Palici | Sicilian, Twins, Volcanic (original) (raw)

_verified_Cite

While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

Select Citation Style

Feedback

Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).

Feedback Type

Your Feedback

Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

Print

_verified_Cite

While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

Select Citation Style

Written and fact-checked by

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Palici, ancient pair of local Sicilian gods who presided over the twin geysers still called Lago dei Palici, near Palagonia. The site became an asylum for escaped slaves, hence its importance as a symbol during the Sicilian slave revolts during the second half of the 2nd century bc. The Palici were only local, volcanic gods, divine derivatives of the geysers that they represented, but the mythographers made them the offspring of Zeus or Hephaestus.