Corinth (ancient)

Corinth (ancient), city of ancient Greece, on the Isthmus of Corinth, south-west of the modern city of Corinth which was founded in 1858. Discoveries of pottery at Corinth indicate the existence of a settlement from before 2000 bc. The city flourished under the Dorians, who conquered it before 1000 bc. With its principal harbour of Lechaeum on the Corinthian Gulf, and the smaller harbour of Cenchrae on the Saronic Gulf, it was well placed for trading and by about 650 bc was the main commercial centre of Greece. Among the many colonies founded by Corinth were Corcyra (now Corfu) and Syracuse in the 8th century, and Potidaea in the 7th century. Corinth's citadel, or acropolis, known as Acrocorinthus, lay about 10 km (6 mi) to the south of the city and gave it considerable strategic value.

With the rise of Athens as a rival commercial and naval power, Corinth joined Sparta against Athens in the Peloponnesian War (431-404 bc). After the fall of Athens, the Corinthians formed an alliance with that city and fought against Sparta in the Corinthian War (395-386 bc). In 338 bc, Corinth was occupied by the Macedonians under Philip II. The city joined the Achaean League in 224 bc, soon becoming the leading member. In 146 bc, following absorption of the league by the Romans, the Roman army destroyed Corinth. Julius Caesar rebuilt the city about 44 bc. It soon flourished and became the capital of the Roman province of Achaea. Corinth was ravaged by the Goths in ad 395. An earthquake desroyed the city in 521. In the following centuries, it was successively captured by the Ottoman Turks (1458), the Venetians (1687), and again by the Turks (1715), who held it until Greek insurgents recaptured it in 1822. In 1858 the city was again destroyed by an earthquake.

Since 1896, the site of ancient Corinth has been extensively excavated. Apart from the Greek temple of Apollo (c. 550 bc), the most substantial remains are Roman and include the agora, temples, public baths, a gymnasium, a triumphal arch, pottery factories, shops, and houses. Churches from the Byzantine period have also been found.