La Lamia nei racconti dell’area grecanica

Vittoria Minniti

Abstract:

This paper presents testimonies of stories about the folkloric figure of the lamia, collected in the Grecanic (Greco-Calabrian) area of southern Calabria. It describes the cave of the Lamia in the municipality of Montebello Ionico, around which there are several stories about a creature that attacks anyone who comes near it. There is also a story from Roghudi, another Grecanic village, about the same monster.
The purpose of the article is to compare the Grecanic sources with those of the ancient Lamia, popular in Greek and Roman fairy tales and myths. Through the passage of time, part of its nature has been preserved in today's Grecanic culture.