Diary from L'Aquila

The coat of arms of L'Aquila is an eagle surmounted by the 3 letters, variously explained but for which so definite interpretation exists, "PHS" and with at the two sides the words "immota" and "manet". Much is being said these days about the "immota manet" (remains unmoved) which for some takes on a tragically ironical meaning. I like to understand the Latin past participle as a kind of conditional: through all that has happened, in spite of the earthquake, in spite of the bad construction practices and the greed which were the Gomorra of this area in the past decades, the city stays here, the social spiderweb stays here, the Aquilans stay here. Those that are living, will stay here, mourn their dead, honor their dead, surrounded by the silent strength coming from the majestic mountains, coming maybe by the so many dear souls watching now the city from above.

The PHS is often explained as the "per hoc signum vinces" that appeared in the sky to Roman Emperor Constantine in 313 AD, when thanks to his victory Christianity became the official religion of the Empire. The Eagle is this sign for my town, the stone eagles at top of the inscription in the Fountain of the 99 spouts and the Spanish Fortress, and the eagles that often fly high above sending their shriek resonating in the air, the huge crowd of helicopters coming to the rescue that every minute fly over our heads killing the silence.

In 1703 the city was alone. 306 years later the city is a living, wounded limb of Abruzzo, of Italy, of the world. The global body is bandaging the bleeding claws, is fixing the broken wings, is looking after thirst and hunger, is cuddling the anguished mind of the mother eagle who saw her children crushed, is cuddling her to sleep so that the wounds in her soul may start to heal, until the moment comes when she can fly again, when she WANTS to fly again, free and proud, high up above her beloved green forests and plateaus, above the snowy peaks and the beautiful skyline of domes and towers rising over the Acquili hill at the heart of the valley.