PeloPonnese
COrINTHIA
PeloPonnese
SIGHTS
PeloPonnese
ANCIENT
C
OrINTH
& A
CrOCO
rINTH
The proastiako, Athens’ suburban rail service,
runs between Kiato, Corinth (city) train station
and Athens international airport (around €12, 1½
hours, around eight daily). A handy bus shuttles
between Corinth city’s Plateia Kentriki (€1.50,
20 minutes) and the train station.
A small local train runs between Pyrgos and
Olympia (for Ancient Olympia) and a rack-and-
pinion railway connects Diakofto with Kalavryta.CORINTHIA ΚΟΡΙΝΘIΑ
Corinthia has had a rich and tumultuous
history, owing largely to its strategic position
adjoining the Corinth Isthmus. Throughout
time several empires have wrestled here
for dominance over the Peloponnese: the
Romans constructed a vast wall across the
isthmus; many centuries later the Turks
overran it; and pretty much everyone else
has attempted to carve a canal across it.
Once dominated by the mighty ancient
city of Corinth, Corinthia is now the keeper
of its remains.
In the pretty hinterland west of Corinth
you can take part in the resurrected Nemean
Games, or travel the Nemea region’s wine
route in search of Greece’s best vintages.Ancient Corinth
& Acrocorinth
Αρχαία Κόρινθος &
Ακροκόρινθος
Ancient Corinth was an affluent and pow-
erful city during its first golden age. Earth-
quakes and centuries of pillage, however,
have left only the remnants of once-grand
buildings, 7km southwest of the modern city,
surrounded by the village of Ancient Corinth
and overlooked by the Acrocorinth fortress.History
During the 6th century BC Corinth was one
of Ancient Greece’s richest cities, thanks to
its strategic position on the Corinth Isth-
mus. Its twin ports, one on the Aegean Sea
(Kenchreai, near Kechries) and one on the
Ionian side (Lecheon), enabled it to trade
throughout the Mediterranean. It survived
the Peloponnesian Wars and flourished un-
der Macedonian rule, but it was sacked by
the Roman consul Mummius in 146 BC for
rebelling against Roman rule. In 44 BC Ju-
lius Caesar began rebuilding the city and it
again became a prosperous port.1 Sights
oAncient Corinth ArCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
(%27410 31207; admission €6; h8.30am-8pm)
In the centre of a modern village loom the
extensive yet compact ruins of this ancient
(mostly Roman) city. Home to the legendary
Jason of the Argonauts, stealer of the Golden
Fleece, the streets of Ancient Corinth were
once trodden by the likes of Roman travel-
ler Pausanias and St Paul, who taught the
gospel of Christ in vain here. You can follow
in their footsteps by visiting the Temple of
Apollo, the Peribolos of Apollo, the ancient
theatre and other site highlights. The on-site
museum puts everything into context.
An exception to the Roman ruins is the
prominent 5th-century-BC Doric Temple of
Apollo. To the south of this temple is a huge
agora (market) bounded on its southern
side by the foundations of a stoa (long col-
onnaded building). This was built to accom-
modate the bigwigs summoned here in 337
BC by Philip II to sign oaths of allegiance to
Macedon. In the middle of the central row
of shops is a bema, a marble podium from
which Roman officials addressed the people.
At the eastern end of the agora are the
remains of the Julian basilica. To the north
is the Lower Peirene fountain – the Upper
Peirene fountain is on Acrocorinth. Accord-
ing to mythology, Peirene wept so much
when her son Kenchrias was killed by Ar-
temis that the gods, rather than let all the
precious water go to waste, turned her into
a fountain.
West of the fountain, steps lead to the
Lecheon road, once the main thoroughfare
to the port of Lecheon. On the east side of
the road is the Peribolos of Apollo, a court-
yard flanked by Ionic columns, some of
which have been restored. Nearby is a public
latrine, where some seats remain.
South of the museum are the columns of
Temple E (Pausanias describes it as being
dedicated to Octavia, sister of Augustus).
The site’s excellent museum has three
main rooms: the first two exhibit fine Greek
and Roman statues, mosaics, figurines, reliefs
and friezes. The third room houses the finds
of excavations at the nearby Sanctuary of
Asklepios (500 BC). Highlights include grave
markers, votive genitalia from the 4th centu-
ry BC and an ancient ‘keep off the grass’ sign.
Opposite the site entrance is the ancient
theatre, built in the 5th century BC for up
to 15,000 spectators, and the Roman odeion
(indoor theatre), from the 1st century AD.