Corinth 6845 225788594 2008-07-15T12:09:18Z JAnDbot 1725149 robot Adding: [[id:Korintus]] Removing: [[lmo:Corinth]] Modifying: [[cu:Ко́рїнѳъ]] {{otheruses1|the Greek City of Corinth}} {{Infobox Greek Dimos |name = Corinth |name_local = Κόρινθος |image_skyline = Temple_of_Apollo_Ancient_Corinth.jpg |caption_skyline = The Temple of Apollo in Ancient Corinth |city_flag = |city_seal = Smallcorinthcoatofarms.gif |lat_deg = 37 |lat_min = 56 |lon_deg = 22 |lon_min = 56 |elevation_min = 0 |elevation_max = 10 |periph = [[Peloponnese]] |prefec = [[Corinthia]] |districts = |mayor = |party = |since = |population_as_of = 2001 |population = 36555 |area = 102.2 |population_metro = |area_metro = |postal_code = 201 00 |area_code = 27410 |licence = KP |website = [http://www.korinthos.gr www.korinthos.gr] }} '''Corinth''', or '''Korinth''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] Κόρινθος, ({{Audio-IPA|Ell-Korinthos.ogg|[''Kórinthos'']}}) is a city in [[Greece]]. In antiquity it was a [[city-state]], on the [[Isthmus of Corinth]], the narrow stretch of land that joins the [[Peloponnesus]] to the mainland of Greece. To the west of the isthmus lies the [[Gulf of Corinth]], to the east lies the [[Saronic Gulf]]. Corinth is about {{convert|78|km|mi|0}} southwest 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. Corinth is now the capital of the [[Prefectures of Greece|prefecture]] of [[Corinthia]]. The city is surrounded by the coastal townlets of (clockwise) [[Lechaio]], [[Isthmia]], [[Kechries]], and the inland townlets of [[Examilia]] and the archaeological site. Geophysically the city is likewise surrounded by the narrow coastal plain of [[Vocha (plain of)|Vocha]], Corinthian Gulf, [[Corinth Canal]], Saronic Gulf, [[Oneia mountains]], and the monolithic rock of [[Acrocorinth]] where the medieval [[acropolis]] was built. ==History== {{main|Ancient Corinth}} ===Prehistoric era=== The city was founded in the [[Neolithic Age]], circa 6000 BC. According to myth, the city was founded by Corinthos, a descendant of the god [[Helios]] (the Sun), while other myths suggest that it was founded by the goddess Ephyra, a daughter of the [[titan (mythology)|titan]] [[Oceanus]], thus the ancient name of the city (also [[Ephyra]]). There is evidence that the city was destroyed around 2000 BC. Before the end of the [[Mycenae]]an period the [[Dorians]] attempted to settle in Corinth. While at first they failed, their second attempt was successful when their leader [[Aletes]] followed a different path around the Corinthian Gulf from [[Antirio]]. Some ancient names for the place, such as ''Korinthos'', derive from a pre-Greek, "[[Pelasgian]]" language; it seems likely that Corinth was also the site of a [[Bronze Age]] Mycenaean palace-city, like Mycenae, [[Tiryns]] or [[Pylos]]. According to myth, [[Sisyphus]] was the founder of a race of ancient kings at Corinth. It was also in Corinth that [[Jason]], the leader of the [[Argonauts]], abandoned [[Medea]]. During the [[Trojan War]] Corinthians participated under the leadership of [[Agamemnon]]. Just before the beginning of the classical period, the [[trireme]] was developed here. This ship design would become widespread in the navies of the [[Mediteranean]] area until the late Roman period. Corinth took part in the first naval battle on record, against the Hellenic city of [[Corcyra]]. ([[Thucydides]] 1:13) ===Classical era=== [[Image:CorintoScaviTempioApollo.jpg|thumb|left|Temple of [[Apollo]], Ancient Corinth.]] [[Image:Periander Pio-Clementino Inv276.jpg|thumb|[[Periander]] (''Περίανδρος'') (r.627&ndash;585 BC).]] [[Image:Ravel 1008.2.jpg|thumb|Corinthian [[stater]]. Obverse: [[Pegasus]] with [[Qoppa]] ([[Image:Greek alphabet qoppa2.png|8px]]) beneath. Reverse: [[Athena]] wearing Corinthian helmet. Qoppa symbolised the archaic writing of the city ([[Image:Greek