Othonoi

The first name according to ancient texts (Hesychius, 3rd cent. BC) was "Othronos" (Ὀθρωνός), "Othronoi" (Ὀθρωνοί) and by Procopius seems to be "Othonē" (Ὀθωνή) (6th c.). According to Pliny (1st cent.), it was "Thoronos" (Θόρονος). Other names were "Fidonisi" (Snake island) because of the many snakes that are said to have invaded the island, and "Fanò" (Lamp) which is used in international charters and by the Italians because of the lighthouse situated on the island. Another Greek name for the island is "Astakonisi" (Αστακονήσι); the Albanian name is Strakëna, which may be a cognate of it that ultimately derives from reconstructed Doric Greek Ostrakonásion (). A second etymological approach for the latter, is that it derives from the plural of the Greek adjective ostrakinón (οστρακινόν), which is ostrakiná (οστρακινά); likely expressing a quality of the island. Nowadays the Othonians living in Corfu sometimes call the island "Pera" ("Πέρα" meaning: beyond), as the island is located beyond Corfu. ==History==

At the beginning of the second millennium, the island was conquered alternatively by the Franks (the 11th century) and the Venetians (12th century), and often attacked by pirates of Barbary and Algeria. From the end of 1383 until 1386 the domination of Corfu was held by Charles III of Naples. In a letter from April 19, 1383, he granted the usufruct of Othonoi, Ereikoussa, Mathraki, Diapolo and Vido, to the knight Theodore Skaliti as fief. In 1815, the British conquered Othonoi. With the Treaty signed on March 29, 1864, between the three powers (United Kingdom, France, Russia) and the Kingdom of Greece, the Ionian Islands including the Diapontian islands passed definitively to Greek sovereignty on 21 May. == Mythology ==

According to legend, the ancient poet Homer referred to Othonoi in the Odyssey as Ogygia, island of the nymph Calypso, who lived in a large cave there. Odysseus was enchanted by Calypso, and he remained there for seven years as her prisoner. Odysseus wished to leave the island, as he could no longer bear being separated from his wife, Penelope. During the day, he sat on a headland or at the sea-shore crying, while at night he was forced to sleep with Calypso in a cave against his will. Maps of geographers like Jean-Baptiste Bourguignon d'Anville, Philipp Clüver, Petrus Bertius, and Aaron Arrowsmith, refer to Ogygia as an island northwest of Corfu, Greece. Some evidence in favor of this legend appears in the same writings of Homer. He described a strong scent of cypress on Ogygia, and many cypress trees grow on Othonoi. Shortly after leaving the island on a raft, Odysseus is shipwrecked on the island of Scheria, known today as Corfu. This implies that the two mythical islands were separated by a relatively short distance, and indeed, the islands of Othonoi and Corfu are separated by a relatively short distance. According to Hesychius, after the Trojan War, Elephenor, king of Avantes, fled from Euboea to the island after the fall of Troy, to atone as he had killed his grandfather, Abas. == Economy ==

Most Othoniotes (local dialect: Thoniotes) have migrated to Corfu, Athens, and abroad (especially to the USA) because of the unemployment and few exploitable resources (1900–1960). The main work was olive and olive oil production. Most men of that time were involved in nautical professions (sailor, bosun, carpenter, captain, skipper, etc.) and worked on commercial and warships which were operating in every part of the earth. The main occupations of current residents are tourism, construction, fishing, and olive production. Previously, there has been significant cultivation of vines, beekeeping and livestock. ==Settlements==

Othonoi is divided into two regions which are Ano Panta () and Kato Panta (). There are more than 20 settlements. ==Main sights==

Churches • Holy Trinity church () (1892) at Ammos. • Virgin Mary church () near Stavros district. • Saint George church() (about 1864) at Chorio. • Agia Paraskevi church () (and the old stone mill) at Damaskatika. Other buildings • School of Othonoi () (1912) at Ammos. • Ruins of the Venetian fortress at the northeast end of Kastri cape hilltop at an altitude of 100 m. • Lighthouse of Othonoi () (built in 1872). Monuments • Cross monument at Stavros, for the massacre of the inhabitants of Othonoi by the Ottoman fleet under Hayreddin Barbarossa in 1537. • Monument to seafarers of Othonoi island, at Ammos. • Monument to submarine PROTEUS, at Ammos. Nature • Aspri Ammos beach () which is accessible only by boat to the west of the island. • Cave of Calypso (), near of Aspri ammos beach. • Mount Imerovigli () and the highest peak of the island with height of • Kamara () near Ammos. • Iliovasilema (sunset) at Chorio. Beaches Most beaches on the island are accessible by boat, including Ammos, Molos, Kamini, Kanoula, Kontoskes, Rogi, Fyki, Xilosermi, and Aspri Ammos. It is a well-known island for underwater photography because of the peculiar geomorphology of the seabed and the many caves. Other points of interest are the Moshopontikas, Xylosermi, Fyki bay (where there is the sunken wreck of Sarah ship). Othonoi was frequently visited by the French naturalist Jacques Cousteau and his exploratory vessel Calypso. Trails The traditional trail was created and used by the first inhabitants and was subsequently reopened by the municipality and private initiatives. Locals and visitors can use the trail to reach almost every neighborhood and part of the island on foot, as well as Mount Imerovigli (Merovigli), and the highest peak of the island, with a height of over , with views of the other Diapontia Islands, Ionian Sea and Adriatic Sea. Others • Port of Ammos () is the most populous district with small guesthouses, restaurants, rent-a-bike store, cafes, police station, a community clinic with ambulance and port authority. == Nature ==

