GINOSTRA THE NAME
The etymology of
the name is not known; there are many suppositions.
Some think it
simply derives from “Ginestra” a local plant (Broom) or bush which in the spring
flowers giving a particular colour to the island. “Ginestra” comes from the
latin “Genesta”.
Another meaning
not less odd is that Ginostra comes from the Greek ginos which translated as a small mule, perhaps
on the island were bred particularly small
donkeys?
AGAIN It is
thought perhaps the greek gumnos which
means “NAKED” Or “nude” is relevant. Did the inhabitants run around naked?
However let us
remember the real name now somewhat altered is “inostra”, maybe it cames from
two words “in” and “stra” , “IN” again from the greek means “the place in
which”, “stra” is unknown.
GINOSTRA may also
mean hnwy, Splendid, light,
like bronze, from the mite of the rock of eolo at ginostra from homer
description , strong, fortificated.
There again it may
come from Inw the name of INO
daughter of cadmo, a sea divinity Luocetea about what talk homero in Odyssea
(5,333). Ino was a mortal maid given divinity for throwing herself into the
sea, in a moment of danger, into the
arms of a marine deity.
She was the
daughter of cadmo, sister of samele, the mother of dionisio and wife of
atamante king of orcomeno.
At the death of
semele, INO took over the upbringing of the young dionisio. This provoked the
anger of Era, who persecuted her and her two sons learco and melicerte. Era
completely maddened atamante who killed learco and chased INO who was trying to
save her other son. Then both of them jumped into the sea from a high rock
between megara and corinto. The sea gods received the desperate mother and
child and bestowed immortality upon them , allowing them to live happily at
nereidi.
Altamante cruel
husband of ino was the son of eolo.
Last meaning, but
the most probable etymology of the name ginostra comes from the latin phrase “in austerem”. “auster” being the
name of the midday wind (looking
towards the “ostro”, orientated to midday.
Perhaps, this is
the real meaning of “Ginostra”.