The etymology of the names of the Giants of Messina

According to some, the names of the Giants of Messina were derived from the name of the castle of Matagriffone (still partially visible in Messina), built by Richard the Lionheart in 1190, during a long stay in the city of the strait waiting to embark on the third Crusade, to break (hence the word “mata”) the excessive power of the  greco-byzantine nobles (called the grifoni, “griffins”) and favour the people of Messina. According to an early twentieth century scholar of Messina, this explanation is confirmed in the appearance of the two giants: the turreted crown on the head of Mata would symbolize the three fortresses of Messina (Matagrifone, Castellaccio and Forte Gonzaga), while the face of Grifone was the physiognomic proof of his greco-levantine origins. For others, the story of the conflict was related to the competition between the Roman Church (played by the giantess) and Orthodox Church (identified with the eastern profile of Grifone), which ended in favour of the former, borne out in the face of the proud and victorious Mata and the deferential face of the Giant.