Ancient Corinth (Κόρινθος) is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. It’s easily visited on a day trip from Athens.
History
Corinth was settled as far back as 6500 BC. By 400 BC, it was one of the largest and most important cities in Greece, with a population of around 90,000. The Romans destroyed Corinth in 146 BC and rebuilt it in 44 BC. They made the city the provincial capital of Greece.
Corinth began to decline in the 6th century, and the Ottomans captured it in 1458. It was ruled by the Venetians between 1687 and 1715, and remained under Ottoman control until the Greek Revolution in 1821. Corinth was then considered a candidate for the capital city of Greece.
In 1858, the village surrounding the ruins of Ancient Corinth was destroyed by an earthquake. It was abandoned after nearly 3,000 years, and the new city of Corinth was founded 3 kilometers to the northeast. Archaeological excavations have been ongoing since 1896. They’re led by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens.
Christian Site
Corinth is also an important Christian site. Paul the Apostle established Christianity in the city in 52 before moving on to Ephesus. He wrote his First and Second Epistle to the Corinthians after learning of immoral behavior and jealousy in Corinth.
Visiting
The archaeological site is open daily. Admission is €8 (as of February 2024). It doesn’t cover a large area so it can easily be seen in an hour. Admission includes entry to the Archaeological Museum of Ancient Corinth.
I was rushed during my short visit, but I was still able to cover lots of ground. The posts below are broken down in order of my visit: