Cape Zonchio

Cape Zonchio is the name given by the Venetian cartographers to the cape north of Pylos (Navarino) (called Zonklon or Zonchio in Venetian) on the western coast of Messenia on the Ionian Sea, in present-day Greece. It was called Coryphasium (Ancient Greek: Κορυφάσιον).[1]

Geography
Map showing Coryphasium

The headland that is Cape Zonchio, is just north of the island of Sphacteria (Sfaktiria in modern Greek), to the northwest of Navarino Bay (Ormos Navarinou in modern Greek). On the eastern side of Coryphasium is the Lagoon of Osman Aga (Limín Dhivári).[2] To the south is Sikia Channel, 220 feet wide and only 18 inches deep,[2] separating Cape Zonchio from Sphacteria. To the west is the Ionian Sea, and to the north it is connected to the mainland by a sand spit on the eastern side of Voidokoilia Bay.[2]

History

The Venetians had a fortress (castle) on the headland built upon an ancient Greek fortress, it is known as Palaiokastron.[2] The naval Battle of Zonchio took place off of Cape Zonchio from 12 to 25 August 1499.[3]

Notes
  1. Lemprière, John and Anton, Charles (1827) "Coryphasium" A Classical Dictionary: containing a copious account of all the proper names mentioned in ancient authors; with the value of coins, weights and measures, used among the Greeks and Romans; and a chronological table (6th American edition) E. Duychinck, Collin & Co., New York, page 211, OCLC 3129698
  2. Frazer, James George (1898) "36.I. Cape Coryphasium – Pylus" "Commentary on Book IV. Messenia" Pausanias's Description of Greece: Commentary on books II-V: Corinth, Laconia, Messenia, Elis (translated with a commentary by James George Frazer) Macmillan, New York, pages 456–457, OCLC 22092557
  3. Norwich, John J. (2003) A History of Venice Penguin, London, pages 383–385, ISBN 978-0-14-101383-1, reprint of the 1977, 2 volume, edition, entitled Venice: the rise to empire and Venice: the greatness and the fall

36°57′29″N 21°39′26″E


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