Lampedusa, etymology

The etymology of the name “Lampedusa” had, over the centuries, different schools of thought. The fact is that the name is taken, mangled and modified according to the century and prevalent language of that period.

Scilace, geographer, cartographer and navigator Greek, however, was the first to call λαμπάς, in a famous circumnavigation of the Mediterranean dated between the fourth and third centuries BC, perhaps copied for his African side, by another author, Annone the Carthaginian navigator.

Some authors have attributed this name, used by Scylax lamps, others deriving from the greek word rocky, others at the end of the rock, the other name of a abundant fish in these waters λεπάδες, but the etymology we like most, is reported by another author recently in order of time, Stefano Mattress, which derives from the greek name of limpets or oysters, λεπάς-άδος here that are / were plentiful.

Is nonetheless true (?) That has existed a Greek coin found in Lampedusa, with a double effigy of Jupiter from one side and on the representation of a fish (pig? Tuna?) With a written ΛΟΠΑΔΟΥΣΣΑΙΩΝ.

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But that’s another story. What is definitely ascertained is that the name comes from the Greek language Lampedusa and it has very ancient origins. Considering also that the island even before that, it was definitely settled by the Phoenicians, and before that from other populations, we find that Lampedusa has a vast history, mostly forgotten and distorted over the centuries by men who inhabited the year and told.

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