Ancient Corinth (Αρχαία Κόρινθος)

Ancient Corinth was an important city-state of the ancient Peloponnese and one of the richest cities of the ancient world. It controlled the Isthmian isthmus connecting the Hellas mainland with the Peloponnese peninsula and was a major trading hub of the ancient world.

Ancient Corinth has been inhabited since the Neolithic era (5000-3000 BC).

Periander (Περίανδρος)
In the middle of the 7th century. BC, tyranny was established in Ancient Corinth, which lasted 70 years. The first tyrant of Corinth was Cypselus (Κύψελο), after thirty years of rule, power passed to his son Periander, he was recognized as one of the seven sages of the archaic period.

During the reign of Periander, ancient Corinth rose economically and culturally. The tyrant not only had a sharp mind, he was a great connoisseur of art. At this time, famous artists and poets came to Corinth, a new architectural order was created, called Corinthian with the most complex and magnificent design of the capital, the cult of Deonysus acquired state status.

Periander carried out land reforms, founded several colonies, and Corinthian coins appeared for the first time. At this time, the breakthrough of the Corinth Canal begins, but unsuccessfully, due to an engineering decision made to flood large areas with water. Soon a portage was invented across the Isthmus of Corinth - ships were transported on carts on rails across the canal. This helped ancient Corinth to become even richer and Periander abolished taxes in Corinth itself.

At the same time, Periander had the reputation of a very cruel person. In anger, he killed his wife and expelled his son from the house, who did not forgive him for killing his mother. He brutally suppressed the uprising in Kerkyra and installed his second son as ruler. Only after the death of Periander did the island of Corfu regain its independence. The tyrant died at the age of 80, during his reign, he was guarded by 200 bodyguards.

Ancient Corinth was famous in the ancient world for its temple of prostitutes, it was located in the Temple of Aphrodite. 1000 heterae served wealthy merchants, influential government officials and travelers for big money. Corinth was sometimes called the city of commercial love.

During the Persian Wars, Ancient Corinth was one of the leading forces of the Greek coalition against the Persians: Corinthian warriors actively participated in the Battle of Plataea and the Battle of Salamis with 40 ships.

In subsequent years, Corinth begins to compete with Athens, and relations between the two major policies begin to worsen. Corinth forms an alliance with Sparta and other policies of ancient Greece that are at war with Athens.
After the end of the Peloponnesian War (ended with the victory of Sparta), a civil war broke out in Corinth among financial oligarchs and democrats. In addition, the cruel, straightforward and unceremonious policy of Sparta was largely disliked not only by defeated Athens, but also increasingly by Sparta’s allies - Thebes and Corinth.

Corinth enters into an alliance with Athens, the new alliance starts a war with Sparta known as the Corinthian War, which ends in 386 BC. The world of Antalcides.
In 365 BC The commander Timoleon (Τιμολέων) came to power in Coninth, who organized several successive campaigns to Sicily, Syracuse (a colony of Corinth), at the request of the residents, to help them free themselves from the tyrant Dionysius II. In Corinth itself, Timoleon helped the Corinthians overthrow their tyrant brother.
In 336 BC, Alexander the Great created an alliance of Greek cities against the Persians in Corinth. For many years, Corinth led the Achaean League.

In 146 BC The Achaean League made the last effort in the battle of the Hellenes with the Roman commander Mummius (Μόμμιο), whose troops were marching to capture the Peloponnese. The Greeks were defeated on the Isthmian Isthmus, followed by a major destruction of Corinth, a large amount of property was plundered, and the inhabitants of Corinth were sold into slavery.

100 years later, Roman dictator Julius Caesar, realizing the geographical and strategic importance of Corinth in the eastern Mediterranean, established a Roman colony here. Caesar's careless death in the same year did not cancel this long-term plan; his decisions were implemented first by Octavian, then by Augustus.

From the year 27, Corinth became the capital of the Roman province of Achaia and had another name - Colonia Laus Iulia Corinthiensis.

