Annals of Archaeology Volume 2, Issue 1, 2019, PP 10-14 ISSN:2639-3662

The Muslim Evidence of Medieval Sicily.The Case of Enna

Daniela Patti Associate Professor, University of Enna “Kore”, ENNA (Italy) *Corresponding Author: Daniela Patti, Associate Professor, University of Enna “Kore”, ENNA (Italy); Email: [email protected].

ABSTRACT This paper comes from the analysis of the written documents on the city of Enna (Italy), made on a research experience that, starting from the 70‟s, has interested many medieval towns of the Island, based on the observation that in the history of the city, beyond the evidences and the written sources, the same urban areas constitute a fundamental foundation of knowledge Keywords: Muslim; medieval topography; toponymy, cartography, archive records.

INTRODUCTION the Inner part of the island promoted by Roman agrarian at the expense of the big old cities Enna is located in the central Sicily (fig: 1); is (Asheri:1983). The major roads passed across an impressive natural fortress that due to its the Hennae castrum in Roman and Byzantine geographical position in the center of the Island, age, classical example of military stronghold was known since Antiquity as umbilicus Siciliae controlling the district. After the Islamic and urbs inexpugnabilis (fig: 2). This city domination over the 9-11th centuries the city always been an important connecting marker in conquered by Normans has had a leading role in the Sicily; it is maintained its central role in its the central Sicily. road linked to several small rural settlements on Enna in medieval age, based on written sources and old cartography, according to a research experience that, starting from the 70’s, has interested many medieval towns of the Sicily (Guidoni: 1974; Guidoni: 1979) based on the statement that in the history of the city, beyond the testimonies and written sources, the same urban areas constitute an important base of knowledge.

DISCUSSION Figure1. Sicily in the Mediterranean area From the sources (Cracco Ruggini: 1980) we know that between the 6th and 12th centuries, Enna, classical example of “castrum” in the Byzantine era, strong Muslim centre, isolated by the Normans, but reborn between the 13th and 14th centuries, is still an important city in the middle of the island, next to the urban centers of Agrigento in the west and Syracuse to the east. The Islamic conquest constitutes one of the most important phases that left significant traces in the cultural and political-administrative framework of the island as well as in the Figure2. Enna “Umbilicus Siciliae” typology of settlement of many Mediterranean This paper comes from an examination for the historical centers, where the incidence of the Islamic phase is still very present and possible Islamic records in the urban area of

