Vesuvius, Etna, Stromboli, Vulcano: symbolic dimension of active volcanoes in southern Italy

Abstract

The altitude, shape, prominence and explosive manifestations of volcanoes in southern Italy have contributed to an elaborated traditional syncretism between pre‑Roman, Roman and Christian beliefs; as well as religious rituals oriented to prevent or appease the destructive forces unleashed during eruptions. Mount Etna in Sicily and Fossa di Vulcano in the Aeolians appear in Classical mythology as the abode of Hephaestus, the Greek god of metalwork, later called Vulcano by the Romans. Constantly active for the last 2000 years, Stromboli is known as “the lighthouse of the Tyrrhenian”. Mount Epomeo and the hot springs on the island of Ischia are also interpreted in connection with the mythology of giants, which accounts for the secondary manifestations of volcanic activity in the Phlegraean Fields of the Gulf of Naples. This paper analyzes the symbolic dimension and religious role of active volcanoes in southern Italy, starting with the world‑renowned Vesuvius and its historic eruption, which covered in ashes and mud the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Additionally, venerated relics of Catholic saints, such as Saint Genaro or Saint Agatha, are also analyzed in connection to their protective role against the potentially destructive eruptions of Italian volcanoes.