Flora The island is almost completely covered by trees which produce a small species of olive, the "Elea the cherry" (Olea microcarpa), commonly Lianolia or ladoelia, with a high content of high-quality oil, which is common in all the Ionian Islands. It was densely planted during Venetian rule, so most are aged 300–400 years exceeding a height of . There are cypresses and fruit trees on almost all mountain slopes. The tall mulberry (or Skamnia) and fig (or Skeria) are found in nearly all districts and gardens that host many species of fruit and vegetables, and features large cabbage called by Othoniotes cramps, as in Cyprus. Most houses have, instead of tents or sheds, pergolas with vines or pergoulies. Oregano, sage and many other herbs. Fauna Othonoi is the first migratory bird station in southeastern Europe from Libya, especially for turtle doves. There are also grouse and snipe (xilokotes) during the winter months, and peregrine falcons, the European bee-eater birds, martins, ravens and several species of eagles. There are several hares and rabbits. The most common species of reptile is the viper (Vipera ammodytes or astritis). Marine mammals have been observed off the island's coast, including the bottlenose dolphin, at least three species of sharks (including white shark), while sporadically near the cave of Calypso there have been monk seals. Also found are almost all varieties of marine fauna, such as the white sea bream, red mullet, the snapper, the grouper, the bumpkin (weighing up to 30 pounds), octopus, moray, the stingray, lobster. Remarkable is the presence of barnacles and sea urchins. Zooplankton is in small coves of the island and especially in seaweed is abundant at night, and when the sea is calm, the plankton illuminates the sea bed. == Climate ==

The climate of Othonoi is mild and generally warm and temperate. The winters are rainier than the summers. The Köppen-Geiger climate classification is Csa. The average temperature in Othonoi is 16.7 °C. About 1026 mm of precipitation falls annually. == Dialect ==

A dialect is spoken resembling that of Corfu and having similar prosody. It is heavily influenced by Italian. == Transport ==

The island is accessible by boat with regular services from Corfu port and Agios Stefanos Avliotes. There is a port in Avlakia district (with fishing port), for several small private yachts and boats.The island has a heliport for emergencies. Asphalt roads are available on many parts of the island, about of which are extended to settlements. There is complete electrification and a telephone network with Internet access. ==In literature==

• Ionion akron. Greece in the narrow of Otranto () () • Folklore mission to Diapontia islands, by Dimitrios Loukatos, 2012 () () • Ereikoussa, the extra garden and the continental shelf of Diapontia islands by Greek journalist, Georgios Lekakis, 2014 () () • The Fiddler's daughter () by Dimitra Kapelouzou, 2004 () ==Gallery==

File:Κορυφή όρους Ημεροβίγγλι.jpg|Imerovigli, highest point of Othoni File:Othoni lighthouse.jpg|Othonoi's lighthouse File:Koukouli rock, Othoni island.jpg|Koukouli rock File:View from Graves (Iliovasilema), Chorio, Othoni island.jpg|Sunset, Chorio File:Ammos port, Othoni island.jpg|Ammos port File:Virgin Mary church in Dafni.jpg|Virgin Mary church, Ano Panta File:Aspri ammos beach, Othoni island, Greece.jpg|Aspri ammos beach File:Chorio square, Chorio, Othoni island.jpg|Ztrila square, Chorio File:Stone bridge, Othoni island.jpg|One of the old stone bridges of Othonoi File:View of Ammos district, Othoni island.jpg|Ammos district File:Άγιος Γεώργιος - Χωριό - Οθωνοί.jpg|Saint George, Chorio File:Path to the cost of Fiki.jpg|Trail sign ==References==