Latomia del Paradiso (Ear of Dionysius)
The latomia del Paradiso was a stone quarry, according to tradition it was used by Dionysius (Dionysus) as a place of detention. An artificial cave has become very famous of the Latomia del Paradiso, obtained by excavating a pre-existing aqueduct, m. 65, 5 to 11 meters wide and 23 high, which has a characteristic effect of acoustic amplification of the sounds emitted inside. This acoustic effect, the similarity of the entrance to the auditory canal of the human ear and the small room that can be seen at the top right of the entrance to the cave gave rise to the legend that that cave was excavated by the tyrant Dionysus so that he could listen. , secretly what the inmates said. The name "Ear of Dionysius" was given to him by the painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio who visited the latomia in 1608.
The place is entered in the IWB register of the Sicily Region (The Historical Places of Work) - Sector "" Archaeologized "places of extraction, collection, production" - "Archaeologized Geosites"
Card insertion: Ignazio Caloggero
Photo: Ignazio Caloggero
Information contributions: Ignazio Caloggero Web,
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