Syracuse, Sicily

This article is about the city in Sicily. For other places sharing the same name, see Syracuse.

Syracuse
Siracusa (Italian)
Saragusa (Sicilian)
Comune
Comune di Siracusa
From top left: Ortygia island, where Syracuse was founded in ancient Greek times, Greek Theatre, Palazzo Dell'Orologio, Monument to Archimedes in Piazza Archimedes, Cathedral of Syracuse, Ortygia Bridges, Fountain of Diana
Flag of Syracuse
Flag
Coat of arms of Syracuse
Coat of arms
Location of Syracuse
Map
Syracuse is located in Italy
Syracuse
Syracuse
Location of Syracuse in Italy
Syracuse is located in Sicily
Syracuse
Syracuse
Syracuse (Sicily)
Coordinates: 37°04′09″N 15°17′15″E / 37.06917°N 15.28750°E / 37.06917; 15.28750
CountryItaly
RegionSicily
ProvinceSyracuse (SR)
Government
 • MayorFrancesco Italia
Area
[2]
 • Total207.78 km2 (80.22 sq mi)
Elevation
[3]
17 m (56 ft)
Population
 (31 December 2017)[4]
 • Total121,605[1]
Demonym(s)Syracusan,[5] Syracusian[6] (en)
Siracusano (it)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
96100
Dialing code0931
Patron saintSaint Lucy
Saint day13 December
Websitecomune.siracusa.it

Syracuse (/ˈsaɪrəkjuːs, -kjuːz/ SY-rə-kewss, -⁠kewz; Italian: Siracusa [siraˈkuːza] ⓘ; Sicilian: Saragusa [saɾaˈuːsa])[a] is a historic city on the Italian island of Sicily, the capital of the Italian province of Syracuse. The city is notable for its rich Greek and Roman history, culture, amphitheatres, architecture, and as the birthplace and home of the pre-eminent mathematician and engineer Archimedes.[8] This 2,700-year-old city played a key role in ancient times, when it was one of the major powers of the Mediterranean world. Syracuse is located in the southeast corner of the island of Sicily, next to the Gulf of Syracuse beside the Ionian Sea. It is situated in a drastic rise of land with 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) depths being close to the city offshore although the city itself is generally not so hilly in comparison.

The city was founded by Ancient Greek Corinthians and Teneans[9] and became a very powerful city-state. Syracuse was allied with Sparta and Corinth and exerted influence over the entirety of Magna Graecia, of which it was the most important city. Described by Cicero as "the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all",[10] it equaled Athens in size during the fifth century BC.[11] It later became part of the Roman Republic and the Byzantine Empire. Under Emperor Constans II, it served as the capital of the Byzantine Empire (663–669). Palermo later overtook it in importance, as the capital of the Kingdom of Sicily. Eventually the kingdom would be united with the Kingdom of Naples to form the Two Sicilies until the Italian unification of 1860.

In the modern day, the city is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site along with the Necropolis of Pantalica. In the central area, the city itself has a population of around 125,000 people. Syracuse is mentioned in the Bible in the Acts of the Apostles book at 28:12 as Paul stayed there.[12] The patron saint of the city is Saint Lucy; she was born in Syracuse and her feast day, Saint Lucy's Day, is celebrated on 13 December.

  1. ^ "Statistiche demografiche ISTAT". demo.istat.it. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  2. ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  3. ^ 'City' population (i.e. that of the comune or municipality) from demographic balance: January–April 2009 [dead link‍], ISTAT.
  4. ^ "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  5. ^ "Syracusan, adj. and n.", Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1919
  6. ^ "† Syracusian, adj. and n.", Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1919
  7. ^ Συράκουσαι. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project
  8. ^ "BBC – History – Archimedes".
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference stra was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference cic was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference morr was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ "Acts Facts: Syracuse". SimplyBible.com. 8 January 2008. Archived from the original on 20 December 2007. Retrieved 15 March 2008.


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