The warrior Madonna of Scicli
In the city of Scicli the Madonna delle Milizie is venerated, the only warrior Virgin of the Christian world.
The Madonna delle Milizie is in fact the only case in the world in which the Virgin is depicted as a crowned warrior with armor and with a sword in her hand, riding a white steed harnessed to war.
The myth of the "Madonna Warrior "of Scicli is linked to the period of Arab domination in Sicily and in particular to one of the decisive battles that decreed the end of the Arab domination with the definitive fall of Noto in 1091. This battle is known in history as the" battle of the Militias "in which took place a bitter clash between Normans and Saracens right in the territory of Scicli.
According to popular tradition, during the battle, when the fate of the inhabitants of Scicli by now seemed to be sealed and not even the intervention of Count Roger had managed to stop the 'Turkish army, the miracle occurred: "on a white horse, the sword shining, the Virgin Mary comes to give a hand to the Christians, making most of the Saracens flee"
