Genius of Palermo

Palermu lu Grandi(1483), one of seven monumental representations of the Genius of Palermo.

TheGenius of Palermo(inItalianGenio di Palermo,also calledGenioorPalermo) is one of the city symbols and the lay patron ofPalermo. He was the ancientnumenandgenius lociof theSiciliancity.

The Genius is the emblem of Palermo, the personification of the city, and symbol of its inhabitants. Its origins are probably pre-Roman,but there is no acceptedarchetypeof this legendary and mysterious patron deity. According to the myths passed down from Ovid in the first century it symbolizes the genius loci, or the metamorphosis of an animal spirit into a masculine figure.

The snake symbolizesScipio Africanus,who was helped by Palermo in the war against theCarthaginiansofHannibal.In gratitude, Scipio is said to have gifted the city with a golden basin, with a central statue of a warrior with a serpent feeding on his chest. The symbol of the serpent may have more than one meaning: it is linked to land and water, fertility, rebirth and renewal. The snake is also a symbol of prudence, antagonist of the sun, and bearer of knowledge related to physical force. In addition to the serpent, the symbology of the Genius also include a crown, a scepter and a dog.

In 1400 the leaders ofPalermoadopted the image of the Genius as part of the city seal.

TheGenius of Fieravecchia,also called theGenius of Revolution Square,took on a new role during the riots of 1848, becoming the symbol of the desire for freedom and emancipation of Palermo from Bourbon rule: in that time the people in revolt gathered around the statue, and draped it in the flag in protest. Personifying the ideals of the city, the Genius took on a role as a lay patron, complementary to that of Santa Rosalia.

«Panormus conca aurea suos devorat alienos nutrit» (Palermo the golden dell, devours hers and feeds the foreigners.Latininscription on the edge of the basin of the Genius statue at City Hall of Palermo.)

See also

• Apotheosis of Palermo
• Genius
• Saint Rosalia

References

Bibliography

• Vincenzo Di Giovanni,Palermo restaurato(17th century), pp 544, Palermo, Sellerio, reprint 1989ISBN88-389-0591-6
• Vincenzo Auria.Istoria cronologica dei viceré di Sicilia dal 1409 sino al 1697.Palermo, 1697.
• Anonymous, manuscript to the public library of Palermo, 1703.
• Francesco Gaetani di Villabianca.Notizie storiche intorno agli antichi uffizii del regno di Sicilia.Palermo, 1776.
• Luigi Genuardi (1882-1935).Storia municipale di Palermo.
• Georges Dumézil.La religione romana arcaica.Milan,Rizzoli,1977.ISBN88-17-86637-7
• Giuseppe Pitrè.Almanoacco popolare palermitano.Palermo, Ristampe Siciliane, 1985.
• Giuseppe Bellafiore.Palermo. Guida della città e dintorni.Palermo, 1980/1986.
• Citti Siracusano,La pittura del Settecento in Sicilia.Rome, De Luca, 1986.
• Vincenzo Di Giovanni.Palermo restaurato.Palermo, Sellerio, 1989.ISBN88-389-0591-6
• Alessandro Dell’Aira,Van Dyck a Palermo.Palermo, Kalós, 1999.
• Giulia Sommariva.Palazzi nobiliari di Palermo.Palermo, Flaccovio, 2004.ISBN88-7758-598-6
• Salvatore Requirez.Le ville di Palermo.Palermo, Flaccovio, 2009.ISBN88-7804-464-4

Notes