Over time, the population of Corinth increased significantly, as trade, agriculture, and cattle breeding were resumed. Many goods were exported: olive oil, wool, honey, dyed woolen fabrics, metal objects and wooden beams. Imports of goods appeared from other areas of the Roman Empire: building materials such as granite, marble, they were used for new luxurious buildings and structures, as well as wine.
By the middle of the 1st century, Corinth became one of the important cities of the Roman Empire, at which time the Apostle Paul visited it, preaching a new religion for the Hellenes.
Despite the disasters that Corinth suffered in 267, first by the Heruls and in 375 by the Goths, the city remained strong. But two strong earthquakes (375 and 551) destroyed Corinth.

In 1204 the city was captured by the Franks, after the fall of Constantinople (captured by the Turks), the city went through a period of Venetian rule, which was replaced again by Turkish occupation. Liberation and reunification with the Greek state took place in 1830.

Modern Corinth

Modern Corinth is a continuation of ancient Corinth. The population of the city is 31 thousand people (2011 census).

It has been in its present location since 1858, after an earthquake that destroyed the old city, located 8 km to the southwest, at the foot of Mount Acrocorinth (Ακροκόρινθος). Corinth is located on the Athens-Patras road and has an excellent layout and good roads, many of which lead to the sea.
The patron saint of the city is St. Paul the Apostle. The cathedral in his honor rises in the city center.

Sights of Corinth: ruins of the Temple of Apollo, Acrocorinth (acropolis with the ruins of the ancient temple of Aphrodite), Corinth Canal, Archaeological Museum of Corinth.

The city's climate is Mediterranean, with mild winters and warm and dry summers. Winters are mild and summers are dry and warm. The average annual temperature is 18°C ​​and precipitation is limited.

An independent trip to the Peloponnese allowed me to get from Athens to Corinth, see the beaches and sights of Corinth, learn about cruises on the Corinth Canal, find out where to eat in Corinth; if you want to know more, read the story about a trip to ancient cities

When you read books on the history of Ancient Greece, the campaigns of hoplites seem to be a non-trivial matter: the Athenians took up arms and went to war against Corinth. They suffered severe trials along the way, many fell behind, others even fell ill... When you read about the campaign, you empathize with the soldiers, but when you yourself decided to get from Athens to Corinth, you begin to be amazed: both cities are separated by about eighty kilometers, it’s a long journey there the bus takes about an hour, so why did the ancient Greeks walk for so long?.. And what didn’t they divide among themselves?!

Of course, this is how modern people reason, accustomed to travel and flights, when you jump from one continent to another in a few hours. In ancient times, people felt the world differently, and minor squabbles, which may seem like wars between the policies of Hellas, were actually considered events on a global scale. Now Corinth seems like a peaceful, quiet backwater, but at one time it took a very active part in the Greek wars.

Corinth, located in a strategically important place at the junction of Attica and the Peloponnese, conducted successful trade for many centuries and periodically became the richest and most prosperous of the Greek city-states. Corinthian merchants scurried all over the Mediterranean, they even founded the prosperous colony of Naucratis in Egypt. Alas, the geographical location provided the city not only with prosperity, but also with problems - every time Sparta and Athens, two important centers of gravity in the Greek world, sorted things out, Corinth found itself at a crossroads. The Athenians did not need an independent competing port nearby, and the stern Spartans disapproved of the prosperity of their neighbors, who, in particular, had built a temple with prostitutes. Sometimes the Corinthians blocked with one side, sometimes they supported the other, and systematically received blows. The story of the Corinthian War could easily be considered a detective story with unexpected plot twists. The strife ended with the arrival of Philip of Macedon, who subjugated all of Greece.

When the power of the Macedonians weakened and the wars of the Diadochi began, dividing the power of Alexander the Great, the Greeks perked up, dreaming of their former independence. The Corinthians paid for these dreams especially cruelly after the arrival of the Romans, who defeated the Achaean League and completely destroyed the city - the male population was slaughtered, everyone else was sold into slavery.