Annals of Archaeology V2 ● I1 ● 2019 10 The Muslim Evidence of Medieval Sicily. The Case of Enna documentable (Casamento et Al:1984).1 nineteenth-century cartographic documentation, consisting mostly of cadastral maps.2 Also Enna, conquered by Muslims in the year 254 of Hegira (858-859) (Amari 1881) had to The importance of the city is determined by the continue having a leading role, so as to be fully central position within the new province, as the Islamized, as shows the analysis of urbanized center of political-military control, but also structure, particularly the persistence of the exploitation of the territory, thanks to the scheme alleyway - courtyard, which survived up introduction of technical innovations and new until today, can be traced back to the age of the cultures. consolidation of settlement system, coinciding The description of Edrisi, dated between 1139 for Sicily with the Islamic period (Guidoni: and 1154 (Amari 1880-81; Amari Schiapparelli 1974). 1985) may be considered a summary of the The influence of urban culture in the Islamic evolution of the city in the Islamic period. In world on the origin and development of urban addition to the religious buildings, also the main settlements of Sicily is recognized mainly in buildings of the city are mentioned, new or general characters of the urban areas through its restructured, including the castle, the markets, transformation in time: the hierarchy between the industries and the palaces. The city seems the locations and the routes, the separation rich and magnificent. New economic incomes between the fortified spaces and the residential come from the market: Qasr Yani constitutes spaces, the organization of residential areas into that is a must for merchants and travelers who real parts of the city (“madına”) and in different converge into the city by the main roads that villages, as, for example, the Rabati of sicilian connect to the coastal centers. This richness toponymy. makes us assume that in the Islamic age the town was maybe equipped with facilities of The study of the Islamized towns on the island great significance, including a congregational in particular has permitted to highlight useful mosque next to a “hammam”, who would have types for the understanding of building been part of the center, a medina, worthy of a neighborhoods and specifying a key offered city so important, especially in connection with from persistent urbanization and toponymy, the settlement of Kaid Ibn al Hawwas in 1040. whose validity is observable even in Enna’s case (fig: 3). From the sources we know how the city was reorganized and was being rebuilt soon after the Islamic conquest, as evidence of how the new rulers considered it a key outpost, being the city of the utmost importance of central Sicily.3 The Muslim chronicles (Amari 1881) inform us that Al „Abbas, that has just entered into the city, accommodated a mosque, inside of which, raised the mimbar, pronounced the hutbah, the official sermon of Fridays. In the years after 'Al Abbas, already settled in Palermo, immediately restored the fortification of the city, that as of now is named Qasr Yanah, with evident Islamization of ancient Byzantine toponym. All Figure3. Enna. Plan of the city revised on the photogrammetric survey (by Casamento et Al. 1984) the urban area undergoes a radical reorganization, it is adapted to the needs of the The town of Enna might have had in Islamic age new rulers. Qasr Yani assumes a hierarchical an very reduced extension compared to the organization, characteristic of the Islamic current one, as it appears from the analysis of 2 Within the framework of the cartographic documentation the maps of 1876 were examined and updates of the years 1897 and 1921. 3 From Muslim sources we also know that following the conquest of Syracuse, the Castrum of Enna, 1 In Sicily Muslim records would be visible in the becomes the center of Byzantine strategic military urban centres of Menfi (AG), Palermo, Trapani, command identified by Muslims as the new capital Agrigento, Siracusa, and in the territory, in Enna, of the Island. Assoro and Calascibetta.

11 Annals of Archaeology V2 ● I1 ● 2019 The Muslim Evidence of Medieval Sicily.The Case of Enna system, articulating itself into distinct areas. (fushah ) of Bab al-barah, which was translated This assumption could explain also the as "the door of the plain", a word which may persistence of the road system the different indicate both the plain, but more likely an open settlement areas of Qasr Yani are developed space which opened in front of the door. according to the morphology of the territory: the intersections of the mount, in fact, constitutes natural joints that are still inhabited today. It is likely that the center of the city was maintained over the centuries, more or less in the same position, but with a shorter extension with respects to the current one.

The city was supposed to be divided into different areas: a medina, an administrative religious center, an Harat al Isqlabah (the neighborhood of the “Schiavoni), a rabbato -in other words- a suburb and also a Greek district, Figure4. The city as seen by Jacopo Assorino 1584 which would correspond to the current one, (by Muratore, Munafò 1991) outside of the living neighborhood. Other gates are reported only from later sources such as the view of friar Jacopo Assorino of The Medina would have occupied the area west 1584 (Muratore-Munafò:1991)4 which refers to of the fortress, east end of the plateau, and the door of “Scirasa” (fig. 4); or 18th century would have focused on the two sides of the manuscript between Friar Giovanni de shar, to be identified by the way of the “via Cappuccini (Fra Giovanni dei Cappuccini: Roma”. Here was where the congregational 1754) that nominates Porta (door) Palermo, of mosque was located, where today we find the Port Salvo, Scirasa, Janniscuro, Pisciotto, actual church of St. Michael, as well as the Papardura, Kamuth, of Acqua Novas). Another hammam and the souk, which would have had scholar, V. Amico (Di Marzo: 1856), mentions its popularity in the current plan of the main Porta S. Agata together with those reported by church. friar Giovanni de Cappuccini (fig. 5). The centrality of this area may be at risk also by examining the paths of the processions, subject addressed by other Sicilian towns because it provides important news on the extension of the city centre and on the hierarchy of areas in which it is divided (Guidoni: 1980). In Enna, although the processions were instituted later, they provided a path that from the main church reached up to the other major churches of the city, to mark the importance of the road corresponding to the current route “via Roma”. A major source from which we can find news about the islamic city of Qasr Yani can be found Figure5. The old city gates on the basis of the in the documentation used in the buying and the sources (by D. Patti and A. Plumari) selling of a house, dating 1193 (Cusa 1882:496) Another important record is referring to a agreed to by a Christian and a Muslim. document dated 1575, shortly before the view of However, the document that constitutes the first Assorino, prohibiting people and goods from source that precisely nominates a city gate, entering to avoid the contagious illness of the speaks of a “Harat al-Isqlabah”: the plague.Surely, even in the Islamic age the most neighborhood of the “Schiavoni”, identifiable important issue the city of Enna is linked to the with an area close to the current Giudecca, need to strengthen the defenses of the site. As in probably the one to the South, or even part of it, since it is specified in this document that the 4 road that crosses it, starting from the "salt pit" The city as seen by Jacopo Assorino (1584). The (al-Bir al-malih) joined it at an open space document shall be kept at the Angelican Library of. Rome. BSNS 56/5.

