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The Legend of Gammazita Well - Catania - Italy
Gammazita Well
Gammazita was – as all girls of legend seem to be – a young, virtuous woman of humble stock. She lived in Catania in the days when Sicily was occupied by the French and was engaged to be married to a Catanese boy.
One day, as she went to the well to draw water, a French soldier sidled up to her and made a lewd proposition. Gammazita, horrified by the thought, tried to walk away, but found her exit blocked by her amorous accoster. Her only recourse was to dive into the well to escape – so that’s exactly what she did.
Gammazita’s well exists to this day in Catania, 12 metres below ground level, near Castello Ursino. The legend goes that her blood still stains the walls; in truth, it’s iron deposits, but that’s not half such a good story.
Lazzaro’s rendering of the legend comes across as comical, with Gammazita disappearing head-first into the well, feet flailing.
The base of the street lamp University's square in catania representing Gammazita who throws herself into the well.
However, quite apart from the fact that the poor girl died, there’s a serious and nasty undertone to Gammazita’s tale. Much like Sant’Agata, the patron saint of Catania, and Santa Lucia, the patron saint of Siracusa, Gammazita was a girl who was forced to choose between death or rape.
It’s not a choice that anyone should ever have to make.
Source: http://www.katebailward.com/drivinglikeama...nds-of-catania/
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The Legend of Gammazita Well - Catania - Italy1 Maggio 2013 |
