It is easy to fall in love with Sicily. Its beautiful citrus orchards, its stunning baroque piazzas, and old alleyways that lead to the sea are just a few of the things that you will remember it by. Sicily is an old place and for a time in its long history, it was a dominion of the Greeks. For centuries, this part of the world held Greek influence in its heart and with it, a story of their superstitious beliefs. These beliefs and customs would later be flavored with the people of Sicily’s fears and what they hold dear. To this day, this Hellenistic influence is still very apparent in this part of Italy.

One of the symbols of Greek influence is the Trinacria or the Sicilian Medusa displayed on the Sicilian flag. Ages ago, it was customary for Sicilians to display Medusa on their doors as a form of protection. The Medusa symbol was believed to turn anyone planning to do evil deeds to stone thereby protecting the dwellers of adorned with the gorgon’s symbol.

The hair of Medusa still maintained the snakes she is known for in Greek mythology but stalks of wheat were added by the Sicilians later on. The symbol on their official flag also has three legs that are attached to each other. Historians note that the three legs represent the Sicilian capes Peloro, Lilibeo, and Passero. The Trinacria, translated to English as “three points”, is rich with folklore and to this day, it invites the curiosity of those who have not heard of its history and its legends before.

The addition of wheat stalks happened during the Roman period when the island was known for its wheat production. According to the Romans, stalks of wheat symbolize prosperity and fertility. Aside from stalks of wheat, the Sicilian Medusa is also adorned with ears of corn.

The symbol as a whole says a lot about Sicilian history and its beautiful culture. It also binds them with the beliefs of other places that use this symbol. In the Isle of Man, flags were adorned with the Trinacria and if you look at the rest of history, you will also find that this very symbol was also used in Celtiberian Spain, Macedonia, and Crete. It also graced the coat of arms of certain noble families which includes that of the old king of Sicily and Naples Joachim Murat’s coat of arms. It is also noted that Sicily’s old name during its Hellenistic history is Trinacria.