Although Corinth began to slowly recover, it was never able to achieve its former greatness, and after several terrifying earthquakes, the local residents believed that the gods had ceased to favor them. People finally left the place where the rich city stood in 1858, when a new Corinth was founded, arranged in a modern way. That's where I headed after a holiday at the resort of Loutraki.

Anyone who expects to get to Corinth from Athens should remember that intercity buses do not enter the city directly, and regardless of whether they are in transit or have a final stop in Corinth, they still drop off passengers at the bus station from which the center is still about 7 kilometers away. Well, every cloud has a silver lining, and landing in such a remote place allows you to get acquainted with the Corinth Canal, located nearby.

The construction of such an artery connecting the Ionian and Aegean seas has been a dream of many people since ancient times. Plans to dig a canal across the Isthmus of Corinth were hatched, in particular, by Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar, not to mention figures of lesser rank. The strip of land separating the two seas is no wider than six kilometers, but if you walk along the water around the Peloponnesian Peninsula, you will have to cover about four hundred kilometers. Attempts to dig a canal were made more than once, and success came to the builders only in the last quarter of the 19th century. When looking at the canal from one of the bridges suspended above it, the reason for the failures becomes clear: the gigantic amount of work required going deep by 76 meters, and with a canal width of 20 meters, this meant 12 million cubic meters of shoveled rock, and hard rock at that. Only when modern technology for that century was put into use did man triumph over nature.

Cruises along the Corinth Canal are quite popular, although, to be honest, there’s simply nothing to see during the trip, two stone walls overhead and that’s it. There is another popular entertainment in the canal area, bungee jumping, or simply put, bungee jumping. Those who want to experience an adrenaline rush can jump upside down and try to touch the water seventy meters below the starting point. The company that organizes extreme jumps is called “Zulu Bungy”; it has its own website on the Internet, so it’s easy to find out how much it costs to jump into the Corinth Canal these days, and when it can be done. It seems that prices have recently reached 60 euros... I note that the attraction is closed from November to February and is closed on Monday and Tuesday, and sometimes on Wednesdays too. The Greeks don’t like to bother themselves, so why not...

Returning to the Corinth bus station, it is worth noting that this building is not at all adapted for the needs of passengers, most of it is occupied by a cafe, and all other visitors must huddle outside, because the remaining space is only enough for the ticket office and a few people standing in line. Personally, I preferred to wait for the flight to Argos next to the bus station, finding a little place on the side where the sunlight fell.

For those wishing to follow my example, I will point out that there are no signs indicating the arrival of a particular flight, so you need to constantly monitor the situation. Lateness is more the rule than the exception, and if you want, say, to get from Corinth to Athens or somewhere else on time, it is better to guard the buses at the entrance to the station, it will be more reliable.

There is some entertainment for those waiting on the side of the road to Corinth opposite from the station - there are shopping arcades where you can inexpensively buy souvenirs from Greece. In any case, I got hold of some beautiful postcards with views of the canal in a store with the simple name “Canal souvenirs”. I also remember a large collection of photo albums about Hellas and various guides to Greece, including in Russian.

As I already said, the Corinth bus station and Corinth itself are separated by a decent distance, which is best covered by a local bus; the fare cost 1.60 euros, now prices have probably gone up. You can get around the city directly on foot, but if you are interested in how to get to the ancient part of Corinth, then you need a bus with a sign “Arxaia”. It’s possible to catch him right on the street, but it would still be safer to first come to the commuter bus station and change trains there. The required terminal is located on Dimokratias street, it is next to the yacht port, the railway line can be a landmark. By the way, it has long been abandoned and overgrown with weeds, as well as the railway station. The bus terminal is also not very new, at least there are no weeds inside...

Another good thing about the bus station is that there is a schedule of commuter buses posted next to it, including those that can take you to the archaeological zone of Corinth. That’s why I recommend getting here, not limiting yourself to waiting in the central square of the city: all local buses stop there, of course, and there is an automatic kiosk selling tickets, but it’s still safer to board at the roundabout, and you can get advice at the ticket office. Yes, the driver accepts payment for the fare if necessary, but it seemed to me that the Greeks are not too willing to take their eyes off the wheel for the sake of selling tickets, so they like wealthy passengers much more.

