Yes, “Sardegna” and “Sardinia” refer to the same place. “Sardegna” is the Italian name for the island, and “Sardinia” is its English counterpart. The two names are used interchangeably to refer to the same island located in the Mediterranean Sea, which is part of Italy. The choice of name depends on the language being spoken, with “Sardegna” used in Italian and “Sardinia” used in English.
The origin of the name “Sardinia” is not definitively known, and there are several theories and hypotheses about its derivation. One of the most widely accepted theories is that the name “Sardinia” might have originated from the ancient Mediterranean people known as the Sherden or Shardana.
The Sherden were a seafaring people who lived during the Bronze Age and were known to have interacted with various civilizations, including the ancient Egyptians and Hittites. It is believed that the Greeks and later the Romans could have adopted the name “Sardinia” from the Sherden, who might have been early inhabitants of the island.
Another theory suggests that the name could be derived from the Sardo word “sard” or “shard,” which means “stone” in reference to the island’s rugged and rocky terrain.
While these theories provide some insight into the possible origins of the name, the exact etymology remains a subject of scholarly debate and investigation. The name “Sardinia” has likely evolved over centuries, influenced by the languages and cultures that have interacted with the island throughout its history.