Manmay LaKay Magazine Issue 2 April 2018 | Page 97

t
hat our early ancestors called
St. Lucia“Iyanola” which means
Land of the Iguanas? St. Lucia is 
such a gem that the English and
French fought for ownership of the
island 14 times. They both ruled seven
times each. And, because it switched
between British and French control so
many times, Saint Lucia has been
nicknamed ‘the Helen of the West
Indies’, a reference to the battle over
Helen of Troy.
Barracks at Vigie, Castries, Saint Lucia.
Photo Credit: Everything St.Lucian on Facebook
Who was Helen of Troy?
The most beautiful woman in the
world, a representation of ideal beauty
according to Greek mythology. And,
just in case you’re wondering where
the capital of St.Lucia got its name –
well – in 1785 it was named after the
French Minister of the colonies,
Charles Eugène Gabriel de La Croix,
marquis de Castries.
Vigie, Castries, Saint Lucia.
Photo Credit: Everything St. Lucian on Facebook
But Castries wasn’t always the capital
of St.Lucia – Soufriere was. And
 "Soufriere" by the way is a French
term that means, “sulphur in the air."
What does St. Lucia mean?
Soufriere, Saint Lucia.
Saint Lucia was named after the patron
saint of Syracuse, Saint Lucy, who by
the way is the patron saint of the blind
and those with eye problems. And so, it
is by no coincidence that our National
Day, Dec. 13, is also called the Festival
of Lights.
Photo Credit: Everything St. Lucian on Facebook