CORINTH, Greece, a celebrated city upon the isthmus of the same name. It was re nowned among the cities of Greece, commanded by its advantageous position a most important transit trade, and possessed all the splendor which wealth and luxury could create; while its citadel, the Acrocorinthus, rendered it one of the strongest fortresses of Greece. Only a few ruins remain to attest its ancient magnifi cence. Of the three ancient harbors the western harbor, Lechmum, on the Gulf of Corinth, is choked with sand, as is the eastern harbor, Kekhries (ancient Cenchrem), on the Saronic Gulf. These were anciently the chief harbors of Corinth. The shallow harbor Schcenos, now Kalamaki, at the eastern entrance of the canal across the isthmus, is used to some extent. There is still a wretched village on the site of ancient Corinth. The American School of Classical studies at Athens began excavations in 1896 on the site of ancient Corinth. Few works of art were found, but the sites of the theatre, the fountains of Pirene and Glance, the road to Lechmum, the Propyhea and the Agora were determined. In this way basis was furnished for identifying the topography of the ancient city from the detailed description given by Pausanias. New Corinth (Nea Korinthos) stands about three miles to the northeast on the coast of the gulf, on the rail way from Athens to Patras. It is a small town built since 1858, is the capital of the eparchy of Argolis and Corinth, and the seat of an arch bishop. It has a harbor and custom-house. Oil, corn, currants, honey and silk are among its principal exports. The Corinth Ship Canal was opened in 1893, and has greatly aided the prosperity of the city. Pop. 5,340.
In ancient Corinth great exchange of Asiatic and Italian goods took place. The duty paid on these goods afforded a great revenue to the state; and the citizens accumulated such wealth, that Corinth became one of the most magnifi cent, but at the same time most voluptuous, cities of Greece. Aphrodite was the goddess of the city, and courtesans were her priestesses, to whom recourse was often had, that they might implore the protection of the goddess in times of public danger; and a certain number of new priestesses were consecrated to her at the com mencement of important enterprises. Lais and
several other females of the same profession were distinguished by their great accomplish ments and beauty, and the high price which they set on their charms; hence the old proverb, Non cuivis homini contingit ()dire Corinthum, that is, ((It isn't everyone that can afford to go to Corinth?' The virtuous women celebrated a feast to Aphrodite apart from the others.
The mythical Sisyphus was the founder of the 2E.olian dynasty, which is represented as the first that ruled in Corinth. It was conquered by the Heraclidx, and Corinth was subsequently ruled by an oligarchy called the Bacchidm, in whose time the colonies of Syracuse and Cor cyra were founded. This was overthrown by Cypselus in 657 ac. Periander was the next ruler. Corinth took a prominent part in the development of Greek colonization and was long a great naval power. In the sequel Corinth be came the head of the Adman League, and was conquered and destroyed by the Consul Mum mius, 146 ac. Julius Caesar, about a hundred years later, rebuilt it; but its commerce could not be restored; the productions of the East now took the road to Rome. A Christian com munity sprang up in the city under Paul's minis trations, and to it he addressed two letters. The Venetians received the place from a Greek em peror; Mohammed II took it from them in 1458; the Venetians recovered it in 1687, and fortified the Acrocorinthus again; but the Turks, under Ali Comourgi, celebrated in Byron's 'Siege of Corinth,' took it anew in 1715, and retained it until Greece became in dependent. It was reduced to ashes during the Revolutionary War, and again ruined by an earthquake in 1858. Against any enemy invad ing the Morea from the north, Corinth and its citadel were formerly of the highest military importance, and as a fortified post it continued of importance to modern times. But by the present Greek government it has been neglected. Consult Curtius, E., (Peloponnesos' (Gotha 1852) ; Wilish, zur inneren Geschichte des alten Korinth' (Zittau 1887); id., 'Geschichte Korinths von den Perserkriegen bis zum dreizigjahrigen Frieden> (ib. 1896). For a popular account, consult Richardson, in the Century Magazine (New York 1899) and Cooley, in Records of the Past (Vol. I, Wash ington 1902).