SICULI, ancient Sicilian tribe (Gr. Sikelc5i). In historical times it occupied the eastern half of the island to which it gave its name. It plays a large though rather shadowy part in the early traditions of pre-Roman Italy. There is abundant evidence that the Siculi once lived in Central Italy east and even north of Rome (e.g. Servius ad Aen. vii. 795; Dion. Hal. i. 9. 22; Thucydides vi. 2). Thence they were dislodged by the Umbro-Safine tribes, and finally crossed to Sicily. They were distinct from the Sicani (q.v.; Virg. Aen. viii. 328) who inhabited the western half of the island. The towns of the Siculi were under independent rulers. They played an important part in the history of the island after the ar rival of the Greeks (see SICILY). Their agricultural pursuits and the volcanic nature of the island made them worshippers of the gods of the nether world, and they have enriched mythology with some national figures. The most important of these were the Palici, protectors of agriculture and sailors, who had a lake and temple in the neighbourhood of the river Symaethus, the chief seat of the Siculi; Adranus, father of the Palici, a god akin to He phaestus, in whose temple a fire was always kept burning; Hybla (or Hyblaea), after whom three towns were named, whose sanc tuary was at Hybla Gereatis. The connexion of Demeter and Kore
with Henna (the rape of Proserpine) and of Arethusa with Syra cuse is due to Greek influence. Their chief towns were : Agyriurn (San Filippo d'Argiro); Centuripa (or Centuripae ; Centorbi); Henna (Castrogiovanni, a corruption of Castrum Hennae through the Arabic Casr-janni) ; Hybla, three in number, (a) Hybla Major, called Geleatis or Gereatis, on the river Symaethus, prob ably the Hybla famous for its honey, although according to others this was (b) Hybla Minor, on the east coast north of Syracuse, afterwards the site of the Dorian colony of Megara, (c) Hybla Heraea in the south of the island. For authorities see SICILY.