The Greek and later Latin name for Palermo is Panormos/Panorums. The word could have several meanings. From the Greek pan-hormos, meaning “all moored”, it indicates a harbour with a deep anchorage or, more likely, it derives from the Greek hormos meaning “necklace”. This hypothesis is confirmed by the Phoenician name of the city, ṣ.y.ṣ , which means “necklace” or “garland”, a term that indicates not only the diglossia and bilingualism of the inhabitants but also the very structure of Palermo, surrounded by mountains.