alphabet qoppa2.png|8px]]όρινθος).]] In classical times the ancient city rivaled Athens and [[Thebes, Greece|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 ancient acropolis was dedicated to the goddess [[Aphrodite]]. According to most sources{{Fact|date=September 2007}}, there were more than one thousand [[temple prostitutes]] employed at the Temple of Aphrodite. Corinth was also the host of the [[Isthmian Games]]. In the 7th century BC, when Corinth was ruled by the tyrants [[Cypselus]] (r. 657-627 BC) and his son [[Periander]] (r. 627-585 BC), the city sent forth colonists to found new settlements: [[Epidamnus]] (modern day [[Durrës]], [[Albania]]), [[Syracuse, Italy|Syracuse]], [[Ambracia]] (modern day [[Lefkada|town of Lefkas]]), [[Corcyra]] (modern day [[Corfu|town of Corfu]]) and [[Actium|Anactorium]]. Periander also founded [[Apollonia (city)|Apollonia]] (modern day [[Fier]], Albania) and [[Potidaea]] (in [[Chalcidice]]). Corinth was also one of the nine Greek sponsor-cities to found the colony of [[Naukratis]] in [[Ancient Egypt]]. Naucratis was founded to accommodate the increasing trade volume between the Greek world and the pharaohnic Egypt, during the reign of [[Pharaoh]] [[Psammetichus I]] of the [[26th dynasty]]. [[Periander]] was considered one of the [[Seven Wise Men of Greece]]. During his reign the first Corinthian [[Ancient Greek coinage|coins]] were struck. He was the first to attempt to cut across the Isthmus to create a seaway to allow ship traffic between the Corinthian and the Saronic Gulf. He abandoned the venture due to the extreme technical difficulties he met, but he created the [[Diolkos]] (a stone-build overland ramp) instead. The era of the Cypselids, ending with Periander's nephew [[Psammetichus (Corinthian tyrant)|Psammetichus]], named after the hellenophile Egyptian Pharaoh Psammetichus I (see above), was the golden age of the city of Corinth. During this era Corinthians developed the [[Corinthian order]], the third order of the classical architecture after the [[ionic order|Ionic]] and the [[doric order|Doric]]. The Corinthian order was the most complicated of the three, showing the accumulation of wealth and the luxurious lifestyle in the ancient city-state, while the Doric order was analogous to the strict and simplistic lifestyle of the older Dorians like the Spartans, and the Ionic was a balance between those two following the philosophy of harmony of Ionians like the Athenians. Horace is quoted as saying: "''non licet omnibus adire Corinthum''", which translates as "Not everyone is able to go to Corinth",<ref>{{cite book |last= Stone|first=Jon R. |title= The Routledge Dictionary of Latin Quotations|year= 2004|isbn= 0415969093|pages=76 }}</ref> due to the expensive living standards that prevailed in the city. The city was renowned for the temple prostitutes of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, who served the wealthy merchants and the powerful officials living in or traveling in and out of the city. The most famous of them, [[Lais (Corinth)|Lais]], was said to have extraordinary abilities and charged tremendous fees for her favours. The city had two main ports, one in the Corinthian Gulf and one in the Saronic Gulf, serving the trade routes of the western and eastern [[Mediterranean]], respectively. In the Corinthian Gulf lay [[Lechaio]]n, which connected the city to its western colonies (Greek: [[Colonies in antiquity|apoikoiai]]) and [[Magna Graecia]], while in the Saronic Gulf the port of [[Kechries|Kenchreai]] served the ships coming from Athens, [[Ionia]], [[Cyprus]] and the rest of the [[Levant]]. Both ports had docks for the large war fleet of the city-state. [[Image:Corinthian capital.png|thumb|[[Corinthian order]].]] The city was a major participant in the [[Persian Wars]], offering 40 war ships in the sea [[Battle of