CALLED by the people in its neighbourhood Illonte lo, is situated on the eastern side of Sicily, in a district which the superstitious fears of the inhabitants have de nominated Val de De111071e.
Various conjectures have been formed respecting the origin of the name /Etna. In the Itineraries it is usually written Ethana. Hence some, who are anxious to de rive every term from a Greek or Hebrew extraction, trace its origin from CCIOEII, to hum, or the Hebrew Alba no, a furnace, or darkness. But whatever may be the origin of the name, it is certain that this mountain has for many ages attracted the notice of mankind. Its im mense size and elevation, the beauty and magnificence of the surrounding scenery, and the terrific grandeur of the convulsions and changes to which it is subject, have afforded matter of description both to the poet and his torian. Here, according to ancient mythology, were erected the forges of the Cyclops, where, under the di rection of Vulcan, they prepared the thunder-bolts of Jupiter. Here was raised a temple to Vulcan himself, where, as in that of Vesta, the fire never ceased to burn ; and here the giant Enceladus was condemned by Jupiter to expiate his impious rebellion, by perpetual imprison Ment.
This mountain, when viewed at a distance, presents the appearance of an obtuse truncated cone extended at the base, and terminating in a bifurcated vertex, i. e. in two eminences at a considerable distance from each other. Upon approaching nearer, the traveller is sur prised and astonished at the wild, grotesque appearance of the whole mountain ; while he is delighted, at the same time, by the pleasing variety exhibited on particu lar parts of its surface. Over the whole of the immense declivity of /Etna, but especially in the lower region, he beholds innumerable eminences, or small conical hills, gently rising from its surface, covered with rich verdure and beautiful trees, and adorned with towns, villages, scattered hamlets, and monasteries. As his eye ascends, he discovers an immense forest of oaks and pine s, sur rounding the mountain on every side, and forming a zone of beautiful green round its middle. Next appears
the hoary head of the mountain itself, boldly projecting into the clouds, and covered with eternal snow.
These general characters, so distinctly impressed upon the different parts or its surface, have induced travellers to divide /Etna into three regions, viz. R Re gione Gotta, the fertile region ; Il Regione Sylvosa, the woody region ; and Il Regione Deserta, the barren region. Nor arc these regions less distinguished by their temperature, than by their external appearance. The traveller, faint and oppressed by the sultry heat of the Regione Piedmontese, escapes with delight, we are told, into the shade of the woods, where the air is cool and refreshing ; but upon emerging from the forests, the temperature rapidly declines ; and to all the dangers and difficulties attending his journey to the summit, must be added, the inconvenience arising from the pierc ing coldness of the air, and the chilling blasts from the south, to which these higher regions are constantly ex posed. Hence, some have been led to distinguish those distinct portions of the surface of /Etna, by the names of Torrid, Temperate, and Frigid Zones.
In presenting to our readers an account of whatever may deserve farther notice in the external appearance of lEtna, we shall adopt the common division, and begin with stating the particulars related by travellers respect ing the lower region, or Regione In ascending Mount /Etna, it is usual to begin the journey on the south side, near the city of Catania. From this place to the mouth of the great crater, the distance is supposed to be nearly 10 leagues, or 30 miles. Of this ascent, about 15 miles arc allotted for the breadth of the first zone, or Regime Culla The circumference of this region, according to Recupero. is 183 miles ; and its surface, by the calculation of Buffos, exceeds 220 square leagues. It is bounded by the sea to the south and south-ease, and on all its other sides by the rivers Scmetus and Aicantara.