An interesting way to see the most important sights of Corinth, including the excavation area, is to rent bicycles. As far as I understand, the rental system was introduced relatively recently; at that time it had not yet been properly debugged. It was possible to rent bicycles only in the main square of Corinth; I didn’t see any other stations during my walks. I’m not sure that the initiative of the local authorities has a future, at least in this form: to get a two-wheeled horse for a day cost 7 euros, this price is quite high for Greece. Again, there’s no point in driving around the city, the ends are small everywhere. Of course, you can get to the Corinth Canal by bike, as well as to the ruins of old Corinth, but traveling by bus in both cases will be cheaper, and pedaling in the heat is even more fun. So the future of the rental system seems vague to me...

I began my exploration of the area from the main square, called Plateia Kentriki. This place is pleasant, well-kept, although crowded. In fact, here we have the front facade of the city; on the square there is the local mayor's office and other administrative buildings, solid, decorated with marble and columns. To the side stands a monument to Archbishop Damascus, a famous figure in Greek history. The center of the space is occupied by a small square, where townspeople like to relax, and where tables of several cafes are located. The square looks especially picturesque in the evening, when the lights turn on and the area is transformed...

The sights of Corinth are not of great value, at least if you put them on a par with the local Archaeological Museum, located in the excavation zone. So if you want cultural treasures, you should go outside the cities, and the Folk Museum of Corinth aims to introduce the guest of Greece to its ethnography. Within its walls are collected hundreds of folk costumes, accessories and decorations, all kinds of household goods. Considering that the collection of clothes was collected throughout Hellas, you should definitely check out the museum, because entrance will cost only 2 euros, and you can take pictures inside for free.

The museum is located at the junction of the popular shopping street Ermou and the city embankment, so you still have to go to those parts. The sea coast of Corinth looks very good for the most part, especially in the Agiou Nikolaou area. There, the embankment is properly equipped, there are flower beds, benches, a good view of the Gulf of Corinth opens from the water's edge, and the masts of yachts from the nearby marina add picturesqueness to the landscape.

Entrepreneurs of Corinth, which is closely connected with the sea, could not ignore such a profitable source of income as boat excursions. From the city's piers, boats leave for cruises along the Corinth Canal; there are also one- and two-hour trips along the Ionian Sea. Periodically, long voyages are also organized along the coast of the Peloponnese, arriving at the famous Epidaurus with its world-famous theater. In a word, stock up on money and find out details about cruises from Corinth on the city embankment.

If the Corinthian sea facade looks prettier than the Loutrak one, then the beaches of Corinth are completely inferior to their neighbors. It is good that in these parts there is sand in places, and not entirely pebbles, as in Loutraki, but the resort strip is cleaned, while the beach of Corinth is thoroughly littered. What both cities have in common is that umbrellas and sun loungers are paid, although Loutraki provides a much larger selection of options. Personally, I had a good time on the city embankment, sitting on a bench in the breeze from the sea and enjoying the winter sun, but the beaches of Corinth did not leave me with a pleasant impression...

What else can I say about the beautiful places and attractions of Corinth... You can visit Apostolou Pavlou Street, where there is an interesting object for tourists, St. Paul's Cathedral. It looks very good, despite the fact that it was built only in 1928, that is, by local standards, it is clearly a remake. The impressive looking temple looks good, possessing a certain set of Byzantine style features. It’s also good to walk around the town, looking at the houses of local residents and marveling at the oranges freely hanging from the tree branches; For me, orange trees laden with fruits are in the middle of winter! – became the most vivid memory from my visit to Greece...

To complete the picture, we should touch lightly on the topic of where to eat in Corinth. I personally didn’t like the local catering establishments; even the fish restaurants on the embankment looked somehow undignified. So I limited myself to small snacks. At the beginning of the walk, I went to a small cafe “Freddo”, which is located in the same place as the bus station, from where buses go to old Corinth, and tried a cappuccino for 1.30 euros. Then I came across the Fournos bakery, selling delicious pastries - I stood at the bus stop waiting for the bus and kept sniffing the smell of cinnamon from the open doors. In the end, I couldn’t resist, I took a couple of buns and a fresh baguette, which I devoured even before arriving at the Corinth bus station, it was so delicious...