Salamis]] under the admiral [[Adeimantos]] and 5,000 [[hoplites]] (wearing their characteristic [[Corinthian helmet]]s{{Fact|date=December 2007}}) in the following [[Battle of Plataea]] but afterwards was frequently an enemy of Athens and an ally of [[Sparta]] in the [[Peloponnesian League]]. In 431 BC, one of the factors leading to the [[Peloponnesian War]] was the dispute between Corinth and Athens over the Corinthian colony of Corcyra (Corfu), which probably stemmed from the traditional trade rivalry between the two cities. After the end of the Peloponnesian War, Corinth and Thebes, which were former allies with Sparta in the Peloponnesian League, had grown dissatisfied with the hegemony of Sparta and started the [[Corinthian War]] against it, which further weakened the [[polis|city-states]] of the Peloponnese. This weakness allowed for the subsequent invasion of the [[Macedon]]ians of the north and the forging of the [[Corinthian League]] by [[Philip II of Macedon]] against the [[Persian Empire]]. In the 4th century BC, Corinth was home to [[Diogenes of Sinope]], one of the world's best known [[cynic]]s. ===Roman era=== {{see|Roman Greece}} [[Image:Corinthian helmet Denda Staatliche Antikensammlungen 4330.jpg|thumb|Corinthian helmet.]] The [[Roman Republic|Romans]] under [[Lucius Mummius Achaicus|Lucius Mummius]] destroyed Corinth following a siege in 146 BC; when he entered the city Mummius put all the men to the sword and sold the women and children into slavery before he torched the city, for which he was given the [[cognomen]] ''Achaicus'' as the conqueror of the [[Achaean League]] (see [[Battle of Corinth (146 BC)|Battle of Corinth]]). 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 of Alexandria|Appian]], the new settlers were drawn from [[freedmen]] of Rome. Under the Romans it became the seat of government for Southern [[Greece]] or [[Achaia]] (according to {{bibleref2|Acts|18:12-26}}). 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 the apostle [[Paul of Tarsus|Paul]] first visited the city (AD 51 or 52), [[Gallio]], the brother of [[Lucius Annaeus Seneca|Seneca]], was [[proconsul]]. Paul resided here for eighteen months (see [[Acts of the Apostles|Acts]] 18:1-18). Here he first became acquainted with [[Aquila (bible)|Aquila]] and [[Priscilla]], and soon after his departure [[Apollos]] came from [[Ephesus]]. Paul visited Corinth for a "second benefit" (see [[2 Corinthians]] 1:15), and remained for three months, according to Acts 20:3. During this second visit in the spring of 58 it is likely the [[Epistle to the Romans]] was written.<ref>{{cite book | author = Bryant, T. A. |title = Today's Dictionary of the Bible | publisher = Bethany House Publishers, NY | year = 1982}}</ref><!---I cannot vouch for this reference--> Paul also wrote two of [[Pauline epistles|his epistles]] to the Christian community at Corinth, the [[First Epistle to the Corinthians]] and the [[Second Epistle to the Corinthians]]. The first Epistle reflects the difficulties of maintaining a Christian community in such a cosmopolitan city. ===Byzantine era=== {{see|Byzantine Greece}} [[Image:Stpaulscorinth.jpg|thumb|[[Greek Orthodox]] Cathedral of [[St. Paul the Apostle]].]] [[Image:Akrokorinth Looking North.jpg|thumb|Acrocorinth; beyond to the north is the [[Gulf of Corinth]].]] The city was destroyed by an earthquake in 375 and again in 551. During [[Alaric I|Alaric]]'s invasion of Greece, in 395&ndash;396, Corinth was one of the cities he despoiled, selling many of its citizens into slavery. During the reign of [[Byzantine emperor]] [[Justinian I]], a large stone wall was erected from the Saronic to the Corinthian gulf, protecting the city and the Peloponnesean peninsula from the barbarian invasions of the north. The stone wall was about six miles (10 km) long and was named [[Examilion wall|Examilion]] (exi=six in Greek). During this era Corinth was the seat of the ''[[Thema]]'' of Hellas (representing modern day [[Greece]]). In November 856 — An [[earthquake]] in Corinth killed an estimated 45,000.