Legend of King Arthur and Etna
Etna is linked to King Arthur by a Sicilian Norman version of the myth, handed down thanks to tradition of Sicilian puppet theater.
In the Sicilian version of the legend, during his last battle, King Arthur, mortally wounded by Mordred, instead of ordering Lancelot to throw his sword Excalibur into the lake, as happens in the Anglo-Saxon version of the legend, the sovereign decides to repair his spade.
Led on the Etna volcano by his sister Morgana, the king, thanks to the incandescent magma, welded the two sections of the sword torn to pieces during the duel. Tired and serene, Arthur fell asleep and when he woke up he discovered that he was immersed in a wonderful landscape. Falling in love with Etna and the land that stretched at its feet, Arthur prayed to God to let him live a little longer, so that he could enjoy the beauty of that place. His prayers were answered.
With the help of his sister Morgana, Arthur built a splendid palace inside the central crater of the Volcano. It is said that even today he lives throughout his palace and wanders the paths of Etna, from which he leaves only to bring Sicilian fruits and flowers as a gift to English children. During his absences the Volcano takes advantage of it to show all its power, spitting lapilli and ash on Catania, only to cheer up when Arthur returns.
It is said that even the astute fairy Morgana decided to establish her home in Sicily building a crystal castle in the depths of the Strait of Messina.
