Sikelia
/siːˈke.li.a/noun
The ancient Greek name for the island of Sicily.
Did you know?Sikelia referred to the land of the Sicels, an ancient population known from Greek and Roman sources, but the deeper origin of their name is still uncertain.
Etymological Timeline
Late Bronze or Early Iron Age
Pre-Greek/Italic context
Sikeloi
“The name of an ancient people associated with Sicily; its ultimate etymology is uncertain.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Σικελοί (Sikeloi)
“The Sicels, an ancient people of Sicily.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Σικελία (Sikelia)
“Sicily, literally the land associated with the Sicels.”
1st Century BCE
Latin
Sicilia
“Sicily; the Roman form derived from Greek Sikelia.”
Medieval French
Old French
Sicile
“Sicily.”
Modern English
English
Sicily
“The large Mediterranean island and Italian region.”