The Myth of Cyane and Anapus

One day, Hades, the god of the Underworld, felt the desire to leave his dark realm and ascend to the world above. After a long journey, he arrived in Sicily, at the beautiful and peaceful Lake Pergusa, near the town of Enna.

As he looked around, he saw a group of lovely nymphs gathering flowers. Among them was the beautiful Persephone, daughter of Zeus and Demeter.

Overcome with passion, Hades drove his chariot toward her, seized her, and carried her away.

The nymph Cyane was the only one who reacted quickly. She clung to the god’s chariot as it was about to plunge back beneath the earth into the Underworld, trying to stop the abduction.

Enraged by her defiance, Hades struck her with his two-pronged sceptre and transformed her into a spring whose waters were a brilliant turquoise blue. The name Cyane comes from the Greek word kyanos, meaning “dark blue” or “turquoise.”

According to tradition, the spring’s distinctive circular shape was created by the impact of Hades’ chariot as it disappeared into the earth.

Anapus, a young man deeply in love with Cyane, was devastated by her fate. Wishing never to be separated from her, he too was transformed into a river.

Since then, the rivers Cyane and Anapus have flowed side by side along the final stretch of their course before emptying together into the Great Harbour of Syracuse.

Sources

http://www.mandaladream.com/extra/leggende/ciane.htm

http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miti_e_leggende_della_Sicilia

http://www.blogsicilia.eu/il-mito-legato-ai-fiumi-ciane-e-anapo/

Translated from Italian with the support of AI.