Editing Vulcano (section)

=== Classical period ===
The [[Ancient Greeks]] named this island ''Therasía'' (Θηρασία) and ''Thérmessa'' (Θέρμεσσα, source of heat). The island appeared in their [[Greek mythology|myths]] as the private foundry of the [[Twelve Olympians|Olympian god]] [[Hephaestus]], the patron of [[blacksmith]]s. Their myths noted two more of his foundries, at [[Mount Etna|Etna]] and [[Mount Olympus (Mountain)|Olympus]]. [[Strabo]] also mentions Thermessa as ''sacred place of Hephaestus'' (ἱερὰ Ἡφαίστου), but it is not certain whether this was a third name for the island, or merely an [[adjective]].<ref>Strabo Geographica 1.2.10</ref>

Similarly, the [[Roman people|Romans]] believed that Vulcano was the chimney of their god [[Vulcan (mythology)|Vulcan's]] workshop and, therefore, named the island after him. According to the Roman myths, the island had grown due to his periodic clearing of cinders and ashes from his forge. They also explained earthquakes that either preceded or accompanied the explosions of ash as being due to Vulcan making weapons for their god [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]] for his armies to wage war.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/LivingWith/PopCulture/mythology.html |title=CVO Menu – Volcanoes in Historical and Popular Culture |publisher=Vulcan.wr.usgs.gov |access-date=2013-08-26}}</ref>

The Romans used the island mainly for raw materials, harvesting timber, and mining [[alum]] and [[sulfur]]. These were the principal activities on the island until the end of the nineteenth century.{{cn|date=February 2025}}