ISTHMUS, 'feints (Lat. isthmus, from Gk. isthmos, narrow passage between two seas). In geography, a narrow neck of land joining two portions of land. The name Isthmus was by the ancients often employed without any addition to designate the Isthmus of Corinth, join ing the Peloponnesus to continental Hellas. At the southeast of the Isthmus, was a sacred pre cinct containing temples of Posei don and Palsemon icertes, where were celebrated the Isthmian Games, one of the four great national festivals of Greece. According to legend. they were estab lished by Poseidon or Sisyphus in honor of Melicertes, or by Theseus after his victory over Sinis in honor of Poseidon, a version which explained the right of the Athenians to the seats of honor. The regular celebration of the games was dated from B.C. 582. The games seem to have been held every two years, in the spring of the second and fourth years of each Olympiad. The prizes were a palm branch and wreath of parsley during the Greek period, but under the Roman Empire a wreath of fir was substituted. The games were in charge of the
Corinthians, and the contests seem to have been those usual at Olympia (see OLYMPIC GAMES), ,to which later musical competitions were added. After the fall of Corinth (n.c. 146) the Sicy onians continued the games, until the reestablish ment of the city by Julius Ccesar. The contests were open to all Greeks except the Eleans. The site of the games has been excavated by the French. Near the site of the Isthmian sanctuary can be seen remains of the Diolhos or railway by which, in ancient times, small ships were transported across the Isthmus; and somewhat to the north can be traced the ancient wall by which, at various times, the Peloponnesns was protected against invasion. The extant remains belong chiefly to the later Roman Empire or the period of Venetian rule. Consult Gazette archtc ologique (Paris, 1884-85). See CORINTII, GULF OF; CORINTH CANAL.