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} In the 12th century (during the reign of the [[Comnenus]] dynasty), the wealth of the city, generated from the silk trade to the Latin states of western Europe, attracted the attention of the Sicilian [[Normans]] under [[Roger of Sicily]], who plundered it in 1147. ===Principality of Achaea=== In 1204, [[Geoffrey I Villehardouin|Geoffrey I de Villehardouin]], nephew of the homonymous [[Geoffrey of Villehardouin|famous historian]] of the [[Fourth Crusade]], was granted Corinth after the sack of [[Constantinople]], with the title of Prince of Achaea. From 1205-1208 the Corinthians resisted the Frankish domination from their stronghold in Acrocorinth, under the command of the Greek general [[Leo Sgouros]]. The [[French people|French]] knight [[William of Champlitte]] led the crusader forces. In 1208 Leo Sgouros killed himself by riding off the top of Acrocorinth, but from 1208 to 1210 the Corinthians continued to resist the enemy forces. After the collapse of the resistance and for the years to come, Corinth became a full part of the [[Principality of Achaea]], governed by the [[Villehardouin]]'s from their capital in [[Andravida]] of [[Elis]]. Corinth was the last significant town of Achaea on its northern borders with another crusader state, the [[Duchy of Athens]]. The Byzantines reconquered the city and it became part of the [[despotate of Morea]] in 1388. The Ottomans captured it in 1395. The Byzantines captured it again in 1403. [[Theodore II Palaiologos, Lord of Morea|Theodore II Plaiologos]], who was Despot of Morea, built the [[Hexamilion wall]] across the [[Isthmus of Corinth]]. ===Ottoman Rule=== In 1458, five years after the final [[Fall of Constantinople]], the Turks of the [[Ottoman Empire]] conquered the city and its mighty castle. The Ottomans renamed it ''Gördes''. It became the Sanjak centre of Morea in Rumelia Province. The Venetians captured it in 1687 and it fell under the control of the [[Republic of Venice]] according to [[Treaty of Karlowitz]] in 1699. Ottomans retook the city in 1715. It was the capital of [[Mora]] Province between 1715-1731 and the Sanjak centre between 1731-1821. ===Independence=== During the [[Greek War of Independence]], 1821-1830 the city was destroyed by the Turkish forces.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} The city was officially liberated in 1832 after the [[London Conference of 1832|Treaty of London]]. In 1833, the site was considered among the candidates for the new capital city of the recently founded [[Kingdom of Greece]], due to its historical significance and strategic position. Athens, then an insignificant town, was chosen instead. ===Modern Corinth=== [[Image:CorinthCoatofArms.gif|thumb|Coat of Arms of the Municipality of Corinth.]] In 1858, the old city of Corinth (now known as Αρχαία Κόρινθος / Ancient Corinth; a town 3km/2mi SW of the modern city) was totally destroyed by an earthquake. The new city of Corinth was founded on the coast of the Gulf of Corinth. Corinth is the second largest city in the [[periphery]] of Peloponnese after [[Kalamata]] (53,659 inh. in 2001). In the census of 1991 the city had a population of 28,071 while latest data 2001 showed an increase of 2,363 inhabitants (+8,4%) to 30,434. Between the census of 1981 and that of 1991 the city had one of the fastest-increasing populations in the country.