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Corinth
Corinth (Greek Κόρινθος): important Greek city-state, situated on the isthmus between the Peloponnese and the mainland.
Geography
View on the Corinthian Isthmus from the Acrocorinth
If ever a city was built on the proverbal "crossroads", it must be Corinth, which is built on the isthmus between the Peloponnese and the mainland and commands the road from north to south at the place where it intersects with the Gulf of Corinth and the Saronic Gulf
Acrocorinth with source (Upper Peirene)
Two ports (Lechaeum and Cenchreae)
Diolkos; sanctuary of Isthmia; possibility to build a wall across the isthmus
Corinth, Mycenaean kylix
Corinth, Protocorinthian vase
Corinth, Orientalizing jar
Corinth, Plate with Demeter
Archaic Age
Acrocorinth
Apparently not an important place in Mycenaean times. There were some people living over there, but it was not a major town, comparable to Mycene or Thebes
Lechaeum was more occupied
Early eighth century, Dorian Greeks settled near the Lower Peirene source between the Acrocorinth and Lechaeum; this is the real funding of Corinth
Relief of a hoplite
Although Herodotus ignores this, Corinth played an important role in the Persian Wars; the Greek HQs were at Isthmia; the Greek victory monument in Delphi mentions that the city had contributed 5,000 hoplites (compared to Sparta's 10,000 and Athens' 8,000)
After the Athenian annexation of Megara, Corinth and Athens share a border; the good relations are over
432BCE: Corinth is one of the cities that forces Sparta to launch the Archidamian War and Decelean War against Athens (431-421, 413-404)
When Sparta became too powerful, Corinth joined the anti-Spartan coalition of Athens, Argos, and Thebes in the Corinthian War (395-387)
Corinth, Acrocorinth, Hellenistic statuette of Aphrodite
Corinth, Lower Peirene
Corinth, Lechaeum Road
Corinth, Archaizing relief of Kore
Hellenistic Age
Inscription, recording a Roman transport fleet passing the Isthmus in 102 BCE.
After the death of Alexander, the city is occupied by various rulers: in 308, Ptolemy I Soter; in 304 Demetrius I Poliorcetes
There is an Antigonid (i.e., Macedonian) garrison on the Acrocorinth; the garrisons at Corinth, in Peiraeus (the port of Athens), and in Chalcis are called "the fetters of Greece"
243 BCE: In a surprise attach, Aratus of Sicyon captures the fortress and convinced Corinth to join the Achaean League
224 BCE: The Macedonians recover Corinth
197 BCE: After the Macedonians have been defeated by Rome, Corinth becomes the capital of the Achaean League
146 BCE: The Romans sack Corinth, which, although not completely deserted, is essentially abandoned
Roman Corinth
Julius Caesar
46 BCE: Refounded by Julius Caesar as a colonia; because he is assassinated, the real founder is Octavian (Colonia Laus Iulia Corinthiensis)
Capital of Achaea
What you can see today, is the Roman city; only the Temple of Apollo dates back to the pre-Roman age
Mixed population of Greeks and Roman veterans (many inscriptions mentioning discharged legionaries); there is a substantial Jewish minority
c.51 CE: The apostle Paul visits Corinth; at that time, Seneca's brother Gallio was governor of Achaea
Monument, commemorating the battle of Actium, from Corinth
Temple of Apollo; Acrocorinth in the background
67 CE: The emperor Nero visits Greece and attempts to dig a canal through the isthmus, but the ambitious plan is eventually abandoned
Proud city with a beautiful agora, a theater, an odeon, an amphitheater, several sanctuaries (including a temple for the imperial cult), administrative buildings
Two ports Cenchreae and Lechaeum still very important
Corinth, Temple E
Octavia as Tyche
Galba
Corinth, Menorahs
Corinth, South Stoa, Statue of Pan
Corinth, Bust of Herodes Atticus
Corinth, Dedication to Trajan (EDCS-32001628)
Corinth, South Stoa
Late Antiquity
365 and 375 CE: Earthquakes
396 CE: Looted by Alaric
During the reign of Justinian (r.527-565), the Hexamilion Wall was built across the isthmus
In the early seventh century, the city is abandoned; people settle on the Acrocorinth