CORCYRA (city)
Ancient city in Greece
- Kind of place
- City
- People of myth here
- Alcinous
- Where
- 39.61° N, 19.92° E
Corcyra was once a prosperous location with a significant fleet. Strabo 7.fragments.8 Corcyra is noted for breeding fish that are large in size and very numerous. Athenaeus 7.107 A mocking proverb referred to the city as Corcyra the Free. Strabo 7.fragments.8
Described in the sources
The distance from Leucas to Corcyra is 700 stadia. Strabo 2.4.3 Corcyra was a territory subject to Periander's rule. Herodotus 3.52.6 Jason moved his residence to Corcyra after Pelias died. Pausanias 2.3.9 Corcyra contained a specific location that was named Euboea. Strabo 10.1.15 Corcyra is situated 700 stadia from the Ceraunian Mountains. Strabo 2.4.3 Aristonicus the Argive lived in this city during the time of Archilochus. Athenaeus 14.42 Eratosthenes estimated the distance from Ithaca to Corcyra as 300 stadia. Strabo 2.4.4 Polybius estimated the distance from Ithaca to Corcyra as over 900 stadia. Strabo 2.4.4 Corcyra is located 87.5 miles beyond the promontory of Leucate along the described route. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 2.112 ¶2 Callimachus incorrectly identified the mythical island of Scheria as the real island of Corcyra. Strabo 7.3.6 part 2
Stories and history
Corcyra was humbled by numerous wars. Strabo 7.fragments.7 The Romans restored the city to a state of liberty. Strabo 7.fragments.8 Corcyra became a subject of ridicule and passed into a proverb. Strabo 7.fragments.7 The city declined due to warfare and the harsh rule of its leaders. Strabo 7.fragments.8 Periander invited Lycophron to become the sovereign ruler of the city. Herodotus 3.53.1 Periander sent his son to Corcyra by ship to remove him from his sight. Herodotus 3.52.6 Antiphanes curses the island, wishing it to be cursed by all other islands. Athenaeus 1.49 Despite regaining freedom, the city failed to achieve fame in later periods. Strabo 7.fragments.8 Periander sought revenge against the people of Corcyra for killing the young man. Herodotus 3.53.7 Messengers were sent to Corcyra to request military assistance for the Greek alliance. Herodotus 7.145.2
Myths set at Corcyra
- The Abduction of Corcyra. Poseidon abducted Corcyra, the daughter of Asopus, from Phlius because he loved her. He transported her to an island that took its name from her, where he established her and later fathered Phaeax. Argonautica 4 ¶39 +2 Poseidon