I also remember the establishment "Domino's Pizza" on Georgiou Papandreou street. It is clear that in Greece, famous for its cuisine, eating pizza is not at all comme il faut, but here is a special case - you can eat quite inexpensively. In Corinth, this option is rare, and if you pay 13 euros , you get a huge plate that can easily feed three or four people. Although the ambience of Domino's Pizza looks like a fast food joint, it's quite possible to drop in there for a cheap lunch.

During my impromptu tour of Corinth, I, as usual, did not forget to evaluate the local shops. I would like to say that Corinthian shopping is perhaps superior to Loutraki; here, for example, souvenirs are much cheaper. Thus, magnets with views of Peloponnese attractions cost only 1 euro, and cute wallets trimmed with beads were sold for 3 euros. To find such prices for Greek souvenirs, you need to comb Kolokotroni street and the street Ermou, which is parallel to it. I noticed several useful shops at once, and between them, on a section of Adeimantou Street, there was a generally excellent place called “Beso” - there they asked for only 3 euros for rubber slippers for the beach, summer sandals were sold for five, and women’s sandals were also inexpensive.

By the way, on the same Adeimantou there is the only supermarket I discovered - I don’t know where the residents of Corinth buy food. Therefore, as a last resort, keep in mind house 38 with the Kritikos office, even if its prices are below criticism: a liter of juice for 2 euros should be considered a robbery, if there were alternatives... Wine, and even that costs not much more...

I found New Corinth to be a good town, quite picturesque, although I expected a greater variety of landscapes. However, the picture repeated itself a little later that same day, when I

Greece is an amazing country. It combines beautiful nature with amazing sights. When going on vacation, tourists strive to visit as many interesting historical monuments and picturesque ruins as possible. According to travelers, Athens is best suited for this. In a small area, within walking distance, there are several fascinating museums and ruins. However, this opinion is controversial. It is better to start getting acquainted with the ancient civilization with a trip to the city of Corinth. It is this site that scientists consider to be the place of the first human settlement on Greek soil.

Legends about the founding of Ancient Corinth

The process of studying historical facts related to Corinth is very difficult. The reason for this is the lack of historical documents and manuscripts of that time. Scientists obtain basic data from archaeological excavations that began a little over a century ago. Historians and archaeologists have to build hypotheses to explain the purpose of individual buildings or to reconstruct an ancient building from the ruins. However, it is reliably known that the first inhabitants settled here more than 6,000 years before the beginning of our era.

The meaning of the name is also difficult to understand. There are several myths that explain it. The most popular opinion is that the founder of the city was King Corinth, after whom the place was named. Another legend says that the city of Corinth (Greece) was the birthplace of Jason. One day he abandoned Medea, for which she burned the ancient city. The famous Sisyphus was involved in its reconstruction according to the same legend.

Ancient coins found during excavations

It was possible to establish that this was not the only case when Corinth burned in fire or suffered from other elements. The many raids and wars that took place on this tasty piece of land erased the earliest evidence of the founders.

History of Corinth

Corinth was located at the intersection of several sea routes. There were two ports in the city where merchant ships arrived. The townspeople conducted brisk trade with foreigners, which means the city prospered along with its inhabitants. Along with other major cities of Ancient Greece, Corinth was distinguished by great power. According to some sources, it was even more important than Athens.

In ancient times, Sparta was the homeland of warlike tribes, Athens was a gathering place for philosophers and sages, and Corinth was a haven for traders and artisans. He actively developed international relations as far as possible. Moreover, under the rule of Periander, the city even had its own colonies in the lands of Albania and in other places. The colony of Naukradita, which allowed trade with Ancient Egypt, deserves special attention. The era of prosperity of Corinth continued long after the death of Periander.

