus is a narrow strip of sea separating Ventotene from the tiny uninhabited atoll of Santo Stefano, a former prison fortress three miles away.
Fabled spot: The deadly spot where the sirens are said to have harassed the Greek hero Odysseus is a narrow strip of sea separating Ventotene from the tiny uninhabited atoll of Santo Stefano, a former prison fortress three miles away.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Ancient harbor:</strong> Snorkeling, diving trips and sunset boat tours to the craggy Santo Stefano depart from Ventotene's Roman harbor, which is enclosed by pastel-colored dwellings.<br />
Ancient harbor: Snorkeling, diving trips and sunset boat tours to the craggy Santo Stefano depart from Ventotene's Roman harbor, which is enclosed by pastel-colored dwellings.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Screeching albatrosses: </strong>Odysseus was said to have been sailing through the mushroom-shaped sea stacks rising between Santo Stefano and Ventotene's Cala Nave beach. He ordered his crew to tie him to the mast and made them plug their ears to resist the sirens' call. Some say the screaming calls were actually the cries of albatrosses.
Screeching albatrosses: Odysseus was said to have been sailing through the mushroom-shaped sea stacks rising between Santo Stefano and Ventotene's Cala Nave beach. He ordered his crew to tie him to the mast and made them plug their ears to resist the sirens' call. Some say the screaming calls were actually the cries of albatrosses.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Dazzling coast: </strong>The pristine waters and spectacular coastline around Ventotene now magnetize tourists with a different kind of aqua attraction.
Dazzling coast: The pristine waters and spectacular coastline around Ventotene now magnetize tourists with a different kind of aqua attraction.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Mermaid city: </strong>Naples also lays claim to the myth. Locals say its profile from the sea is of a reclining mermaid -- the volcano Vesuvius is her head, the hill of Posillipo is her tail.
Mermaid city: Naples also lays claim to the myth. Locals say its profile from the sea is of a reclining mermaid -- the volcano Vesuvius is her head, the hill of Posillipo is her tail.
DANIEL SLIM/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Origin of the myth:</strong> Legend says the city rose from the fishy ashes of a beautiful dying mermaid-goddess called Parthenope, who gave the city and its people (sometimes known as Parthenopeans) her name. She is said to have washed ashore in shame when Odysseus didn't succumb to her chanting. Fishermen found her on rocks that today host the fortress of Castel dell'Ovo.
Origin of the myth: Legend says the city rose from the fishy ashes of a beautiful dying mermaid-goddess called Parthenope, who gave the city and its people (sometimes known as Parthenopeans) her name. She is said to have washed ashore in shame when Odysseus didn't succumb to her chanting. Fishermen found her on rocks that today host the fortress of Castel dell'Ovo.
Comune di Napoli
<strong>'Ulysses and the Sirens': </strong>Different versions of the legend have been portrayed by artists over the centuries. This work, painted in 1900 by Otto Greiner shows Odysseus (also known as Ulysses) resisting the call of beautiful women.
'Ulysses and the Sirens': Different versions of the legend have been portrayed by artists over the centuries. This work, painted in 1900 by Otto Greiner shows Odysseus (also known as Ulysses) resisting the call of beautiful women.
Courtesy Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs Paris
<strong>Angry birds: </strong>This 1891 work, also titled "Ulysses and the Sirens," by John William Waterhouse, portrays the sirens as harpy-like bird creatures.
Angry birds: This 1891 work, also titled "Ulysses and the Sirens," by John William Waterhouse, portrays the sirens as harpy-like bird creatures.
Courtesy National Gallery of Victoria
<strong>Written in stone: </strong>According to local trekking guide Mario Vello, the sirens' kingdom was between the Gulf of Naples, Sorrento's Peninsula and the tiny private archipelago of Li Galli. "Seen from Naples, Capri has the profile of Odysseus' face," says Vello.
Written in stone: According to local trekking guide Mario Vello, the sirens' kingdom was between the Gulf of Naples, Sorrento's Peninsula and the tiny private archipelago of Li Galli. "Seen from Naples, Capri has the profile of Odysseus' face," says Vello.
Pixabay
<strong>Sirens' home: </strong>The island of Capri, off the coast of Sorrento at the mouth of the Gulf of Naples, was one of the sirens' favored haunts. "Their house is said to be beneath Capri's famous Faraglioni sea stacks," adds Vella. "Their favorite isles were Ischia and Procida."
Sirens' home: The island of Capri, off the coast of Sorrento at the mouth of the Gulf of Naples, was one of the sirens' favored haunts. "Their house is said to be beneath Capri's famous Faraglioni sea stacks," adds Vella. "Their favorite isles were Ischia and Procida."
Sergio Aletta
<strong>On the trail: </strong>Hikers, birdwatchers and myth-hunters can walk the Sirens' Trail, looking for clues and soaking in the mythical landscape overlooking the dazzling Mediterranean Sea.
On the trail: Hikers, birdwatchers and myth-hunters can walk the Sirens' Trail, looking for clues and soaking in the mythical landscape overlooking the dazzling Mediterranean Sea.
www.Trentaremi.it
<strong>Neapolitan woman: </strong>Naples has streets, boulevards, fountains, hotels and even a university named after Parthenope. "The mermaid symbolizes the beauty of Naples and of the Neapolitan woman: sensual, enchanting, passionate, loud and tougher than man. She's bossy, commands and slaps," says Vella.
Neapolitan woman: Naples has streets, boulevards, fountains, hotels and even a university named after Parthenope. "The mermaid symbolizes the beauty of Naples and of the Neapolitan woman: sensual, enchanting, passionate, loud and tougher than man. She's bossy, commands and slaps," says Vella.
Comune di Napoli
<strong>Food history: </strong>Pastry art also has a mythological origin. The cake pastiera, made of ricotta and candied orange peel, is said to be made by Parthenope in the deep sea to thank locals who worship her. The shell-shaped sfogliatelle pastry (pictured), with its vanilla-flavoured crunchy layers, has the texture of fish scales.
Food history: Pastry art also has a mythological origin. The cake pastiera, made of ricotta and candied orange peel, is said to be made by Parthenope in the deep sea to thank locals who worship her. The shell-shaped sfogliatelle pastry (pictured), with its vanilla-flavoured crunchy layers, has the texture of fish scales.
Silvia Marchetti