CORFU (island in Corcyra)
Greek island in the Ionian Sea
- Kind of place
- Island
- Region
- Corcyra
- Where
- 39.60° N, 19.87° E
Homer refers to the island by the names Scheria and Phæacia. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.19 ¶1 It contains a city named Corcyra whose citizens are free. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.19 ¶1 A temple dedicated to Jupiter Cassius stands on the island. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.19 ¶1
Described in the sources
Corcyra, the island of the Phaeacians under Alcinous, where the Argonauts came; Jason later moved his home there. Apollodorus 1.9.25 +1 Callimachus calls the island Drepane. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.19 ¶1 Phalacrum is a promontory of Corcyra. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.19 ¶1 The island also includes a town called Cassiope. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.19 ¶1 Corcyra is located opposite the coasts of Epirus. Strabo 2.5.20 The distance from Leucas to Corcyra is 700 stadia. Strabo 2.4.3 The island is known by the additional name Melæna. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 3.30 ¶2 The island is situated off the territory of Pyrrhus. Pausanias 1.11.6 The eastern promontory of the island is named Leucimme. Strabo 7.7.5 Corcyra was a territory subject to the rule of Periander. Herodotus 3.52.6
Stories and history
Corcyra was humbled by numerous wars. Strabo 7.fragments.7 Pyrrhus expelled Demetrius from the island. Pausanias 1.11.6 The island measures ninety-seven miles in length. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.19 ¶1 Pyrrhus fought a war against the island of Corcyra. Pausanias 1.12.1 The city became a subject of ridicule and passed into a proverb. Strabo 7.fragments.7 Pyrrhus took control of the island during his war with Lysimachus. Pausanias 1.11.6 Pyrrhus feared others would use the island as a base to attack him. Pausanias 1.11.6 Periander sent his son to Corcyra by ship to remove him from his sight. Herodotus 3.52.6 Periander invited Lycophron to become the sovereign ruler of the island. Herodotus 3.53.1 Pyrrhus attacked the inhabitants of the island first after becoming king. Pausanias 1.11.6