Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
place in revenge for resisting its rule a few decades earlier). Earthquakes and centuries of
pillage left little standing of Ancient Corinth, except remnants of once-grand buildings,
located 7km southwest of the modern city. Thanks to paths, on-site descriptions and a
lovely site museum (which is divided into Classical and Roman periods), this wondrous
ancient city is not to be missed.
Surrounding the site is the village of Ancient Corinth. Towering 575m above is the
Acrocorinth, a massive and physically imposing limestone outcrop. It commands dramat-
ic views across the surrounding valleys and hills and is well worth perusing if you have
time. Stout shoes are a sensible precaution on the uneven ground.
History
During the 6th century BC Corinth was one of Ancient Greece's richest cities, thanks to
its strategic position on the Corinth Isthmus. Its twin ports, one on the Aegean Sea (Ken-
chreai, near Kechries) and one on the Ionian side (Lecheon), enabled it to trade
throughout the Mediterranean. It survived the Peloponnesian Wars and flourished under
Macedonian rule, but it was sacked by the Roman consul Mummius in 146 BC for re-
belling against Roman rule. In 44 BC Julius Caesar began rebuilding the city and it again
became a prosperous port.
During Roman times, when Corinthians weren't clinching business deals, they were
paying homage to the goddess of love, Aphrodite, in a temple dedicated to her (which
meant partying with the temple's sacred prostitutes, both male and female). St Paul, per-
turbed by the Corinthians' wicked ways, spent 18 mostly fruitless months preaching
here.
Sights
Ancient Corinth
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
( 27410 31207; site & museum €6; 8.30am-3pm)
The ruins lie right in the centre of the
modern village. Thanks to the area's compact size (although excavations are ongoing),
and the excellent signs in English, complete with diagrams, a visit here is enjoyable and
rewarding.
The remains are mostly from Roman times. An exception is the prominent 5th-
century-BC Doric
Temple of Apollo
. To the south of this temple is a huge
agora
(forum)
bounded on its southern side by the foundations of a
stoa
(long colonnaded building).
This was built to accommodate the bigwigs summoned here in 337 BC by Philip II to
