Origini del culto e le locali leggende di San Calogero: una doppia chiave per l’interpretazione del vulcanismo medievale di Lipari

The island of Lipari boasts a very complex volcanological
history that lasted until the Late Middle Ages,
interacting with that of the anthropic communities and
permeating their culture. The risk perceived by the inhabitants
during the resurgence of Lipari-Vulcano led to calling
on thaumaturgists or miracle workers to protect the territory.
Among these, of note was the hermit Calogero, sent
to Lipari around 525 AD to tame the on-going volcanic
phenomena, as can be seen from the writings. Some volcanological
studies have incorporated the contents of the
story without distinguishing between the original historical
aspect and the traditional oral one, reformulated locally
according to the last volcanic events taking place on the
island in the 13th century. Following the interpretation proposed
in this work, contemporary legends are linked to this
last eruptive cycle, while the hypothesis that an eruptive
center was already active in the 6th century, as suggested by
contemporary sources, is still pertinent.