The Sicilian Mafia
The Sicilian Mafia
For some people, the mere mention of the name “Mafia” paints a portrait in the subconscious of burly or corpulent, thuggish-looking men, with peppered or jet black hair, a scar somewhere on their face, dressed in black or gray pinstriped suits garnished with a flower in their lapel, a fedora cocked angularly over their brow, their necks and fingers decorated in gold jewelry, and carrying a briefcase or any means of transportation for weapons or money. This image is typically cliché of the average early 20th century gangster found in big cities such as New York City and Chicago, and of those individuals found in classic films such as “The Godfather” and “Scarface”. So then, what is, or who are, the “Mafia?” From where did they come? What did they do? Where are they now? To truly understand what the Mafia is and represents, one must travel back in time, centuries ago, where the word, and the people associated, are rooted from an area known widely for its bountiful history of arts, war, and honor – Sicily, Italy. A thorough understanding of what the Mafia consists of would not be complete without an understanding of the Sicilian concepts of “vendetta” and “omerta.” The Italian word vendetta is rooted in the Latin vindicta meaning “revenge.” A more modern equivalent would be violent and vengeful “pay back”. The vendetta was often a prolonged series of retaliatory, hostile acts in exchange for previous violent acts, such as an “eye for an eye” concept or otherwise known as lex taliones. In ancient times, when enforcement of law by reliable authorities was virtually unknown, families would often take matters in their own hands, and exact “payment” or revenge for a wrong-doing by another by means of vendetta, often by employing violence, to include murder, to redress their grievance and restore honor to the injured group or family. Equally important in understanding what Mafia is about, is the Italian concept of “omerta.” In
For some people, the mere mention of the name “Mafia” paints a portrait in the subconscious of burly or corpulent, thuggish-looking men, with peppered or jet black hair, a scar somewhere on their face, dressed in black or gray pinstriped suits garnished with a flower in their lapel, a fedora cocked angularly over their brow, their necks and fingers decorated in gold jewelry, and carrying a briefcase or any means of transportation for weapons or money. This image is typically cliché of the average early 20th century gangster found in big cities such as New York City and Chicago, and of those individuals found in classic films such as “The Godfather” and “Scarface”. So then, what is, or who are, the “Mafia?” From where did they come? What did they do? Where are they now? To truly understand what the Mafia is and represents, one must travel back in time, centuries ago, where the word, and the people associated, are rooted from an area known widely for its bountiful history of arts, war, and honor – Sicily, Italy. A thorough understanding of what the Mafia consists of would not be complete without an understanding of the Sicilian concepts of “vendetta” and “omerta.” The Italian word vendetta is rooted in the Latin vindicta meaning “revenge.” A more modern equivalent would be violent and vengeful “pay back”. The vendetta was often a prolonged series of retaliatory, hostile acts in exchange for previous violent acts, such as an “eye for an eye” concept or otherwise known as lex taliones. In ancient times, when enforcement of law by reliable authorities was virtually unknown, families would often take matters in their own hands, and exact “payment” or revenge for a wrong-doing by another by means of vendetta, often by employing violence, to include murder, to redress their grievance and restore honor to the injured group or family. Equally important in understanding what Mafia is about, is the Italian concept of “omerta.” In
References: Gambetta, Diego. The Sicilian Mafia: The Business of Private Protection. Washington D.C.: First Harvard University Press, 1993. Sifakis, Carl. The Mafia Encyclopedia. New York: Facts on File, Inc., 1987. Paoli, Letizia. Mafia Brotherhoods: Organized Crime, Italian Style. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003. Salerno, Vincenzo. "Sicilian Peoples: The Angevins". Best of Sicily Magazine. November 11, 2009 <http://www.bestofsicily.com/mag/art177.htm>. "Organized Crime". Federal Bureau of Investigation. November 10, 2009 <http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/orgcrime/lcnindex.htm>. La Sorte, Mike. "Dark Brotherhoods". AmericanMafia.com. November 12, 2009 <http://www.americanmafia.com/Feature_Articles_443.html>. Critchley, David. The Origin of Organized Crime in America: The New York City Mafia, 1891 - 1931. New York: Routledge, 2009. La Sorte, Mike. "Sicily And The Mafia: Part Four - Mussolini Takes On the Mafia". AmericanMafia.com. November 11, 2009 <http://www.americanmafia.com/Feature_Articles_267.html>.