Kerkyra - Koryfo - Island of the Phaeacians - Eptanissia

The name "Kerkyra" comes from Greek mythology and the story tells the following: Poseidon was once so blinded by the beauty of the nymph Korkyra (Doric dialect for Kerkyra) that he kidnapped her and carried her off to the island. From this union "Phäakas" was born, the progenitor of the Phäaks.

In the "Odyssey" Homer reports on the Phäakeninsel, on which Odysseus stranded after his raft was destroyed, and it is assumed that it was Corfu.

In the Byzantine period the island was called "Koryfo", named after the two hilltops of its acropolis. This refers to the old fortress, which was built by the inhabitants to protect against raids.

"Eptanissia" is what the Greeks call all the Ionian Islands together, which means "seven islands". This means Corfu, Paxos (with Antipaxos), Lefkada, Ithaki, Kefalonia, Zakinthos and Kirthira (located on the southeastern tip of the Peloponnese).

"Corfu" is the Latin name from this time. Under this name, the magical island became known as a destination for holidaymakers from all over the world.

The Ionian Sea
Hera had already been betrayed often enough, and now Zeus, her husband and highest god in Olympus, did not shrink from getting involved with one of her priestesses named "Io".

To protect her from Hera's jealousy, Zeus quickly transformed his lover into a white cow. But it was precisely this cow that Hera insidiously wished for as a present from Zeus, and the hundred-eyed Argus had already been instructed to look after the animal.

However, Hermes helped the unfaithful husband kidnap Io. The angry Hera then sent her a horse fly to drive her insane. Io fled into the sea and only came to rest in Egypt. And that's how the Ionian Sea got its name.