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Tuesday, January 8, 2013

The Flavor of Ancient Egypt

Syracuse (Siracusa), Sicily, Italy ~ April 27, 2004
Island of Ortygia
Fontaine d'Aréthuse, Papyrus

One of the coolest things about hot Syracuse was its flavor of ancient Egypt. Syracuse is the only place in Europe where papyrus grows "in a natural setting," as I read on this site. Scroll past the gigantic hotel ads and you can read more about papyrus in this Mediterranean city that seems to be part Europe and part Africa. We missed the papyrus museum, which may be on the mainland, and it appears that there is an opportunity for a career move if anyone should take a photo of it. I couldn't find one. There was a thriving papyrus industry in Syracuse at one time. 

Papyrus grows in the refreshing Fontaine d'Aréthuse with its resident white ducks and long, dark fish.


My Web Page: tapirback.com

7 comments:

Pat Tillett said...

Nice photos Sheryl! I really like that water garden (or whatever you call it). We planted some papyrus in our yard and it's been growing like weeds for years.

Lee Spangler said...

It would be interesting to learn the process of how to make paper out of it. Wow.. That place seems so far away,

Catherine Todd said...

"Papyrus grows in the refreshing Fontaine d'Aréthuse with its resident white ducks and long, dark fish."

This is one more example of why you are such an excellent writer. Love it; the story is just like being there!

Cezar and Léia said...

A magical fountain! I would like to visit this place someday, thanks for sharing the information!
Léia

Lowell said...

I didn't know that; I thought papyrus was indigenous to Egypt! Please no comments about how I had to read from papyrus when I was in school!

Beautiful scene!

Unknown said...

Actually there are more Papyrus on this pond than on the Nile in Egypt, where it's already extinct, believe it or not.

Anonymous said...

Very cool. I'm really enjoying this visual tour of Ortygia!