According to the most widely accepted hypothesis, it derives from the Arabic daliyah, meaning “vineyard”, evidence of a territory cultivated with grapes since the Middle Ages, when the Saracens already appreciated its sun-drenched slopes for producing fine wines. Other intriguing theories point to classical antiquity: some studies suggest a connection with the ancient Petiliana, which became “Petelia” and finally Delia, as well as with the cult of Diana–Delia, the goddess worshiped on the Aegean islands, hinting at a remote suburban sanctuary possibly dedicated to the goddess of the hunt and nature. In any case, Delia has always been a crossroads of civilizations, where agricultural vocation intertwined with ancient pagan cults and Eastern influences, giving rise to an identity that still today celebrates the land and its fruits.
The municipal coat of arms synthesizes this dual spirit in a simple yet meaningful heraldic image: an elegant shield surmounted by a battlemented tower with two slits, painted gold on a blue field, symbolizing the strong fortification erected by feudal lords to control the communication routes. The tower, placed on a green hill (tôrre arenaria su monte), refers to the hill on which the town stands, while the blue color evokes the clear sky and the hope of rebirth. On the sides, two intertwined branches — one olive, the other laurel — highlight the agricultural vocation and civic glory, united at the bottom by a tricolor ribbon recalling national unity. The three golden ears of wheat depicted on the blue field finally suggest the abundance of wheat fields, a primary resource for the community since its earliest days.
This emblem, approved by municipal resolution in recent times, is displayed on banners, official documents, and entrance plaques: a visual seal that tells, at a glance, the agricultural, military, and identity story of Delia, a town that has passed down, through its walls and symbols, the pride of a people born “from the vineyard” and nurtured under the Sicilian sun.