Berte Maggiori: sirens of island of Linosa
Marcabrera - CC2.0
Linosa is known as the island of Berte Maggiore, birds that are believed to have given birth to the myth of the sirens.
The Berte Maggiore are in fact also known as Sirene , Diomedee or Turriache. These are birds whose song is similar to the moan of a newborn baby.
These birds are called sirens because, according to tradition, it was they who gave rise to the myth of the sirens that , according to Greek mythology, they had the appearance of a bird with a woman's head.
The Shearwaters are called Diomedee because, according to another legend, they were believed to be the reincarnation of the companions of the Greek leader who died in battle, Diomedes, who were transformed into Berte Maggiore by the goddess Aphrodite and forced to fly into the sea in search of their commander.
Berte are also known as Turriache, a term dialect used by the inhabitants of Linosa.
