History and Art

THE HISTORY AND ARTS OF ELBA ISLAND

The island was inhabited in ancient times by a population of Ligurian descent, who began the utilization of the mines from the end of Iron Age. Excavations and finds offer testimony to the presence of man as far back as Paleolithic times. Around the 10th century B.C., the Greeks hailing from Focea settled the island attracted by abundance of iron that they smelted by using rudimentary working methods. From the Greek "aithalos" (spark), the island took its first name "Aethana" or "Aethalia" seen all over from the numerous forges that thanks to their need for large quantities of wood to keep them going managed to deforest the island. When the Etruscans and the Greeks from Syracuse followed, the iron works were moved onto the continent in the area of Populonia, where work continued through the Roman Ages right up to the Empire's first century. With Roman domination, the island took on the name of Ilva for the predominance of Ligurians then known as the Ilvates. The island achieved great economic and commercial success that lasted up until a law prohibited the use of the forges due to the excessive use of the forest wood. In reality, as Rome continued to expand its rule in Europe and Asia, they came into possession of plentiful iron deposits that required a less costly and more easily worked system than that on Elba. It is from that time on that Elba fell into decline. At the fall of the Roman Empire, Elba was not able to avoid a Longbard invasion, which resulted in the island being governed by a Duke holding a seat in Lucca. And at this time thanks to Dialoghi di Gregorio Magno (second half of the 11th century) the name Elba appears for the first time instead of Ilva. At the end of the Longbard rule, Elba, which up until the time of Pompeo VI had been a highly fortified and impregnable naval base, was exposed to the raids and habitual sackings of the Corsicans, Normans, and Sarcens. In the 10th century Elba passed from Papal patrimony to the political sphere of Pisa.

ART AND ARTISTS OF ELBA ISLAND