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The Sicani (Greek Σικανοί - Sikanoi) or Sicanians were one of three ancient people of Sicily present at the time of Phoenician and Greek colonization.

History

The Sicani are thought to be the oldest inhabitants of Sicily with a recorded name. Most modern scholars believe that the Sicani were originally an Illyrian tribe that gained control of areas previously inhabited by native tribes. Archaeological excavation has shown that they had received some Mycenean influence. The Greek historian Thucydides claimed they immigrated from Iberia, but his basis for saying this is unknown. The Elymians are thought to be the next recorded people to settle Sicily, perhaps from the Aegean or Anatolia. They settled in the north-west of the island. The Sicels were the next to arrive, from mainland Italy, perhaps Liguria, and settled in the east. Historical records start with the Phoenicians, who established colonies in the 11th century BCE, and especially with the Greeks, who founded the colony of Syracuse, which eventually became the largest Greek city, in 734 BCE. Other Greek colonies were established around the island. The indigenous Sicilians were gradually absorbed by these colonizing peoples and finally disappeared as distinct peoples under Roman occupation.

Language

A few short inscriptions using the Greek alphabet have been found in the extinct Sicanian language. Except for names they have not been translated, and the language is unclassified due to lack of data.

References

1. Fine, John (1985). The ancient Greeks: a critical history. Harvard University Press. p. 72. ISBN 0674033140.
2. "Greek Identity in the Western Mediterranean". 2004. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |http://books.google.com/books?id= ignored (help)
3. The World's Writing Systems. 1996:301.
4. 'Sicanian' at Linguist List

See also

• Ancient peoples of Italy
• Prehistoric Italy

• Tribes of Sicily
• History of Catalonia
• Pre-Indo-Europeans