CORTONA | Local History

Origin of Cortona: "Cortona mother of Troy and grandmother of Rome"

Cortona, according to the ancient traditions, has mythological origins. The legend tells that it was found by Dardano, son of Jupiter and Electra, who later was the founder of Troy. He was supposed to be born in Cortona, according to what Virgil writes in the Aeneid, and from there he would have gone to Asia. Through people from Cortona there is a proverb that says: Cortona, mother of Troy and grandmother of Rom. But, according to the legend, how Cortona was found? It is said that Dardano was fighting on a hill, that overlooked the Valdichiana and he was struck by a spear which struck off his helmet, and it is not possible to find it anymore. A fortune – teller said that Mother Earth had wrapped the helmet in her womb, because she wanted a turreted city to be erected where the helmet was lost, which would be as impenetrable and strong as Dardano’s helmet. So, the hero built the walls of the new city, which had its centre just where the helmet got lost. The city was named Corito, that means “helmet”, changing lately then in the name of Cortona. 
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