Computer reconstruction of the city

Life in the ancient city promised all sorts of joys, but it was also expensive. Not every traveler could afford to stay here for a long time. The Temple of the Priestesses of Love attracted great interest. The goddess Aphrodite was chosen as the patroness of this place, who encouraged love in all its manifestations.

The indigenous people of Corinth organized their life very well. They had practically no need to work; the main responsibilities were assigned to numerous slaves. The number of townspeople, according to historians, reached 300 thousand people, and the number of slaves exceeded half a million. These figures were simply astronomical for those times.

Alas, after any prosperity comes the time of decline. This happened with the great Corinth. After the invasion of Lucius Mummius of Achaea, a Roman commander, devastation and suffering came to the city. Lucius was particularly cruel; his habit was to slaughter men and drive women into slavery. The Romans simply destroyed the beautiful city.

A few years later, Corinth began to gradually rebuild and return to its former greatness, but misfortunes haunted it. Twice, in 375 and 551 AD, strong earthquakes destroyed the Corinthian buildings. The Romans, Turks, and Germans periodically seized fertile lands, preventing the city from developing. Only a few centuries ago the city began to belong to free Greece. They even wanted to make it the capital, but settled on the relatively small city of Athens at that time.

Ruins of an ancient city

Nowadays, the remains of the once majestic Corinth faintly remind us of its former power. Most of all, it looks like an archaeological excavation site. The remains of ancient walls, columns, benches, and foundations of majestic buildings are located everywhere. Today in the center you can visit the remains of a huge Agora with 71 Doric columns and several dozen merchants' shops that have been preserved at the very end of the hall.

A developed system of canals was discovered underground, to which many deep wells descend. It is difficult to reliably determine their purpose. Perhaps they were used as food pantries.

Among other buildings, you can see the picturesque ruins of the Temple of Apollo. The opinion that the building was erected in honor of this particular god is based on the inscriptions that adorned the tablets nearby. There is also a mention of this temple in the works of Pausanias from the 2nd century. BC. Some argue that the temple may have belonged to another god. The building survived the raids, but was damaged by earthquakes.

Tourists love to visit the Glavka fountain. This structure is striking with an intricate system of pipes through which water was supplied from a distant source on the southern outskirts of the city. It is unknown by whom and under what circumstances the fountain was built, as well as some other structures. Ancient Corinth is fraught with too many mysteries that cause fierce debate among scientists.

Not far from the entrance to the museum, in front of the ruins of the city itself, there is an exhibition of interesting archaeological finds. Sculptures and household items of ancient townspeople are presented here.

How to get there?

When going to Corinth, it is important to correctly determine your destination. There are two cities in Greece called Corinth. The first is precisely the ancient attraction that attracts tourists. The second is a more modern city, which was founded only towards the end of the 19th century. You need to go to ancient Corinth, it is an open-air museum in which most of the archaeological finds are located in their historical place.

To get to Corinth from Athens, you need to cover a distance of about 80 km. You can do this by car or excursion bus. This does not change the travel time significantly. The ancient city is located on the Isthmian Isthmus in a very picturesque place.

Suburban trains depart from the capital's airport to Corinth every hour. From the station to the ruins you will need to travel several kilometers by taxi, but you can use a bicycle.

Entrance to the complex is paid. For adult visitors, the ticket price is 6 euros. It is better to go on a long excursion in comfortable shoes and clothes. To protect yourself from the scorching sun, a hat, umbrella and sunscreen will come in handy. Be sure to stock up on water.

Separated from Greece by the narrow Isthmus of Corinth. And already on its territory there is a city of the same name with a population of about thirty thousand people. Modern Corinth rebuilt when the ancient polis was destroyed by the 1858 earthquake. But this was not the end of the city's residents' tests of strength: it was destroyed again in 1928 during another earthquake. And again the city was rebuilt from scratch.

The city of Corinth welcomes you

Today, the third largest city on the peninsula is divided into two parts, three kilometers apart. One is modern, the other is with remnants of bygone times, this is... The first policy is highly developed economically, with a modern industrial industry and diverse logistics. To the north on the coast there is a port for sending products for export and receiving raw materials for processing.

