12th Plinius Conference on Mediterranean Storms

History

Corfu Island

Corfu is called Kerkyra in Greek and owns its name from mythology, from the derivation of the name of the Nymphe Korkira, who was the daughter of the River God, Aesopos. Archaeological excavations have proved that the island was inhabited since the Paleolithic Era (7th- 4th centuries BC) and that during this period Corfu was a very important commercial centre which inhabitants were the Phoenicians.

According to mythology, Poseidon, God of the Sea, fell in love with the Nymph Korkira, kidnapped her and brought her to the island; since then, the island took the name of the nymph. From 300 BC, Corfu was successively attacked and conquered by Spartans, Illyrians and Romans, who stayed on the island from 229 BC to 337 AD.

During Roman times, the island was allowed to keep a part of autonomy and, in return, the Romans could use the port and ships of the town. Corfu joined the East Roman Empire which later became the Byzantine Empire. After the First Crusade Corfu was given to the Venetians who had supported the Crusade. In 1797, Corfu became part of the French State when Napoleon Bonaparte conquered Venice.

In 1799, the allied fleet of the Turks, the Russians and the English disembarked on the island of Corfu. Then in 1807 when Russia and France signed the treaty of Tilsit, Corfu and the other islands became provinces of Napoleon. The Ionian Islands did not become a part of Greece until 1864 when the Ionian Islands were donated from the British to the new King of Greece.