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For a further information: TEL-FAX +39
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A
Boat Trip on the River Ciane outside Syracuse |
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The
River Ciane, famous since the days of the ancient Greeks, lies
on the far side of the Great Harbour of Syracuse. Just outside the city, on
the road to Avola and Noto, there is a bridge over the Ciane and Anapo
rivers. On the left, just over the bridge, is a track leading to the river
and from here a boat service is run taking you on a short journey up the
Ciane river to its source in a large pool, the Fonte Ciane. |
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According to the Istituto del
Papiro, the papyrus was brought here from Egypt in 250 BC, a present from
King Ptolemy to Hiero II, ruler of Syracuse, to thank him for their good
commercial relationship. Hiero had established regular contacts with Alexandria,
where a sizeable Syracusan community built up, employed in trade and in the
arts and sciences. Archimedes studied mathematics in Alexandria in this
period before returning to Syracuse to produce his major work. |
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The boat travels slowly up the
river to the pool through clear, fast flowing water, the sunlight shaded by
trees. It is a protected area, calm and peaceful, the home of kingfishers and
dragonflies. The unusual feature of the river is the papyrus, the tufted
green reed known locally as parrucca (wig) for the shape of its head, that
grows here in thick clumps, apparently the largest colony of Cyperus papyrus in Europe. |
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Finally
you arrive at the Fonte Ciane, a large pool of clear water surrounded by groves
of papyrus. In ancient times this was a sacred place, for according to
legend, it was here that the goddess of Spring, Persephone, was carried down
into the underworld by Hades (Pluto to the Romans). The nymph Ciane,
Persephone's childhood friend, was so overcome that she died of grief and her
tears were turned into the spring on the spot where Persephone disappeared.
An annual festival in Ciane's name was held here by Syracusans in ancient
times. More information can be obtained
from the
Istituto del Papiro or by visiting the Museo del Papiro, in via
Teocrito, next to the Archaeological Museum. |
