The Socialist Group in the Cabildo of Lanzarote has presented a motion for the island's main archaeological site to be renamed the Fayna and Zonzamas Site, a proposal that seeks to highlight the role of women in aboriginal society and in the island's history.
The socialist spokesperson, Ariagona González, explained that this initiative “intends to pay tribute to the figure of Queen Fayna, mother of Ico and symbol of dynastic legitimacy in Maho society, where the maternal line was the basis of political and social power.”
"Fayna is not just a historical name; it represents a way of understanding leadership, legitimacy, and the transmission of power through women," González highlighted. "Giving her name to the most important site on Lanzarote is doing justice to our history and to the place that women deserve in it."
The socialist motion recalls that the Zonzamas site was the political and residential center of the elite of ancient Teguise and that Fayna's legacy is an essential part of that genealogy, being a key figure in the pre-Hispanic history of Lanzarote.
Furthermore, the proposal emphasizes that the name Fayna and Zonzamas will allow for the incorporation of a more complete and equitable perspective on Maho society, characterized by the high status of women, polyandry, and the role of women as the structural axis of alliances and tribal stability.
"For centuries, history has been told from an androcentric perspective that has made women invisible," added the socialist spokesperson. "This gesture not only highlights our archaeological heritage, but also our collective memory and the values of equality that should inspire public action."
With this motion, the PSOE of Lanzarote proposes a symbolic and restorative act, which connects scientific and anthropological knowledge with the vindication of gender equality and the historical identity of the island.
