cannibalism
Part of The Encyclopedia of Southern Italy.
cannibalism: Although not normally connected with Italy or Sicily, there is a possibility that such a practice may have occurred in Italy and Sicily in past ages. Certainly in Homer’s Odyssey, the Greek hero has two encounters with cannibals. The first group, the Laestrygonians, are believed to have inhabited the island of Corsica, near to, though still outside of Italian lands. The second group, however, the infamous Cyclopes are strongly tied to the area near Mt. Etna in eastern Sicily. Certainly Polyphemus, the Cyclops who figures most prominently in the epic, feasted on some of the stranded Greek sailors of Odysseus’ party. But did cannibalism truly exist in the Italian South outside of mythology? While few nations or peoples would like to admit it, incidents of cannibalism can be found in the pages of history. Famine was common in former times and desperate hunger can make people do things that they might not do otherwise.
Ritual cannibalism, however, is a far different thing, connected with the survival of the soul rather than the body. There does not appear to have been widespread ritual cannibalism in historical Italy. In prehistoric burials, however, there is some evidence for it taking place. Occasionally some bones are missing are missing. Others include bones which had definitely been burnt by fire. On Monte Circeo, near Rome, a Neanderthal skull was unearthed which had been buried in such a way to suggest ritual cannibalism. It had been found in the center of a circle of stones and had its base broken open to allow access to the brain.
Perhaps the closest thing to ritual cannibalism that can be found in historical Italy is the somewhat tongue-in-cheek naming of foods, especially ones connected to particular religious festivals. In Sicily, for example, one popular treat consumed during Lent and Easter is a cake made from the paste of almonds called the “Bones of the Dead Man.” At Molfetta, they serve a bread on the feast day of Santa Lucia called “Holy Lucia’s Eyes.” A sweet treat served in Sicily on All Souls Day is known as the “Breasts of the Virgins”, while several breads including the “Face of the Dead,” and the “Hands,” are associated with the same holy day. Not to be outdone by the Sicilians, the Calabrians eat a cake shaped like fingers called, appropriately enough, “Apostles’ Fingers.”