Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-31
TAoRMINA AN ANCIENT CITY.
Town With Villas Owned by Ameri-
cans Dates From 735 B. C.

Taormina, the town fifty miles south OF
Catania, which is the focus of American
interest in the Italian disaster because of
the number OF villas owned there by
Americans, was the first place of settle
ment in Sicily Of the Greeks. and it dates
from 735 B. c. 1t Is also considered the
most picturesque spot in Sicily. Its air
is cool and the warmth of its climate has
made 1t the mecca for tourists.
1t has 411O inhabitants. and is built
along one long street. Its lovely stretches
are commanded by the ruins of castle
on the peak back OF the city. This castle
was formerly the Acropolis OF Taurome
MUM. which, after the destruction of
Naxos by Dionysius, in B. C.. 408, was
founded by the Siculi. to whom Dionysius
granted the necessary land The Siculi,
however. soon renowned their allegiance
to Dionysius to join the Carthagtnians.
and Dionysius besieged TauIomenium In
vain. He captured 1t later. in 392 B. c.,
and garrisoned 1t with mercenaries.
In 35S Andromachus, father OF the his
,orian Timaesus, transferred the rest of
the population of Naxos to Tauromenium.
Timolson, who landed on the rocks below
the town. was warmly supported by the
inha bitants, but after his death dissen-
sions arose. The town then joined the
Carthaginians against Agathocles. for
which it was chastised by the tyrant.
After his death the town came into the
power of Tyndarion, who invited Phyrrus
to Sicily, and induced him to land near
Tauromenium. When the Romans made
peace with Hero ii of Syracuse the town
came into their possession and enjoyed
a long period of tranquility.
A number of the slaves established
themselves in Taormina during the first
Servile war, and offered long and OBJ
stinate resistance. AS the town, being an
ally of Rome. had declared in favor Of
Sextus Pompeius and thus occasioned en-
barrassment to Octavian. it experienced
the effects of his wrath and was peopled
by new colony.
In the time of Strabo 1t was a place of
considerable Importance. It's strong posi-
ton enabled it to withstand the attacks OF
the Saracens long after other portions OF
the island had capitulated. Mola, another
town favored by tourists, and whose fate
is still shrouded in silence. was captured
by the Moors; the inhabitants were all
massacred and the town burned. The ad-
herents Of the Bishop Procopius, whose
heart the savage lDTdIlIu pIOpOSeQ " NC
YOUR, were strangied and burned on his
corpse. The town had barely recovered
from this cruel blow when a band OF
Musselmans entered it, captured Its ruins.
rebuilt the city and named it Muezziyi.
In 1913 it wasicaptured by the Normans,
under whose supremacy 1t prospered. AT
Taormina, in 141O. was held the parlia-
ment which vainly endeavored to find
national sovereign to rule over Sicily.
Battles were fought there on two subse-
uuent occasions. The French captured 1t
in 1876 and it was not until 1S49 that the
Neapolitans, under Filangeri, regalned
possession of the town
Its most imposing relic Of its past
grandeurs is that of the old Graeco thea
ter, which is open to visitors, and con-
tains a museum replete with historical
curios.