Diana

©2009 – Rexino Mondo





          The King enters the Crimean War on the side of England and France. History's pinnacle is suddenly interwoven, engulfed and sucked up into black purple whirling clouds that dampen the wailing sounds of the tortured as King of Sardinia through meticulous planning methodically adds the Italian States on the peninsula to his domain and in 1861 through stamina and savoir-faire becomes the first King of a United Italy. The first Census is taken and finds the King's cousin, the heir of the Duke and Duchess of Palermo, the second largest city in Italy, missing. By order of King Vittorio Emanuele II, a search commences to find the lost Duke of Palermo, Don Gætano mi Rabito I. By command of King Æolus, the Lipari Islands continue to be torn apart for decades by fierce impetuous Æolus winds.


          And then on Sunday, June 7, 1885... silence. All that can be captured is the soft sound of the squawking sea gulls; the gentle splash of the oncoming ocean against the huge gray rocks, leaving white foam to turn and run back to sea; the smell of salt from the ocean's air; sea weed entwined in the driftwood from an old Spanish wreck; the ancient Greek-Roman fortress; and citadel setting tall on the mountain, silhouetted against the soft orange horizon of a new day; and the cry of a new born baby in the distance, of which, creates the atmosphere surrounding the aura and birth of Gætano mi Rabito III, heir of the Rabito knights; the Duke and Duchess of Palermo; and Anna of the Cave ... And this is where my story begins.


          As Gætano Mi Rabito III grew, he; his older sister Luisa and his younger brother Giacomo, played in the many historic caves on the hillside overlooking the crystal clear blue Tyrrhenian Sea below, dotted with tiny distant fishing boats, white sails, and flying nets. Sometimes their mother Anna would take them to one of Lipari's natural clear turquoise hot bubbling springs to swim and splash during the early part of the day. Then off to the blue emerald grottoes by the sea to visit with the fisherman at the wharf, where Anna bought fish and seafood for that night's dinner. They'd always manage to get home just in time to have all the preparations in place before Gætano senior, drenched in white powder and coughing, would get home from a day's work in the pumice mine.


          On Sundays, Gætano senior, Duke of Palermo, Knight of the royal court of Italy, Papa, would guide his family through the winding alleys up to an old majestic the century cathedral on the hill, where they all had been baptized by the senior priest. There were no schools for Gætano junior to attend. His learning came from sitting at his father's feet by the fire while his papa told him of the many stories that had been past down from one generation to another. As he spoke, describing the ancient civilizations that visited their island, Gætano's eyes grew large as saucers. Papa told of Æolus, ancient King of Æolian lands and god of wind; how Æolus protected his people's ships by filling their sails with wind and blowing them safely to shore while with the same breathe, blew angry tornado winds to sink the oncoming enemy frigates. Papa seeing his boy's anxiousness to know everything, told him, "These very islands where we live, now called 'Lipari,' were once named the 'Æolian Islands' by King Æolus.


          There are hundreds of gods and goddesses. The father of all Roman gods is 'Jupiter' and the father of all Greek gods is 'Zeus.' There is the Aphrodite, the Geek goddess of love, sexual rapture and of radiant beauty. She was loved by all the gods, worshiped by mortals who garnished her with rubies, diamonds and gold during her Aphrodisiac Ceremony of sexual intercourses, considered to be part of the Celebration of Love. No one could resist her. Aphrodite was born of churning foam generated by her father, Uranus’, genitals thrown to the ocean after being castrated by his son. The Romans called her Venus, the goddess of love who used her mesmerizing powers and beauty to protect her people from the corrupt judges of the underworld.


          There is Apollo,' god of sun; 'Hebe,' goddess of youth; 'Hephæstos,' god of fire; 'Rhadamanthus' and 'Æacus,' judges of the underworld and 'Pluto,' god of the underworld." Each day Gætano hurriedly finished his chores and was anxiously waiting to hear more. He was most impressed by the many stories that surrounded the goddess known to the Greeks as "Artemis" and known to the Romans as "Diana." In the flowing rich Italian dialect, his papa told him, "Diana was the most beautiful goddess ever seen and protector of virgins and virginity; moon goddess; goddess of the woods; goddess of the hunt and goddess of the golden bow. She was of endless energies. Goddess Diana’s beauty brought enemies to their knees. She was adorned, worshipped, and prayed to by all tribes. The famous Temple of Artemis-Diana was erected for her during the sixth century BC in the ancient city of Ephesus of the lands of King Æolus, god of wind father and protector of our Lipari Islands. Artemis's temple was burned to the ground in the early part of the fourth century BC. Later in that same century it was rebuilt even greater than before extolling Diana’s beauty and love.


          In the late afternoon crowds would gather on the hillside to view this famous work of art. The beautiful pure white translucent marble would shine and appear to be huge glittering crystal mirrors melting like blue ice against a pink sunset that in turn created a strange aura of light encompassing the outer edges of the temple where Diana lived. Her temple stood for over six hundred years until it was completely destroyed by her enemies in 262 AD. When the third council of Ephesus met in 431 AD, they condemned Artemis-Diana by proclaiming that she was not their mother god Mary was mother of God. Even with all the tribes still adoring and holding her as their special goddess, the council would not listen. King Æolus brought Artemis-Diana here to stay and protect our islands that were then called Æolian Islands. Our people called her only by Diana.' Some say they have seen her in the woods by the caves. Others say she became 'Anna.' Some believe that goddess Diana protects us against Vesuvius, Stromboli and Ætna and turns their hot spuming lava into gushing fountains of golden water. There are many legends of Diana."