Sicani 1694778 213435788 2008-05-19T09:46:33Z MagdelenaDiArco 7083312 /* History */ [[Image:ItalicTribesOfSicily.png|right|thumb|250px|A rough map of Sicilian tribe locations.]] The '''Sicani''' ([[Ancient Greek|Greek]] ''Sikanoi'') or '''Sicanians''' were an [[Ancient Italic people|ancient tribe]] of [[Sicily]]. It is often difficult to tell where many ancient tribes originally came from, however, the Greek scientific historian [[Thucydides]] stated that the Sicanians originated from the [[Iberian Peninsula]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Sicily_-_History/id/5462681|publisher=Experience Festival|title=Sicily: Encyclopedia II - Sicily - History|date=[[7 October]] 2007}}</ref> ==History== As well as Thucydides stating that the Sicani were of [[Iberians|Iberian]] origin, there are two more common points of evidence brought up by historians to support this; evidence exists to show that the Iberians and the Sicanians had linguistic factors in common;<ref name="sicanian">{{cite news|url=http://www.bestofsicily.com/mag/art141.htm|publisher=Best of Sicily|title=Sicilian Peoples: The Sicanians|date=[[7 October]] 2007}}</ref> also the Ancient name of the river [[Segre (river)|Segre]] in [[Catalonia]] was the ''Sicano''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=A7kGAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA11&lpg=PA11&dq=segre+sicano&source=web&ots=nafG4zc6s6&sig=x-ViYce3dJazDQqY72a3_4RHjVc|publisher=Ensayo historico|title=Aapologetico de la literatura española contra los opiniones|date=[[7 October]] 2007}}</ref> The Sicanians were the earliest known peoples to have inhabited Sicily, originally located in the west and central areas of the island.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://spazioinwind.libero.it/popoli_antichi/Italici/Sicani.html|publisher=Popoli Antichi|title=Sicani e Siculi|date=[[7 October]] 2007}}</ref> Cave drawings have been discovered in [[Addaura]], near [[Palermo]] from the end of the [[Pleistocene Epoch]], around 8000 BC.<ref name="sicanian">{{cite news|url=http://www.bestofsicily.com/mag/art141.htm|publisher=Best of Sicily|title=Sicilian Peoples: The Sicanians|date=[[7 October]] 2007}}</ref> During 5000 BC the nearby islands of [[Gozo]] and [[Malta]] were inhabited and [[colonized]] by people from Sicily.<ref name="gozo">{{cite news|url=http://www.islandofgozo.org/history.htm|publisher=IslandofGozo.org|title=Gozo|date=[[7 October]] 2007}}</ref> Due to the fact that other tribes on Sicily did not arrive until later than 5000 BC, the Sicilians who came to Malta were most likely the Sicanians.<ref name="sicanian">{{cite news|url=http://www.bestofsicily.com/mag/art141.htm|publisher=Best of Sicily|title=Sicilian Peoples: The Sicanians|date=[[7 October]] 2007}}</ref><ref>[http://www.amazines.com/gozo_related.html]; retrieved on [2008-05-19]</ref> the location of islands in relation to the Sicanians core location on Sicily and the existence of similar pottery being found in [[Agrigento]] and Malta from that time period. ===Trade and relation to new tribes=== [[Copper]] was used in some parts of Sicily by 3000 BC and [[bronze]] by 2500 BC, suggesting trade. People from [[Mycenean]] and [[Minoan]] cultures are thought to have traded in some capacity with the Sicanians.<ref name="sicanian">{{cite news|url=http://www.bestofsicily.com/mag/art141.htm|publisher=Best of Sicily|title=Sicilian Peoples: The Sicanians|date=[[7 October]] 2007}}</ref> In the years following, a distinct Sicanian culture existed all across Sicily, but they would soon be joined by new tribes.<ref name="sicanian">{{cite news|url=http://www.bestofsicily.com/mag/art141.htm|publisher=Best of Sicily|title=Sicilian Peoples: The Sicanians|date=[[7 October]] 2007}}</ref> The [[Elymians]] were the next tribe to join the Sicanians on Sicily, they are thought to be from the [[Aegean Sea|Aegean]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9067615/Sicani|publisher=Britannica.com|title=Sicani|date=[[7 October]] 2007}}</ref> Although there is no evidence of any wars between the tribes, when the Elymians settled in the north-west corner of the island, the Sicanians moved across eastwards. From mainland [[Italy]], thought to originally have been from [[Ligures|Liguria]] came the [[Sicels]] in 1200 BC; forcing the Sicanians to move back across Sicily settling in the middle of the island.<ref name="sicanian">{{cite news|url=http://www.bestofsicily.com/mag/art141.htm|publisher=Best of Sicily|title=Sicilian Peoples: The Sicanians|date=[[7 October]] 2007}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} {{Ancient Sicilian tribes}} [[Category:Tribes of Sicily]] [[Category:History of Catalonia]] [[ca:Sicans]] [[de:Sikanen]] [[es:Sicanos]] [[fr:Sicanes]] [[it:Sicani]] [[ru:Сиканы]] [[scn:Sicani]] [[sv:Sikaner]]