Myths and legends of our region, Campania

There are several myths, legends and stories about the region Campania where they have left traces of inestimable value.
It is here where popular tradition has marked some of the most famous Greek myths: the Sirens, the Argonauts, Enea’s journey, Ulysses’ journey and the labours of Hercules.
It is here that the Virgins and the Saints, whose images and reliquies have overcome a sea of difficulties such as shipwrecks, pirates and other; protected the inhabitants of the region from all dangers coming from the sea or the volcano which dominates the gulf of Naples.
In Greek mythology, Naples was built where the Siren Parthenope was washed ashore after she had been rejected by Odysseus.Greek colonists, perhaps from Rhodes, may have founded a colony at this point as early as the 10th century B.C., but this too may be the stuff of legend.What is certain is that Greeks from Cumae built a new city near by, calling it "Neapolis" (new city), while the original town was renamed "Palaeopolis", or old city.
Neapolis was a leading commercial centre and the Greek language and customs survived even during the Roman period, where it was a favourite area of the elite.

Our region is not only full of ancient myths and legends from the Classical Age. Many legendary men have characterized our history over the centuries.
Think of the Revolt of Masaniello which is more of an interesting sidelight than a pivotal chapter in the history of Naples. This man from Naples and his brief rebellion against the Spanish rulers of the city in 1647 is now solidly entrenched in Neapolitan folklore. It has heroism, treachery, deceit, murder, success and defeat, all the elements of a good tale.

Think of the fascinating figure of Giordano Bruno from Nola, near Marigliano. He was a legendary, flamboyant, vain and loud hero .He still fascinates us today. (Indeed, even James Joyce used to puzzle his friends by references to "the Nolan," and on occasion paid homage to this fellow heretic and believer in the magical power of words by using the pen-name "Gordon Brown"!) He was a mystic, a devout man who brought with him from the past a belief in numerology, astrology and alchemy and even an interest in the revival of ancient Egyptian magic. He was, however, also a universal and tolerant man
He believed in an infinite universe, a literal interpretation of the biblical "worlds upon worlds," a universe in which nothing is fixed, not even the stars, and where everything is relative, including time and motion, a universe in which we are but a tiny part of the great unknown and in which God becomes more of a universal mind, a substance inherent in all things, not a personal, external Prime Mover. Unorthodox views like this were to put him on a collision course with the Inquisition.
In the early 1580s Bruno travelled to England where he lectured at Oxford and met the great men of English letters, perhaps, they say, even Shakespeare. Then, he left England and returned to France, Germany and back to Italy, where he thought he would be able to convince the Inquisition that he was no heretic and that his views were reasonable. He had, after all, time and again as a monk apologized for his doubts and, now, before the Inquisition, offered to defend his views. The Inquisition, of course, was not interested in debate; they wanted penitence, and Bruno would not give it to them. He spent eight years in prison, being "examined and questioned". On February 19, 1600, he was burned at the stake in the Piazza de' Fiori in Rome.