Annals of Archaeology V2 ● I1● 2019 12 The Muslim Evidence of Medieval Sicily. The Case of Enna the Byzantine era, the town has a Citadel, which Catanzaro and S. Severina. It is likely that in is separate but adjacent to the town, located in this case they are referring to a rocky the area of what today is known as the castle of neighborhood, as we can see from a high Lombardia. As for the rest of the city, it does concentration of caves in this area. It is likely not seem surrounded by walls, we can see that there were rock settlements also in other strategic advantages offered by its natural areas of the mountain, especially on the walls configuration, but with sections of wall only in that surround the Valley of Pisciotto.7 the most accessible and least defensible On the site of an old leaved cave church, the areas.The water wealth is the second important “Papardura sanctuary” was built in the late characteristic of the city. seventeenth century; differently not verified is It is likely that the new occupants, the heirs of a the tradition in the cave of “Spezieria” - technical-scientific notion, evolved on the important in Greek Age- that is identified in the exploitation of water resources, have placed it Cave of St. Pancrazio, Syrian monk, then bishop between the main concerns. Although the of Taormina, who is believed to have converted dating on the structures investigated is the fullones dedicated to working linen and uncertain, there are many wells which were hemp. A marker of this tradition could be a found under the dwellings and were called toponym by which an area of this district "Arabs". It would be interesting also going (Valley Pisciotto) is indicated. The cult of St. deeper in the studies of the underground tunnels Pancrazio, with a church to him dedicated, is that cross the city and that could have documented in Enna in the Rationes Decimarum constituted the canalization system. The salt for the years 1308-1310. Nowadays the Cave of water well (al-Bir al-malih) as mentioned in the the Saints is very important due to the presence Buying and Selling Act of 1193 may refer to of the precious frescoes of the XII century, as one of these underground facilities or otherwise well as the location of the chapel compared to refer to similar ones located near the castle and the viability system towards the town of Enna. speak of later sources (Littara’s manuscript Particularly important is the fresco of St. 1582),5 all in agreement in stressing the richness Nicholas, the previous protector of the city, of running water in all of the plateau, already whose cult was replaced in 1412 by the Virgin reported by Arab chronicles (Amari 1881). of Visitazione. An important issue relating to the subdivision of CONCLUSION the city in Islamic age is offered by the Rabato toponym, used by the popular oral tradition to The analysis of the urban area of the city would bring, therefore, to a confirmation of Islamic identify the area of St. Augustine, but still of influence. The presence of alley-courtyard is uncertain identification since the term appears present in different areas of the city. in two notary acts respectively from 1642and 1820,6 in which topographical references are not They are, in fact, present in the central area, in shown. Rabbato, known as suburb, outside the the South East spur, in the area rearward of S. city walls, was supposedly built in the Islamic Cataldo Church and in the area of Fundrísi. era in continuity with the existing urban area The only area that remains completely excluded that would have concentrated along the main is the western most area, the most modern one. roads. Other districts would have been built near the town but outside the walls. It is likely that one of them was the area of the Greeks, which 7 Archaeological research has allowed us to highlight still has this designation, overlooking the Valley some issues, so far considered secondary, linked to of Pisciotto in the west. The toponimy recalls the particularly diffused presence of rock units, Greece of some Calabrian towns including relevant to a real underground city. They are particularly diffused along the southeast border of the city between the Church of the Santo Spirito 5 In the scene of friar Jacopo Assorino is shown a (Janniscuro area) and the Church of the Passione, up well overlooking the Cathedral. The scholar Littara until the viaduct of Via Pergusa; but also includes the in 1577 refers to a well located on the cliff, but borders with the churches of San Leone and unutilized due to dangerous position and for its Valverde to the castle of Lombardy. deepness. The well is also mentioned in Amico and subsequently in Lo Menzo. Especially Amico refers to an existing well in the first courtyard of the castle. 6 This map is preserved at the State Archive of Enna . Historical Archive of CastroGiovanni, Notarial Fund 233.

