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Corinth, Greece


Temple of Apollo at Corinth ()

Corinth (Greek Korinthos) is a Greek city, on the isthmus which joins the Peloponnesus to the mainland of Greece. It is about 48 miles (78 km) west of Athens. The isthmus, which was in ancient times traversed by hauling ships over the rocky ridge on sledges, is now cut by a canal. It is also the capital of the prefecture of Corinthia. The city is surrounded by Lechaio, Kalamaki, Loutraki, Geraneia mountains, and the southern mountains.

Table of contents
1 History
2 Corinthian colonies
3 Corinth Today

History

The ancient city rivalled Athens and Thebes in wealth, based on the isthmian traffic and trade. Until the mid-6th century Corinth was a major exporter of black figure pottery to cities around the Greek world. Athenian potters later came to dominate the market. Corinth's great temple on its acropolis was dedicated to Aphrodite. According to most sources, there were more than one thousand temple prostitutes employed at the Temple of Aphrodite. Corinth was also the host of the Isthmian Games.

The Romans destroyed Corinth following a siege in 146 BC. While there is archeological evidence of some minimal habitation in the years afterwards, Julius Caesar refounded the city as Colonia laus Iulia Corinthiensis in 44 BC shortly before his assassination. According to Appian, the new settlers were drawn from freedmen of Rome. Under the Romans it became the seat of government for Southern Greece or Achaia (Acts 18:12-16). It was noted for its wealth, and for the luxurious, immoral and vicious habits of the people. It had a large mixed population of Romans, Greeks, and Jews.

When Paul first visited the city (AD 51 or 52), Gallio, the brother of Seneca, was proconsul. Paul resided here for eighteen months (18:1-18). Here he first became acquainted with Aquila and Priscilla, and soon after his departure Apollos came from Ephesus. Later he visited it a second time, and remained for three months (20:3). During this second visit his Epistle to the Romans was written (probably 55). Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians reflects the difficulties of maintaining a Christian community in such a cosmopolitan city.

Corinthian colonies

Corinth Today

Today, it is the second-most populated prefecture on the Peninsula. It is the second largest city in the Peloponnese.

The Corinth Canal carrying shop traffic from the northern Mediterranean, and the Aegean is about 4 km east of the city. Slightly east a toll booth named Isthmia stood there but had moved about 2 km east near Kalamaki because the space was small, and 1.5 km of lights renovated. The only thing lying is the East Corinth-Loutraki westbound interchange today when construction was completed.

A city square is located next to its port. A port is founded north of the square. Boats are lined up in the harbor, and ships is also uesd there. In late-2003, people were against aluminum production in this port which will result of water contanimation to Corinth and Loutraki, and cancer. This has been stopped.

A refinery that produces oil is founded slightly east of the city, and some think is the line marking the Athens metro area. The size is very large. It was surrounded by national road and freeway. Restaruants are served especially Goody's. It is also serve as a rest area for GR-8.

The city and Kalamaki has train stations. A river is south of city centre, and lined up with a main street.


Partial text from Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897