Return to Home Page Harrys Greece Guide

Ancient Corinth Page Two

Ancient Corinth

acrcorinth behindThe ruins of ancient Corinth (7km/4.5miles southwest of the modern town) are spread out over a series of sites, the best view of the surrounding area and indeed much of the Peloponnese itself is to be had from the striking acropolis-fortress of Acro-corinth at an altitude of 565 meters above the ancient city. The ramparts of Acrocorinth is are just visible above and behind the ruins of the Temple of Apollo in the picture left. Acrocorinth is distinct from ancient Corinth and overlooked by far too many visitors.

The ancient city of Corinth sits below and towards the coast. It sprawls over a huge area including sections of walls (in Roman times having a 15km circuit), stadiums, gymnasiums and necropolises. The best preserved excavated central area includes the Classical Temple of Apollo and the Roman forum.

The city was immensely wealthy-a key center of the Greek and Roman worlds controlling trade between the northern mainland of Greece and the Peloponnese. The two ports of Lechaion on the Gulf of Corinth and Kenchreai on the Saronic Gulf connected the Ionian and Aegean Seas. Corinth was a rival of Athens, and sided against it with Sparta in the Peloponnesian War.

Ancient Corinth Page One | Page Two | Page Three | Page Four