Syracuse: The Land of Papyrus, a Hidden Treasure to Discover!

Syracuse, renowned for its Baroque architecture, Greek theater, and stunning coastal beauty, holds another fascinating record — it is one of the only places in the world, besides the banks of the Nile in Egypt, where papyrus grows naturally and abundantly.

Where Papyrus Grows

There are two main areas where the papyrus thrives: the Ciane River and the Fountain of Arethusa.

The Riserva Naturale Orientata Fiume Ciane (Ciane River Nature Reserve) flows through both natural and man-made channels. The name Ciane comes from the Greek word kyanos (κυανός), meaning blue-green, chosen to describe the distinctive color of the river’s waters and the surrounding papyrus.

Gabriele D’Annunzio once wrote:

“I was Cyane, blue as the air.

The spring water lingered in my eyes;

the slow current smoothed me away.”

The Ciane River and Its Legend

The rivers Ciane and Anapo are bound by myth — the story of Persephone’s abduction by Hades.

According to legend, the nymph Cyane tried to stop Hades from seizing Persephone, clinging desperately to his chariot. Enraged, the god struck her with his scepter, turning her into a spring of deep turquoise waters. Her beloved, the young Anapo, overcome with grief, transformed himself into a river so he could forever join her — the two waters meeting before flowing into Syracuse’s Porto Grande.

This intertwining of myth, legend, and natural beauty makes this part of Sicily a truly enchanting destination.

The Fountain of Arethusa and Its Myth

The second place where papyrus grows wild and lush is the Fountain of Arethusa, affectionately called by the locals “a funtana re papiri” — the fountain of papyrus.

This site, too, is steeped in myth. The god Alpheus fell in love with the nymph Arethusa after spying on her bathing. To escape his pursuit, Arethusa fled to Ortigia, the historic heart of Syracuse, and begged the goddess Artemis for help. Artemis transformed her into a spring, while Zeus, moved by Alpheus’s sorrow, turned him into a river so that, flowing beneath the Ionian Sea from Peloponnesus, he could finally reunite with his beloved source.

The Origins of Papyrus in Syracuse: Between Science and Mystery

The origin of papyrus in Syracuse remains uncertain, sparking debate among scholars. Some claim it was brought from Egypt by Ptolemy, others by the Arabs, and some believe it is native. The earliest documented evidence dates back to 1674, when papyrus was found in many parts of Sicily before gradually disappearing due to reclamation projects.

Linguistic studies suggest that the word used locally for papyrus has no Arabic roots, but instead resonates with Late Egyptian, hinting at an ancient connection.

Papyrus in Syracuse: From Craft to Culture

Initially, papyrus was used by fishermen for ropes and by farmers for binding sheaves. In the 18th century, however, Saverio Landolina rediscovered its potential for paper production, inspired by Pliny the Elder’s “Naturalis Historia.” He successfully created the first papyrus sheets, giving rise to an artisan tradition that soon became a symbol of Syracuse’s identity and prestige.

Like in Egypt, the papyrus in Syracuse became a foundation for cultural and economic development, strengthening the historical link between the two lands — a bond beautifully represented by the Papyrus Museum.

The Corrado Basile Papyrus Museum

A visit to this unique museum is a journey through the history of papyrus, both in time and across civilizations. Its collection includes Egyptian papyri dating from the 15th century BCE to the 8th century CE. Among its treasures are three fragments from the ancient “Book of the Dead,” one of the oldest surviving funerary texts known. Other parts of this remarkable scroll are preserved in collections around the world, including the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

These fragments are displayed as part of the “Sicily–Egypt Project”, a collaboration between the Papyrus Museum of Syracuse and the Egyptian Museum of Cairo, aimed at promoting research and enhancing appreciation of this ancient material that has linked the two cultures for millennia.

In Syracuse, nature, art, and mythology come together to create an extraordinary story. To truly understand the mystery of papyrus, there’s only one thing to do — visit this Mediterranean gem and experience its timeless beauty firsthand.

Cover photo credits: Museo del Papiro Corrado Basile, Syracuse