When exactly and exactly how the black elephant appeared in their city, the indigenous people of Catania are not sure. However, this did not prevent the fountain with the statue of this elephant at the base from taking its place among the symbols of the city next to the Cathedral of St. Agatha. The townspeople are sure that it is city symbols that protect them from the spontaneous bursts of bustling Etna.
If you think about it, it turns out that there are a lot of "elephant" symbols in Catania. One version of the multiplicity of images of this animal says that they were brought to the Arabs. And in the distant days of their rule on the island, even the name of the city was translated as "the city of elephants." But the second claims that these animals were originally found in the vicinity of the city. This can be confirmed by archaeological finds, indicating that in the prehistoric period dwarf elephants lived on the island.
The City Museum of Mineralogy, Volcanology and Paleontology even presents an exposition with one of the best-preserved skeletons of the fossil proboscis. The idea that the first settlers also found similar sculptures made by nature itself with the help of lava is quite acceptable.
With the advent of Christianity on the island, the church tried to replace the pagan image of the elephant with the face of St. George. But the replacement could not take root in the hearts of people, and after a series of riots the old symbol returned to its place. Over time, the image of an elephant was placed on the coat of arms of the city, the emblems of its universities and various sports clubs.
Description
The fountain with an elephant (Fontana dell'Elefante) has been adorning Cathedral Square in Catania for about 300 years. It is believed that he was the finishing touch in the architectural composition on the Piazza del Duomo (Piazza del duomo) The author of the whole project was Giovanni Battista Vaccarini (Giovanni battista vaccarini).
At first glance it may seem that the monument is quite simple. But take a closer look. Its design is quite complex and combines architectural and sculptural parts belonging to different cultures and eras. The composition is based on a white marble pool. In its center is a high white marble pedestal decorated with high reliefs with an allegorical image of the Catania rivers - Amenano and Simeto, and the symbols most revered in Sicily - Abundance and Fertility. And from the base of the pedestal beat water jets.
The central part of the monument is the figure of a black elephant made of basalt. The elephant stands and looks quietly at the Cathedral of St. Agatha. His back is covered with a white mantle, on which the coat of arms of Saint Agatha, the patroness of Catania, is engraved. And on top of the back of the elephant stands a granite obelisk three and a half meters high. Its surface is covered with relief figures made in the Egyptian style and arranged in four rows. The obelisk is crowned with a ball on which there is a cross surrounded by olive-palm branches.
The monument is located near the city hall, the construction date of which dates back to about the 18th century. Because of such a neighborhood, the place of work of the local authorities was called the Elephant Palace (Palazzo degli Elefanti). The city hall was notorious for the fact that in the mid-20th century it was in it that the city archive was lost.
History and Legends
The time of the appearance on the Cathedral Square of the white marble monument is known quite accurately. But when exactly the figure of the black elephant appeared, it still remains a mystery. One of the local legends tells us that this happened after the last eruption of Etna in 1669. Lava, emerging from the mouth of the volcano, brought with it both the obelisk and the figure of an elephant. And the architect, who was engaged in the arrangement of the square and the erection of the cathedral, only by chance found them. Therefore, local residents are confident in the power of the black elephant as a talisman that protects them from hot volcanic flows.
But, unfortunately, even a distantly beautiful legend is not like the truth. Historians have been able to find documentary evidence that in the 13th century a statue of an elephant made of black volcanic basalt was already in Catania. She even had her own name - "Liotru" (Liotru), allegedly descended from the sorcerer Heliodorus who lived in the city in the 8th century and is known for the ability to turn people into animals with the help of such a statue. Some stories relate to the magician’s ability to transform himself into a giant animal.
Around the same century, the elephant first officially became the symbol of the city.
Some researchers are inclined to believe that when creating the monument, Vaccarini took as a model the work of the master Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini since 1667 adorning Piazza Minerva in Naples. And this version is very similar to the truth, since both monuments are strikingly similar to each other. Moreover, it is not known for certain where exactly the master got the individual details of the future monument.
The figure of an elephant came to Vaccarini already with shattered legs. And, having completed the restoration, the architect not only managed to restore his legs, but also added eyes and tusks made of white marble.
The origin of the granite obelisk is supposedly attributed to the city of Aswan, standing on the banks of the Nile. Archaeologists are inclined to believe that it was originally dedicated to the goddess Isis, and appeared on Sicily after the crusade in the 13th century.
But the work of Giovanni Battista, the story of the black elephant did not end. The monument was first reconstructed in 1757, and later in 1826 it was even fenced. At some point, they really wanted to move the pedestal to another city. However, local residents strongly opposed the transfer of the fountain and managed to defend their favorite. The last restoration of the fountain with the elephant occurred relatively recently - in 1998. Then the metal fence was removed. Today, thanks to this, anyone can relax while sitting at the foot of the famous black elephant.
Despite the nature of its origin, the unforgettable monument "Elephant" has ceased to be just a landmark of the city of Catania, becoming its symbol, pride and protector. Once in Catania, be sure to take a look at a magnificent work of art.
