CORINTHUS, co-rid-thus, originally an ancient city of Greece, on the middle of the Isthmus of Corinth (and thence called Elm' an's, as midway between the Saronicus and the Crissmus Sinus), was founded by Sis5-phus, son of 1E6lus, 1388 B.C., and named from Corinthus, the son of Pelops : it colonized Syracuse, Ambracia, Corcjira, Apollonia, Potidma, &c. In the Peloponnesian war it strongly supported the Spartans, In 395 s.c. the Corinthian War was begun by the Corin thians, Athenians, Thebans, and Argives, against Sparta, in which Pisander and Agesi laus distinguished themselves ; the former was defeated with the Spartan fleet by Conon off Cnidus, but shortly after Agesilaus defeated the allies at Coronea, a victory more than counterbalanced by the Spartan defeat at Leuctra. It joined the Achman league 243, and, after a brave defence, it was totally de stroyed by the consul L. Mummius, 146, when the Romans carried away immense treasures : the city was burnt down, and the fusion of metals that ensued is said to have led to the discovery of the composition brass (Carla thluat ws), but probably the composition was known to its artists before. Julius C:msar
again colonized Corinth. The government of Corinth was monarchical till 779 B.c., when officers called Prytanes were instituted : the Bacchildx were expelled by Cyps6lus in 655, and the government again became aristo cratical on the fall of Pammetichus, Peri ander's son, in 585. Corinth was noted for the extravagance and voluptuousness of its in habitants, and had a famous temple of Venus, the scene of great licentiousness : the proverb expressed in Horace's line, Non cuevi s hom'eni contidgit &lire Cdrid 'hunt, is said to refer to the great expenses thereby incurred by visitors, but it is also explained as referring to the dan gerous harbour-entrance.