Many myths tell the story of this island as it lies majestically off the northwestern coast of mainland Greece. A crucible of myths and legends, ethnicities and religions as so many have recognized its strategic importance and others its potent beauty.

The shape of a scycle, it was once called just that, as they say Goddess Dimitra lost her sacred tool in dispute with Zeus somewhere around here. Or indeed it could have been Poseidon running off with the nymph Korkyra that gave birth to Pheacas father of King Alkinoos and the lineage of the Pheaceans that dreamt up this godly place.

Then again Poseidon also enamored the Queen of sirens the Gorgon Medusa. A very important thread to follow this is as the oldest and largest surviving temple apex of its kind in Greece, takes up an exhibition space in the Archeological Museum of Corfu  larger than many mortals’ home. Taken from the temple of Artemis, virgin maiden Goddess of the Moon, the sculpted relief is that of the Gorgon Medusa. Not dead and decapitated by Perseus as the predominant myth and Renaissance artistry would have her but paradoxically, very much alive and kicking in magestic grandeur. Flanked by her two children Chrysaor and the winged horse Pegasus, she is present in such strength and magnanimity it really does make you want to not look her in the eyes just in case the legend is true and you are left there standing in stone amongst the other cold marble exhibits. Could it be that because her eyes are all knowing, they see through us, penetrating our illusions and looking into the abyss of truth that very few can stand before her in clear conscience?

As you stand on the western peak of Pandokratoras mountain range and look down to sea were the sun sets in the west one can see another legend turned to stone. Is it a rock or is it Ulysses’ ship petrified by almighty Poseidon avenging his son Cyclops’ humiliation by ‘nobody’?

The Nobelesque Greek poet Constantine Cavafy (1863-1933) ensured that Ulysses’ epic return journey home to Ithaca following the war in Troy became a metaphor for the trials and tribulations of Self. “Ithaca” remained the destination but the road to Ithaca became the road less traveled.

“When you set on your journey to Ithaca,
pray that the road is long
full of adventure, full of knowledge…
It is better to let it last for many years
and to anchor on the island when you are old..
not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.
 Ithaca has given you the journey. Without her you
would never have set on the road…
And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you
wise as you have become, with so much experience, you must already have understood what Ithacas mean.”

When the horny Calypso finally releases Ulysses after ten years of captivity and he is bashed and bruised a bit more by yet another storm of water he is washed ashore upon a legendary land. As Homer would have it, this is Scheria, the land of the Pheaceans.