emily Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 (edited) marta and Griffone were the giants of messina,marta was blonde and of fair skin.She was from messina and lived with her family.Griffone came to messina to eat the villagers I think he was a from morroco or something like that .He was dark skind and black curly hair,anyhow story goes he saw and fell in love with marta,they got married,he stopped eating people and all the people of messina are descendants of these two.we still celebrate them every August. There is a huge procession, with them on giant horse.they are pulled through the town,its quite a big thing. I remember it so well.So the story goes, from my nans version lol that's how the people from messina lost their fair skin and blonde hair and became dark eyed and dark skinned. A true descended of messina is from martas race with her attributes. If you find more or different versions id love to hear it. Messina has many myths and legends I pretty sure she made the blonde bit up .lol who knows!! Edited July 5, 2012 by aurora Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thevioletsunflower Posted July 7, 2012 Share Posted July 7, 2012 I wonder where the truth is in this myth. I am not familiar with the history of Messina but maybe there were foreigners of the darker variety (like from Morocco, as you said) being represented by Griffone that folks there consider "savage" that were cultured, culture being represented by Marta, at some point and that's why so many are darker complected now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emily Posted July 7, 2012 Author Share Posted July 7, 2012 Yes M,think you could right there.I have been looking up the time lines of messina,many many conquerors.got as far as 250 bc,so far but the myths and legends of sea sirens,neptune,zeues,diana etc,are keeping me of my tracks, lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CelticGypsy Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 Not to side track your Post Aurora, but I'm reminded of a tale how Portuguese sailors got stranded on or off the coast of Ireland, and couldn't get back to their country. With that mixture of blood and natives, I was always told that is how the dark haired ones of Irish decent got their coloring. I wouldn't mind clear clarification on that little bit of useless trivia.. LOL !:wacko: Regards,Gypsy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emily Posted July 9, 2012 Author Share Posted July 9, 2012 Not to side track your Post Aurora, but I'm reminded of a tale how Portuguese sailors got stranded on or off the coast of Ireland, and couldn't get back to their country. With that mixture of blood and natives, I was always told that is how the dark haired ones of Irish decent got their coloring. I wouldn't mind clear clarification on that little bit of useless trivia.. LOL !:wacko: Regards,Gypsy Lol. There must be some wonderful myths and legends, that you were told or have read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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