Unveiling the Myths of Corfu Island

Corfu island has been a long-standing tourist destination, with many myths and legends surrounding it. The history of Corfu (Kerkyra in Greek), is like that of many islands in the Ionian and Aegean, and Ionian Seas. Corfu island tales are strongly linked to two powerfully mythical water entities: Poseidon, the God of the Sea, and the God Asopos, the famous river, located in Viotia. Below are only a few of the memorable myths that revolve around the beautiful island of Corfu.

Poseidon - The God of Seas:

The first myth, that we will discuss, is the story of Poseidon, the God of the seas. He was a son of Zeus and the nymph Metis. His wife was Amphitrite, who was also a nymph.

Poseidon had many children including Triton and Nereus (who were both sea gods), Persephone (who married Hades), Hermes (a messenger god), Apollo (a sun god), and Artemis (a virgin goddess). According to one myth, Zeus once lost his temper with Poseidon (also called Neptune) and threw him into the sea. Poseidon then took revenge by making earthquakes happen all over Greece. He also created waves so high that they washed away huge chunks from the island of Corfu! You can still see these chunks today when you dive into deep water around Corfu's shores -they're called "Poseidon's teeth."

The Odyssey:

The Odyssey is an epic adventure story about Odysseus and his journey home from the Trojan War. He was dreaming about finding out what has happened to his wife Penelope. On his journey back, he meets gods, monsters, and sirens - it is also very well-known that Corfu played one of the most important roles in Homer’s Odyssey as the island where Odysseus washed up on shore after he escaped from Calypso. Supported by Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom and War, Odysseus was offered a ship for his journey back to Ithaka.

Poseidon became mad when he found out and petrified the boat just off the location of Palaiokastritsa, the place Alkinoos' Palace was built. Other rumors say the ship collided into Pontikonisi, a small islet near Corfu after a serious thunderstorm caused by Poseidon.

The Argonautica:

Corfu has been also mentioned in the 3rd century BC Greek epic poem, The Argonautika, which was written by Apollonius the Rhodes. It was written that before Odysseus' sea adventure, the myth is about Jason and his journey to find the Golden Fleece from the mythical land of Colchis. One of the books tells the story of Jason and Medea, the daughter of King Colchis who escaped and found refuge at Alkinoos Palace in Kerkyra.

The existence of the Phaecian civilization and Alkinoos Palace remains a mystery today. Well-known archaeologists suggest that the area of Paleokastritsa, Ermones could potentially be the area mentioned in both stories, but nothing has been confirmed since findings from the Mycenaean Era (which Homer refers to) are limited. 

A Mythical Origin:

There are many legends regarding the origins of the islands’ names. In Ancient times the island was called several names: Makris (long), Drepani (sickle), and Harpi (harp) because of their long curved shape, and Scheria (endless coast) the Homeric island settled by the Phaecians.

Some centuries after, Corfu took the Greek name ‘Kerkyra’ from a mythical love story between the nymph Korkyra and the God Poseidon. According to the myth, Poseidon fell in love with Korkyra and brought her to the island where she gave birth to Phaekas, the island’s first mythical ruller. In Homer’s poem, Corfu is referred to as Phaekia, after the Phaekian kingdom.

The over explanation is that Corfu’s origin is of Byzantine descent from the word Koryfo (top) because of the two peaks found in the island’s capital. From Koryfo came the Latin variation - Corfu.

The Mouse Island:

Pontikonisi or “Mouse Island,” is a Greek island located at the entrance of Halkiopoulos lagoon in Corfu. It is said that Pontikonissi was Odysseus’s ship, the one that brought the legendary character (king of Ithaca) to the island of the Phaeacians. It was during a terrible storm that the boat was washed out on the coast of the island, and the sea god Poseidon turned the boat into this green rock, giving it his name.

Legend of Paleokastritsa:

Palaiokastritsa (Παλαιοκαστρίτσα), meaning Little Old Castle place, is a village in northwestern Corfu. Corfu is considered to be the mythical island of the Phaecians and the bay of Palaiokastritsa - the place where Odysseus came with his ship after running from Calypso. The monastery in Paleokastritsa, which dates from 1225, is also a museum. The legend of Paleokastritsa in the Corfu myth tells the story of a young and beautiful shepherdess called Katerina, who fell in love with an equally handsome man by the name of Panayiotis. With the help of their friends, they managed to elope, but were found soon after by Katerina’s uncle and punished severely by being cast upon a cliff by the sea.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, there are many myths about Corfu island. Corfu is a legendary place located in Greece. Its natural beauty, architectural wonders, and legends make it a standout of Greece as a whole. The main port of Corfu is Corfu Town, which dates from classical times to the present day and is packed with tourist attractions, while Old Corfu consists mainly of winding streets dotted with historic buildings like castles and churches. While traveling to Corfu you can not only enjoy its nature, and cuisine but also its rich history. You can rent a car and discover the island, or rent a boat in Alipa port and enjoy the island from a completely different point of view.