The Founding of Epidamnus and Its Early Prosperity
Nestled at the mouth of the Ionian Gulf, the city of Epidamnus stood as a testament to Greek colonial ambition. Founded by Phalius, son of Eratocleides—a Corinthian descendant of Heracles—the settlement followed the ancient tradition of inviting its founder from the mother city, Corinth. Colonists included not only Corinthians but also other Dorians, blending cultures and strengths.
Under this foundation, Epidamnus flourished. Its strategic coastal location facilitated trade, while its growing population bolstered its regional influence. For years, the city thrived, a beacon of Corinthian expansion. Yet, as with many prosperous cities, internal strife and external pressures would soon unravel its stability.
Internal Strife and the Descent into Conflict
Epidamnus’s decline began with internal discord, exacerbated by clashes with neighboring Taulantians, an Illyrian tribe. These conflicts drained the city’s resources and military strength. The final blow came when the city’s democrats expelled the aristocracy, prompting the exiled nobles to ally with the Taulantians. Together, they launched relentless raids on Epidamnus by land and sea.
Desperate, the Epidamnians turned to their mother city, Corcyra (modern Corfu), pleading for intervention. Yet Corcyra, perhaps wary of entanglement or resentful of past grievances, refused. With no aid forthcoming, Epidamnus sought divine guidance at Delphi. The oracle’s response was clear: surrender the city to Corinth, its original founder.
The Corinth-Corcyra Rivalry Ignites
Corinth, eager to reassert control over its wayward colony, saw an opportunity. It resented Corcyra’s longstanding defiance—unlike other colonies, Corcyra denied Corinth the traditional honors at religious festivals, flaunting its wealth and naval power (boasting 120 triremes by the outbreak of war). Corinth’s decision to aid Epidamnus was thus both strategic and vengeful.
Corcyra, enraged by Corinth’s interference, demanded Epidamnus reinstate the exiles and expel Corinthian forces. When Epidamnus refused, Corcyra besieged the city with 40 ships and Illyrian allies, blockading the isthmus where the city stood. Corinth, undeterred, mobilized a coalition of allies—including Megara, Leucas, and Ambracia—to challenge Corcyra’s aggression.
The Battle of Sybota: A Prelude to Greater War
The conflict reached its climax at the Battle of Sybota (433 BCE), one of the largest Greek naval engagements to date. Corinth, with 150 ships, faced Corcyra’s fleet reinforced by 10 Athenian vessels. The fighting was brutal, with tactics resembling land combat as marines clashed on decks. Though Corcyra claimed victory, Corinth’s resilience forced a stalemate.
Athens’ intervention marked a turning point. Initially neutral, Athens eventually sided with Corcyra, fearing Corinth’s growing influence. This alignment violated the Thirty Years’ Peace with Sparta, setting the stage for the Peloponnesian War.
The Aftermath and Strategic Fallout
The conflict left Epidamnus broken, its autonomy erased. Corinth, though thwarted, escalated its preparations for war. Meanwhile, Athens’ alliance with Corcyra emboldened its maritime dominance but deepened Spartan suspicions. The ripple effects extended to Potidaea, another Corinthian colony under Athenian sway, where rebellion—supported by Corinth—further strained relations.
Legacy: A Spark for the Peloponnesian War
The Epidamnus crisis exposed the fragility of Greek diplomacy. Corinth’s resentment, Corcyra’s defiance, and Athens’ calculated intervention revealed how local disputes could ignite wider wars. Thucydides later identified this conflict as a key catalyst for the Peloponnesian War, illustrating how imperial ambitions and colonial rivalries could destabilize an entire region.
Today, Epidamnus (later Dyrrachium, modern Durrës) serves as a reminder of how ancient power struggles shaped history. Its rise and fall underscore the interconnectedness of Greek city-states—and the perilous balance between autonomy and empire.