The Aeolian Islands embody magic and mythological charm already in their name: they are the lands of Aeolus, lord of the winds, and of Liparus.
According to myth, Aeolus, the god of the winds, was entrusted by Zeus with the task of controlling and guarding the winds, keeping them imprisoned in caves and inside a leather bag on the island of Lipari. This mythical figure, together with Liparus, an Italic king, forms the core of the legends that surround these islands.
According to Greek mythology, in fact, the island takes its name from Liparus, son of Auson and grandson of Odysseus. Liparus reached the island and founded a prosperous colony there, introducing agriculture and ruling for many years.
Liparus had been expelled from an Italic kingdom, perhaps Metapontum, by his own brothers, and he arrived at the Aeolian Islands together with a group of warrior followers.
One day Aeolus also arrived on Lipari and formed a strong friendship with Liparus. The two made a mutually beneficial exchange: Liparus granted Aeolus control of the island, along with the hand of his daughter Cyane, and in return Aeolus helped Liparus return to the mainland, which he longed for, settling him in an area near Sorrento. There, Liparus became king of a local people and, upon his death, was honored as a hero.
In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus is welcomed by Aeolus during his journey home from the Trojan War. Moved by the story of the Greek hero, Aeolus gives him a leather bag containing the winds hostile to navigation. However, during the voyage, Odysseus’ companions, unaware of the bag’s true contents, accidentally open it, unleashing a storm that causes the shipwreck of all the vessels except that of Odysseus.
Thus, the mythology and legends of the Aeolian Islands intertwine with the stories of Aeolus, Liparus, and Odysseus, conveying an aura of mystery and fascination that permeates the history of these captivating lands.
“And we came to the island of Aeolia. Here dwelt Aeolus, dear to the gods, son of Hippotas. The island floated as it wandered, and a wall of bronze encircled it, while a smooth cliff rose sheer. Twelve children lived with him in the palace. The fragrant house echoed with the sound of flutes until day waned. Then, when I asked leave to depart, he did not refuse, but took my journey to heart. He flayed the hide from a nine-year-old ox and made a bag from it, and inside he bound the paths of the howling winds. The son of Cronos had made him guardian of the winds, and he could still them or rouse them at his will. With a shining silver cord he tied the bag in the hollow ship, so that not even a breath might escape; but for me alone he released the breath of the West Wind, to drive the ship gently onward for us.”
