Aegadean Islands, Aegadean Isles, Aegates, Egadi Islands, Isole Egadi - a group of islands off the west coast of Sicily in the Mediterranean

Italia, Italian Republic, Italy - a republic in southern Europe on the Italian Peninsula; was the core of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire between the 4th century BC and the 5th century AD

Italian region - Italy is divided into 20 regions for administrative purposes

Messina - a port city in northeastern Sicily on the Strait of Messina

Siracusa, Syracuse - a city in southeastern Sicily that was founded by Corinthians in the 8th century BC

Palermo - the capital of Sicily; located in northwestern Sicily; an important port for 3000 years

Acragas, Agrigento, Girgenti - a town in Italy in southwestern Sicily near the coast; the site of six Greek temples

Etna, Mount Etna, Mt Etna - an inactive volcano in Sicily; last erupted in 1961; the highest volcano in Europe (10,500 feet)

Sicilian - a resident of Sicily

Cape Passero, Passero, Passero Cape - the Spanish navy was destroyed by France and England while attempting to recover Sicily and Sardinia from Italy (1719)

siege of Syracuse, Syracuse - the Athenian siege of Syracuse (415-413 BC) was eventually won by Syracuse

siege of Syracuse, Syracuse - the Roman siege of Syracuse (214-212 BC) was eventually won by the Romans who sacked the city (killing Archimedes)

island - a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water

Mediterranean, Mediterranean Sea - the largest inland sea; between Europe and Africa and Asia