Origini del culto e le locali leggende di San Calogero: una doppia chiave per l’interpretazione del vulcanismo medievale di Lipari.

Abstract

The island of Lipari boasts a very complex volcanological history that lasted until the Late Middle Ages, interacting with that of the anthropic communities and permeating their culture. The risk perceived by the inhabitants during the resurgence of Lipari-Vulcano led to calling on thaumaturgists or miracle workers to protect the territory. Among these, of note was the hermit Calogero, sent to Lipari around 525 AD to tame the on-going volcanic phenomena, as can be seen from the writings. Some volcanological studies have incorporated the contents of the story without distinguishing between the original historical aspect and the traditional oral one, reformulated locally according to the last volcanic events taking place on the island in the 13th century. Following the interpretation proposed in this work, contemporary legends are linked to this last eruptive cycle, while the hypothesis that an eruptive center was already active in the 6th century, as suggested by contemporary sources, is still pertinent.