Corinth

An ancient city of Greece, located where the Peloponnese meets the isthmus that connects it to the Greek mainland. The city has an exceptionally high acropolis on Acronocorinth Hill and profited from having ports on both the Corinthian and Saronic Gulfs. The site was occupied from before 3000 BC, but its history is obscure until the early 8th century BC, when the city-state of Corinth began to develop as a commercial center. There is evidence of a Neolithic and an Early Bronze Age settlement at Corinth, both of considerable size. There is little evidence of Mycenaean settlement, however, and the next major settlement belonged to the Dark Age, c late 10th century BC. Corinth was a very important city throughout the Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods. Corinth's political influence was increased through territorial expansion in the vicinity, and by the late 8th century it had secured control of the isthmus. The Corinthians established colonies at Corcyra and Syracuse, later making them dominant in trade with the western Mediterranean. From c 720-570 BC, Corinthian painted vases in the black-figure technique (which the Corinthians invented) were exported all over the Greek world. Workshops dating to this period have been excavated in the potters' quarter at Corinth, producing both pottery and terracottas. Corinthian pottery provides the most useful dating method available to archaeologists studying this period. Northwest of the agora stand seven Doric columns, which are the remains of the Temple of Apollo (c 550 BC). Callimachus is said to have invented the Corinthian column capital here c 450-425 BC. Corinth was involved in most of Greece's political struggles and in 146 BC was destroyed by the Roman general Lucius Mummius. In 44 BC, Julius Caesar reestablished Corinth as a Roman colony. Many of the visible remains date from the classical Greek and especially the early Roman periods, including a Roman agora (marketplace), the Odeon, the Pirene fountain, the Glauke fountain, temples, villas, baths, pottery factory, gymnasium, basilica, theater, and an amphitheater. Parts of the classical fortifications on the acropolis survive. In the later medieval period it then passed from Frankish to Venetian and eventually to Turkish hands. Substantial buildings from all these periods have been found in excavations since 1896. Modern Corinth was founded in 1858, 3 miles north of the ancient town, after an earthquake leveled the latter.

Major ancient Greek city on the Isthmus of Corinth, excavated since 1896 by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. The city, with its exceptionally high acropolis on Acrocorinth Hill, profited from having ports on both the Corinthian and Saronic Gulfs and was an important trading city at most periods. Prehistoric settlement is well documented and there is evidence of a Neolithic and an Early Bronze Age settlement at Corinth, both apparently of considerable size. By contrast, there is rather little evidence of Mycenaean settlement and, although enough has been found to indicate some activity at this period, Corinth was clearly not a major Mycenaean site. The next major settlement belongs to the Dark Age, beginning perhaps in the late 10th century bc. Thereafter Corinth was a very important city throughout the Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic periods. During the period of Greek colonization Corinth founded colonies at Corcyra and Syracuse. From c720-570 bc Corinthian painted vases in the Black-figure technique (which the Corinthians invented, although it is best known in the Athenian or Attic version) were exported all over the Greek world. Workshops dating to this period have been excavated in the potters’ quarter at Corinth, producing both pottery and terracottas. Corinthian pottery provides the most useful dating method available to archaeologists studying this period. • In the 6th century BC a fine limestone Doric temple, which is still standing, was raised to Apollo; this replaced an earlier temple, built in the early 7th century. The Pirene fountain may also have been built in the 6th century.In the next century Callimachus is said to have invented the Corinthian column capital here c 450-425 BC. The city flourished until a Roman punitive destruction in 146 bc. In 44 BC it was re-founded as a Roman colony and flourished again. Many of the visible remains date from the classical Greek and especially the early Roman periods. These include Lechaion Street; the Roman market place (agora) with vaulted shops where St Paul doubtless spoke in ad 51-2; the Odeon and the refurbished Pirene fountain; the Glauke fountain; temples; baths; a basilica; a theatre and amphitheatre; houses with mosaics and (in the Museum) sculptures. Parts of the classical fortifications on the acropolis survive, re-used in the medieval period: the defences of this time are well-preserved. The American expedition’s work included valuable studies of the Byzantine and later periods at Various buildings, for example, betray a violent phase towards the end of the 6th century ad, while the hypothetical Metropolitan Church in the Julian Basilica decayed and disappeared. The buildings in the South Stoa area became ruinous while the Central Stairway in this monumental complex was pulled apart. There are clear signs of urban revival in the 10-12th centuries and among the structures from this period there were several churches, town houses and a pottery kiln. In 1082 the Venetians were allowed to use the port and from then on its buildings take on a grander air. In the later medieval period it then passed from Frankish to Venetian and eventually to Turkish hands. Substantial buildings from all these periods were found in these excavations.