Kassiopi
Kassiopi or Cassiopi is a fishing village and vibrant holiday-making destination of Ancient Greek origin. It is situated on the affluent northeast coast of Corfu, Greece. Historically significant due to its strategic position overlooking the Corfu Channel, Kassiopi was fortified up until the destruction of its defences by the Republic of Venice. The remains of Kassiopi Castle still stand tall above the village and are of considerable archaeological importance. Its surroundings have largely been developed with luxury villas.
Toponomy
Speculation surrounds the etymological roots of Kassiopi. The name may derive from the Temple of Cassius Zeus that the town was celebrated for in antiquity. The Cassius in Cassius Zeus has its origins in Mount Casius. Another etymological link may be Cassiopeia, the Queen punished by Poseidon for her vanity and who the constellation is also named after.Due to the similarity in names there has been confusion between the Kassiopi of Corcyra and Cassope of Epirus. One of the earliest literary records of Kassiopi was written by Cicero who uses the name Cassiope and describes a brief stay seeking shelter in the harbour. Varations in spelling include Kassiope, Kassope and Kassopi, with a K as well as with a C. Other names that were used by the Venetians include Casopo and Casopoli.
History
Kassiopi's origins are unclear but given its strategic position it is not unreasonable to consider it likely to have been inhabited long before the Corinthian colonisation of Corcyra. Described by Sir William Smith as the only other city on the island in antiquity after Corcyra, Ptolemy also describes Kassiopi as a city, indicating its significance during Roman occupation. According to Suetonius, Emperor Nero sang at the altar of the temple.The fortifications of Kassiopi Castle are mainly Byzantine however indication of the walls dating further back have been noted. The walls were fortified further by the Venetians, and survived sieges from the Ottoman Turks in the 16th century. Today the ruins still stand above the village echoing the rich history of the town.
Sometime in the 5th century the temple of Cassius Zeus was converted into a Christian church to honour the Holy Mother – Panayia Kassopitra. In 1537 the church was burned to the ground by the Turks, it was restored between 1590 and 1591. The new church had two altars to accommodate both Catholic and Orthodox religions and inscriptions on the church bear the dates 1590, 1670, and 1832.