The Campania region of southern Italy is rich with a vast array of tales, legends and superstition. These popular myths, legends and stories have covered Campania’s history, being handed down from many generations. Famous Greek myths such as the sirens, Enea’s journey, and the Labors of Hercules are marked by Campania’s unique tradition. Campania is a region of many mysteries and legends. People in Campania have a special relationship with fortune-telling and speaking with the dead. The foundation of Campania is surrounded by mysterious and legendary myths. These myths revolve around Parthenope: a mermaid who, after unable to accept defeat expiated in her death to become a beautiful city: a girl who elopes with Cimon to settle in the Gulf of Naples becoming the mother of all Neapolitans: and a mermaid who turned to a city lying at the feet of the mountain her lover, Vesuvius.
The Italian region of Campania has consequently developed a lifestyle where death and life exist in intimate proximity daily. The Campanian attitude towards life and death provide a deeper understanding of the Neapolitan mythology. For instance, people from the region believe that the largest vent of Mount Vesuvius called the “Sulfatara” is the entrance to the underworld. The worship of sanctified figures is a common thing in ancient Campanian history. They attribute the protection of the city against the constant dangers of Mount Vesuvius to the old Roman Goddess Venus. The earlier Campania inhabitants paid tribute to Venus who they had entrusted their protection against the destructive eruptions of Mount Vesuvius.
The legend of Gennaro traces the roots of Christianity of the Campania people to around 305 AD. Gennaro, who was the then Bishop of Benevento, Italy was incarcerated by Timoteo for being practitioners of Christianity. Gennaro emerged completely unscathed when he was thrown headfirst into a furnace. Timoteo superstitions made him attribute this survival to some form of black magic. The miracle of San Gennaro’s blood is still celebrated to date and observed thrice a year. Several myths describe the appearance of San Gennaro before a crowd on December 16th, 1961. According to legends, San Gennaro appeared and stopped the volcanic debris of Mount Vesuvius just as it reached the outskirts of Naples. This miracle sealed San Gennaro’s place as a protector of the city. A similar miracle in 1941 cemented people’s belief in San Gennaro as the protector of the city.
According to legend, La Bella ‘Mbriana was a benevolent spirit who lives in the houses of Neapolitans and brings their fortune. The appearance of this spirit is believed to be around the early afternoon or the brightest hours. Legend has it that Bella ‘Mbriana who lost her love and began to wander the city. The king asked his subjects to always welcome the spirit and thus is considered to protect the house.
Several myths have been used to explain unusual occurrence in the castles in the Campania region. The Castel dell’ Ovo, for instance, has a legend narrates how a Latin poet may have hidden a magic egg in the dungeons of the castle. It is believed that breaking of the egg would provoke the destruction of the fortress and the whole city. Another castle, Castel Sant’Elmo, according to legend houses a vague ghost who dresses in white. Some say they hear shouts from the dungeons attributed to victims killed by the royal guards.
The tale of the Revolt of Massanielo provides an important sidelight in the history of the Campania region. The brief rebellion against the Spanish rulers led by Masaniello in 1647 remains solidly engraved in Campania folklore. The tale encompasses treachery, heroism, murders, deceit, success and defeat.
Other fascinating figures of Giordano Bruno who was a legendary, vain and loud hero. The tale of Giordano Bruno still fascinates to date. Bruno was described as a mystic, devout man who brought astrology, numerology and alchemy to the Campania region. His unorthodox views made him collide with the Inquisition who jailed him for eight years. Bruno was burned at the stake in 1600 at the Piazza de’ Fiori in Rome.
Folkloristic interpretation reveals how Campania boasts of a rich blend of tales, legends and superstitions. The tales of its foundation, borrowing a lot from the myth of the mermaid, Parthenope are common folklore in the Campania region. Other important legends from Campania are San Gennaro, Massanielo and Giordano Bruno play an important part in shaping the history of the Campania region.