Tourists will reach Ancient Corinth within fifteen to twenty minutes from the corner of Kolokotroni and Koliatsu streets. There are flights to the interior of the peninsula.

Corinth on the map

7 km southwest of the modern city, rebuilt after the earthquake in 1928, which is of little interest, are the ruins of ancient Corinth. Of the 38 Doric columns of the Temple of Apollo from the 6th century BC. only seven left. Not far from here stretched a two-level agora, flanked on either side by rows of benches. A long portico adjoins it on the south side; Here are the remains of a double colonnade. From the northern end of the agora a paved road began that led to the port of Lehei. There was also a staircase leading down to the vaulted rooms and to the colonnades of the lower spring of Pirena, very well preserved. It was built around a square pool dug into the ground and was rebuilt many times.

Artifacts from the Greek and Roman periods found during excavations are exhibited in the museum: marble, ceramics, mosaics, remains of frescoes and, in the central hall, statues and bas-reliefs that decorated the proscenium of the theater.

Near the entrance you can also see the ruins of a small Roman theater and behind it a large arena where gladiator fights were held or, when it was filled with water, naval battles.

Acrocorinth

Looking over the city from a high cliff, the citadel passed from hand to hand of all the peoples who ruled Greece. It took the Franks a full five years of siege to capture it! You can walk here in 30 minutes along a steep road, passing through many fortifications and gates. The first line of fortress walls was built by the Turks in the 14th century, the next by the Venetians. The last fortifications are associated with two towers: one Byzantine, the other ancient.

After passing behind the fortifications, you will see the mosque of the old Turkish quarter with a minaret without a top, and on the right a restored Orthodox chapel.

The main path leads to the right, up to a ledge where the upper Pyrene spring is located, located in an underground room from the Hellenistic period. The lower hall is filled with clean cold water, which, however, should not be drunk.

The road goes uphill and after a while it splits in two. The right one leads to the Frankish keep, a remnant of the fortress built by William II Villehardouin in the second half of the 13th century. The left road ascends to the Temple of Aphrodite (575 m), practically not preserved. Nevertheless, the view from the top is amazing, it covers the entire isthmus, in the north to the Gulf of Corinth and Mount Parnassus, in the east Attica, in the north the Peloponnesian Mountains.

Neighborhoods of Corinth

Corinth Canal

Even in Antiquity, people thought about digging a canal and no longer carrying ships across the 6-kilometer Isthmus of Corinth. Periander, tyrant of the city in 600 BC, seems to have been the first. Alexander the Great, Caesar, Caligula, Hadrian and Herodes Atticus also raised this issue, but only Nero in 67 began this work. Vespasian sent him 6,000 Jewish captives from Judea as labor. Construction was in full swing when the emperor was forced to deal with a rebellion in Gaul, and the project was suspended and finally abandoned after his death.

From the 7th century BC. ships were pulled onto carts that were pulled along a paved road (diolkos) along parallel furrows, the distance between which was 150 meters and equal to the distance between the wheels of the cart - their traces can be distinguished in the west of the canal, near the Possidonius Bridge. In 1882, the French took up the baton, following the path laid out by Nero. But the campaign was not successful, and the canal was completed by a Greek company only in 1893.

The technical side is impressive: the length of the canal is 6.3 km, it is dug into white limestone, reaching a depth of 70 m in its central part, where it is crossed by a railway. At the bottom, its depth is only 7 m and its width is 21 m. Since this process requires caution, the vessels follow special boats. The passage lasts from 2 to 3 hours.

Isthmia

Founded near the place where the canal flows into the Saronic Gulf, Isthmia was famous in Antiquity for its games, which were not inferior in importance to the Olympic Games. These sporting and musical competitions have been held in the sanctuary of Poseidon every two years since 582 BC. until the 4th century. Participants, who came from all over Greece, showed their skills in running, wrestling, fist fighting, chariot racing and pentathlon.

The local museum displays the results of excavations conducted by American archaeologists since 1952. Maps and tablets annotated in English identify the Roman baths, sanctuary ruins, theater and two stadiums.

