Admired, visited, and loved around the world, the city of Naples is also known by many as Partenope.
In writings and stories, the name of the city of Naples is often associated with that of Partenope. But where does this name come from? Who was Partenope? And why is it still used today as a poetic or affectionate synonym for Naples?
The origin of the name Partenope
The name Partenope has very ancient origins and derives directly from Greek mythology, specifically from Homer’s Odyssey.
According to the myth, Odysseus, returning from Troy, was on a ship with all his sailors near the Gulf of Naples when he encountered three sirens.
Partenope, Leucosia, and Ligea were beautiful and enchanting, and with their harmonious and sweet singing, they managed to enchant all the sailors who passed by, making them fall in love and subsequently die.
The sailors, attracted by the song of the beautiful sirens, reclining on the rocks and represented in the myth with the body of a bird and a female face, dived into the sea to reach them but crashed against the rocks and ended up dying.
To avoid this sad ending, Ulysses was warned by the sorceress Circe about the powerful magic of the sirens. So, during the passage, he had his companions plug their ears with wax. He had himself tied to the mast so that he could listen to their song without succumbing to it. The sirens, humiliated by their failure, threw themselves into the sea and died.
Ligea’s body washed up in Terina, a city in Magna Graecia. Leucosia’s body was carried by the waves to Paestum.
Meanwhile, Partenope‘s body was carried by the waves to the shores of what is now the Gulf of Naples.
Specifically, to the area where the Megaride district stands today, the small island where Castel dell’Ovo is located. Here, according to legend, she was buried by the first inhabitants of the area, who founded the city in her honor.
From Partenope to Neapolis: historical evolution
But the myth of the siren Partenope is also inextricably linked to history.
Around the eighth century BC, Greek colonists from Cuma, one of the oldest cities of Magna Graecia, founded a coastal settlement which they called Partenope.
This first city developed in the area that today corresponds to Pizzofalcone and Borgo Santa Lucia.
Later, between the 6th and 5th centuries BC, when the population moved to a new, larger, flatter area, a new city was founded, called Neapolis (“new city”). This was to distinguish it from the older Palaepolis (“old city”), i.e. ancient Partenope.
Over time, Neapolis became the present-day Naples, but the name Partenope remained deeply linked to the cultural and poetic identity of the city.
Partenope as the eternal symbol of Naples
Regardless of the historical or mythological origin of the name, Partenope has become the symbol of the city of Naples.
Her name echoes in culture, art, and even sports, as evidenced by the nickname “i partenopei” given to the fans and players of the Naples soccer team.
But that’s not all. Naples’ connection to the myth of the siren Partenope can also be interpreted symbolically:
- The siren represents Naples’ unbreakable bond with the sea, a vital element that defines its identity. It has also become a symbol of the city, depicted in numerous sculptures, frescoes, mosaics, and coats of arms. One of the most famous sculptures, for example, can be admired in Piazza Sannazzaro in Naples. At its center is a fountain depicting the siren Partenope.
- His death and rebirth through the founding of the city symbolize the creative and regenerative force that characterizes the history of Naples, a city that over the centuries has always been able to rise from its ruins.
- Finally, Partenope embodies the beauty and captivating charm of the city itself, capable of attracting and seducing anyone who visits it.
The legend of Partenope, therefore, is much more than a founding myth: it is the story of eternal love between Naples and the sea, between beauty and mystery, between life and rebirth.
The soul of Naples can still be recognized today in the song of the siren: a sweet and melancholic voice that invites those who listen to it to lose themselves and find themselves again in its streets, its stories, and its ancient heart.
Would you like to discover the true history of Naples and the legends linked to its birth? Do it with an expert tour guide who will passionately lead you on a journey of discovery through this wonderful city!