13 Annals of Archaeology V2 ● I1 ● 2019 The Muslim Evidence of Medieval Sicily.The Case of Enna

This type of housing is more than a [3] Casamento A. et Al. (1984), Vicoli e cortili. chronological indication, a model that, Tradizione islamica e urbanistica popolare in introduced during the Islamic occupation, Sicilia, Palermo 1984. remains in Sicilian culture, in later centuries, [4] Amari M. (1880-1881), Biblioteca arabo-sicula, even today. Torino- Roma. [5] Guidoni E. (1974), L‟Architettura delle città The presence of toponyms, urban tracks, medievali. Rapporto su una metodologia di constitute valuable indicators of the influence ricerca (1964-1974) in MEFRM (Mélanges de exercised over the city during the Muslim L‟Ecole française de Rome. Moyen Age, Temps occupation. Modernes), Volume 86, Issue 2, pp. 481-525. The urban component cannot be merely the [6] Amari M. –Schiaparelli A. H. ed. (1985), Carte result of a stable and lasting settlement, which comparée de la Sicile moderne avec la Sicil au surely manifested itself in other areas still XII siècle. Publie sous les auspices de M. le Duc de Luynes. Parigi (Reprinted Palermo 1985). poorly known. Awaiting the publication of the latest surveys conducted in the area of the [7] Guidoni E. (1980), Processioni e città. Le case Castle, the highlighting of the issues examined di una strada, Palermo, Volume 2, Atlante di storia urbanistica siciliana. might provide us with new elements for understanding the settlement phase of Islamic [8] Cusa S. (1882), I diplomi greci e arabi di Sicilia pubblicati nel testo originale, Palermo. age in Enna, which goes, without a doubt, undoubtedly recognized the important role [9] Muratore -Munafò N. (1991), Immagini di città played within the province of Dar al Islam. raccolte da un frate agostiniano alla fine del secolo XVI, Roma. REFERENCES [10] Fra Giovanni dei Cappuccini (year 1720-1754), Storia verifica dell'inespugnabile Città di [1] Asheri D. (1983), Le città della Sicilia fra il III e Castrogiovanni e della sua antichità, IV secolo d.C., in «Kokalos», 28-29, pp. 461- manuscript, f. 128. 474. [11] Amico V. M., Lexicon Topographicum Siculum [2] Guidoni E. (1979), La componente islamica (1757-1760), translated and annotated by Di nella formazione delle città italiane in F. Marzo G. in Dizionario Topografico della Gabrieli, U. Scerrato (eds.), Gli Arabi in Italia. Sicilia, voll. 2, Palermo 1855-1856. Cultura, contatti e tradizioni, Milano, Scheiwiller, pp. 575-598.

Citation: Daniela Patti,"The Muslim Evidence of Medieval Sicily. The Case of Enna ", Annals of Archaeology, vol. 2, no. 1. pp. 10-14, 2019.

Copyright: © 2018 Daniela Patti,This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Annals of Archaeology V2 ● I1● 2019 14