KORKYRA
Greek Name
Κορκυρα Κερκυρα
Transliteration
Korkyra, Kerkyra
Latin Spelling
Corcyra, Cercyra
Translation
Of Corcyra (island)
KORKYRA (Corcyra) was the Naiad-nymph of the springs or fountain of the main town of the island of Korkyra in the Ionian Sea. She was a daughter of the Argive river Asopos who was abducted to the island by the god Poseidon where she bore Phaiax (Phaeax), the eponymous founding-king of the Phaiakoi (Phaeacian) nation.
PARENTS
[1.1] ASOPOS (Corinna Frag 654, Bacchylides Frag 9, Pausanias 2.5.1, Apollonius Rhodius 4.567)
[1.2] ASOPOS & METOPE (Diodorus Siculus 4.72.1-5)
OFFSPRING
[1.1] PHAIAX (by Poseidon) (Diodorus Siculus 4.72.1)
CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES
Corinna, Fragment 654 (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric IV) (C5th B.C.) :
"Of these [nine] daughters [of Asopos] . . . Korkyra (Corcyra) and Salamis and lovely Euboia (Eubea) were stolen by father Poseidon."
Bacchylides, Fragment 9 (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric IV) (C5th B.C.) :
"The bright-belted daughters [of Asopos] whom gods settled with happy fortunes as founders of invoilate cities. Who does not know of the well-built town of . . . Korkyra (Corcyra)."
Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 4. 565 ff (trans. Rieu) (Greek epic C3rd B.C.) :
"Korkyra (Corcyra), where Poseidon found a home, far from her native land, for Asopos' daughter, Korkyra of the lovely locks, when in his passion he had made off with her from Phlios (Phlius). The dark forests that cover the island give it a sombre look, and passing sailors call it Black Korkyra."
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 5. 1 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"His [Asopos'] daughters, say the Phliasians, were Korkyra (Corcyra), Aigina, and Thebe. Korkyra and Aigina (Aegina) gave new names to the islands called Skheria (Scheria) and Oinone (Oenone)."
Pausanias, Description of Greece 5. 22. 6 :
"The Phliasians [of Sikyonia] also dedicated [at Olympia] a Zeus, the daughters of Asopos, and Asopos himself. Their images have been ordered thus: Nemea is the first of the sisters . . . after her is Korkyra (Corcyra), with Thebe next; last of all comes Asopos. There is a legend about Korkyra that she mated with Poseidon."
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 4. 72. 1-5 (trans. Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.) :
"Asopos made his home in Phlios (Phlius), where he married Metope, the daughter of Ladon, to whom were born two sons, Pelasgos and Ismenos, and twelve daughters, Korkyra (Corcyra) and Salamis, also Aigina (Aegina), Peirene, and Kleone (Cleone), then Thebe, Tanagra, Thespeia, and Asopis, also Sinope, and finally Ornia and Khalkis (Chalcis) . . .
Korkyra was carried off by Poseidon to the island which was named Korkyra after her; and to her and Poseidon was born Phaiax (Phaeax), from whom the Phaiakes (Phaeacians) afterwards received the name they bear."
SOURCES
GREEK
- Greek Lyric IV Bacchylides, Fragments - Greek Lyric C5th B.C.
- Greek Lyric IV Corinna, Fragments - Greek Lyric C5th B.C.
- Apollonius Rhodius, The Argonautica - Greek Epic C3rd B.C.
- Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History - Greek History C1st B.C.
- Pausanias, Description of Greece - Greek Travelogue C2nd A.D.
OTHER SOURCES
Other references not currently quoted here: Stephanus Byzantium s.v. Phaiax, Conon Narrations 3.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.