Saint Lucia is not trending because of Pres. Bola Tinubu. Instead, because of a quiz asking folks; What is the only country named after a woman?
Everyone is mentioning the small Caribbean country — St. Lucia.
Not entirely correct. Because they’re infact, two. — Ireland.
St. Lucia was named after Saint Lucy of Syracuse, Sicily from ancient Rome.
A woman born around 283 AD, during the time of the Diocletianic Persecution. Celebrated for her strong faith in Christianity and humanitarian work.
She got martyred around 304AD after enduring extended tortures for refusing to denounce Christianity. Her eyes were gouged out alive before her death.
After her death, she was honored as a Saint and celebrated every December 13th. She’s depicted with an image of herself carrying her eyes on a plate.
Saint Lucy was venerated as the patron saint of the blind and those with eye troubles, and her name is associated with light, as “Lucy” derives from the Latin word lux, meaning light.
One day, French Sailors on voyage had a shipwreck near the Island, landed on the Island and like all history.
— That’s how St. Lucia was “discovered.” Around 1500 AD.
The day being 13th December, they decided to name their newly discovered island after the virgin Martyr Saint Lucia of Sicily.
Even though, the place already had a name then. According to historians, it was called Louanalao by the Arawaks. Then named Hewanorra by the natives. But Europeans insisted on St. Lucia. With their influence, it stuck.
Also, historians argue that the Spanish sailors discovered it first, but failed to settle there. Because they were the first to have it shown on a map in 1520AD — “Santa Lucia”
Italians claims they discovered it, through Christopher Columbus. French claims they did too. But only Spain had it documented as “Santa Lucia” — You be the judge.
Ireland, UK was named after the goddess Ériu. According to Irish mythology.