Nemea

It was here, as the myths say, that Hercules performed the first of his twelve labors - he defeated the Nemean Lion, sent by the goddess Hera to destroy the sanctuary. Every two years the city hosted the Nemean competition, one of the four great sports competitions dedicated to Zeus. The supreme deity was given a Doric temple, of which only three columns remained.

The museum presents the results of local excavations (including the Mycenaean treasury), and 500 m from here you can see the ruins of the stadium where the competition took place. It could accommodate up to 40,000 spectators!

Mycenae

Even pierced by the blinding rays of the sun, the ruins of this old royal city seem saturated with treachery and fear. A gloomy atmosphere in these places is not uncommon. But, according to mythology, it was here that Orestes committed the most terrible crime - matricide, the first in a series of bloody atrocities committed by the family of Atrides, the legendary rulers of Mycenae, about which the Iliad narrates. From legend to history is sometimes one step... playfully made by Heinrich Schliemann, a German amateur archaeologist, in 1876. Based on the texts of Homer, he easily discovered luxurious burials here, where rulers in golden masks rested. According to him, it was Agamemnon and his companions. Historians, although more skeptical, still admit that myth and reality, in all likelihood, met at Mycenae. At least one thing is clear: in its heyday, from the 16th to the 13th centuries BC, the city, protected by high stone walls, was the most powerful in mainland Greece.

Acropolis

You enter the Acropolis through its most beautiful decoration, the Lions Gate (or Lionesses Gate), a huge limestone tympanum decorated with headless predators. On either side are two colossal blocks stacked on top of each other.

After passing through the gate, on the right you see six rock-cut graves surrounded by a double parapet. Heinrich Schliemann discovered 19 remains in them wearing gold death masks. Archaeologists date them to the end of the 16th century BC, i.e. three centuries earlier than the supposed reign of Agamemnon. Also found nearby was a magnificent ensemble of funerary objects and gold jewelry.

Road of Kings (today this is a common path) rises to the top of the hill, where a few ruins of the Atridian palace, dating from the 15th century BC, are scattered, overlooking the megaron (royal hall).

Graves

Near the Lion Gate there are several tombs with a beehive-shaped dome, a feature inherent in the Mycenaean civilization. The tomb of Clytemnestra - wife of Agamemnon - is actually a group tomb (XIV century BC) with a raised arch.

On your return to the village you will pass the Treasure of the Atrides, also called the Tomb of Agamemnon, from a later period. This building is the largest and most beautiful of all. The entrance here is through the dromos, a long stone corridor - another characteristic feature of Mycenae - which is dug into the hill. The tholos, or rotunda, is closed by a monumental door 5.4 m high, with a crossbar consisting of two monoliths, each weighing about 120 tons! Fun fact: the vault, made of uneven stones, was so perfect that there was no need to hold them together with mortar.

Museum

A museum located near the city displays various sites and buildings found during excavations. Here you can see an interesting collection of metal objects found in the grave in which the bronze master is supposedly buried. The most beautiful artifacts (items found in graves, funeral masks) kept in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.

Argos

Considered in ancient times to be the oldest city in Greece, Argos reached its apogee in the 8th century BC, when its influence extended throughout the northeastern Peloponnese. Its ruins are located outside the center of the modern city, at the foot of Larissa Hill. You will discover impressive Roman baths here (II century), some of whose rooms still have geometric tiled floors, and a 4th-century BC theater excavated on the hillside that could seat up to 20,000 spectators.

Nearby are the ruins of an odeon from the 3rd century BC. and on the other side of the road are the ruins of the agora. Objects found during the excavations are exhibited in the Archaeological Museum on Vassilissos Olgas Street; You will see here magnificent armor and bronze helmets, as well as weapons, jewelry and pottery.

Larissa Fortress

Overhanging the city, the ruined fortress, perched at an altitude of 267 m, offers stunning views of Nafplio Bay, olive trees and orange orchards. On the site of the ancient acropolis, where the Franks erected their citadel in the 13th or 14th centuries, there are also later Venetian and Turkish extensions.