town in Sicily, is situated on a rock which rises to a considerable elevation above the level of the sea, and is surrounded by other rocks, the height of which is still more considerable. It is 88 miles south of Messina, Taormina, and was founded by a colony from Naxos, which were probably induced to choose the situation, not so much on account of its grandeur, as for the security which it would afford. It is also very wholesome. The road to Taormina, up the north side of the hill on which it stands, is very steep and difficult of ascent.

Of the origin of Taormina, as of other cities, almost nothing is known. A colony from the isle of Naxos settled at the foot of Etna, at no great distance from the shore, and at about a league or a league and a half from the present situation of Taormina. Dionysius the Tyrant attacked this colony, and either took or set fire to their city. The inhabitants retired to the rocks of Mount Taurus; among which they found a tract of ground sufficiently level, and of sufficient extent, for them to raise habitations upon it. It was a situation in which they might be secure from every attack. Here, therefore, they built a city; which, after the mountain, they named Tauromenium. It was at length raised to a very flourishing state by trade, and became celebrated as a seat of the arts. There are still many remains to be seen, which show that the fine arts must have been once successfully cultivated at Tauromenium.

Among other remains of the ancient Tauromenium, still to be seen at Taormina, there is a spacious theatre. Near the theatre is a tomb, and behind the tomb a large natural grotto. The grotto appears to have been anciently adorned within with artificial ornaments. It was possibly consecrated by the Greeks to some rural deity, perhaps to the nymphs, to whom the ancient heathens used generally to consecrate grottoes. After the inhabitants of Taormina embraced Christianity, they still continued to visit this grotto with devout veneration. Instead of the Pagan divinities to whom it had before been sacred, they substituted a saint, the venerable St Leonard, instead of the sportive nymphs. But St Leonard did not long draw crowds to this grotto; and the Christians have either defaced its Pagan decorations, or suffered them to fall into decay by the injuries of time. It is now black and smoky; and it is with difficulty that any remains of the Greek paintings with which it was once ornamented can be distinguished. Perhaps it might be sacred to Pales rather than the nymphs. She was the protectress of flocks; and the circumjacent grounds are, and always have been, excellent for pasture.

There are also to be seen in the neighbourhood of Taormina a variety of tombs, the remains of a gymnasium, with a number of other monuments which still preserve the memory of the ancient Tauromenium.

Tape-worm. See Tenia.