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} The Municipality of Corinth or ''Dimos Korinthion'' had a population of 36,991 in 2001. The municipality includes the town of Ancient Corinth (1,770 inh.), where the ancient and the medieval city used to be built at the foothills of the rock of Acrocorinth 3km from the new city centre, the town of Examilia (1,547 inh.), and the smaller settlements of [[Xylokeriza]] (777 inh.) and [[Solomos,Corinthia|Solomos]] (686 inh.). The Corinth Canal, carrying ship traffic between the western Mediterranean and the [[Aegean Sea]], is about 4 km east of the city, cutting through the [[Isthmus of Corinth]]. A city square is located next to its [[Port of Corinth|port]]. The port operates north of the square, and serves the local needs of industry and agriculture. It is mainly a cargo exporting facility. The town centre is home to some surprisingly glamorous shops and bars for a relatively small town, as well as high quality local leather and jewellery outlets. [[Image:Canal of korinth greece.jpg|thumb|The [[Corinth Canal]] cuts through the [[Isthmus of Corinth|Isthmus]].]] Corinth is a major industrial hub at a national level. Copper cables, petroleum products, medical equipment, marble, gypsum, ceramic tiles, salt, mineral water & beverages, meat products, and gums are produced nearby. As of 2005, a period of de-industrialization has commenced as a large pipework complex, a textile factory and a meat packing facility disrupted their operations. A large oil-refinery complex is situated about 12 km northeast of the city, which some think is the line marking the Athens metro area. The complex is amongst the largest in the eastern Mediterranean. It is surrounded by [[Greece Interstate 8A]] and a 3+1 lanes per direction freeway. A modern rest area with restaurants and gas stations is located nearby on the freeway. The city is the terminal point of a newly-built ultra-modern electric railway line ([[Proastiakos]]) to the Athens metropolitan area. Expectations for further economic and residential expansion are significant due to this new development. The city is also a major road hub being the entry point to the Peloponnesian peninsula, the southernmost area of continental Greece. ==Port of Corinth== The '''Port of Corinth''' is situated close to the northwest entrance of the Corinth Canal, at 37 56.0’ N / 22 56.0’ E (Local Time: [GMT +2]). It is an artificial [[harbour]] (depth app. 9 metres/27 feet), protected by a concrete [[mole (architecture)|mole]] (length app. 930 metres, width 100 metres, mole surface 93,000 m2) in front of the town of Corinth. A new pier finished in the late 1980s doubled the capacity of the port. The reinforced mole protects anchored vessels from strong northern winds. The port facilities are well protected around their perimeter by high iron fences. Within the port a [[customs]] office facility and a [[Hellenic Coast Guard]] post operate 24/7. Sea traffic is limited to trade in the export of local produce, mainly citrus fruits, grapes, marbles, aggregates and some (less) domestic imports. The Port of Corinth operates as a contingency facility for general cargo ships, [[bulk carrier]]s and [[RORO]]s, in case of [[strike action|strike]]s at [[Piraeus]] port. There is a [[ferry]] line (RORO) connecting Corinth to [[Italy]]. [[Image:paskorinthos.jpg|thumb|Emblem of ''P.A.S. Kórinthos (Π.Α.Σ Κόρινθος)'' football/soccer team]] ===Load Line zone=== Summer, Salt Water. [[Plimsoll line]]={S}. ===British Admiralty charts=== BA1085, BA1093, BA1600 ==Corinth Football (Soccer)== The city's [[soccer|football (soccer)]] team is the Athletic Football Club of Corinth, ''P.A.S. Kórinthos'' (''Π.Α.Σ. Κόρινθος''). During the 2006-2007 season, the team played in the Greek Fourth Division's Regional Group 7. The team went undefeated that season and it earned the top spot.<ref>http://www.paskorinthos.gr/2006-2007.html</ref> This granted the team a promotion to the [[Gamma Ethniki|Gamma Ethnikí (Third Division)]] for the 2007-2008 season. P.A.S. Kórinthos was established in 1999 after the merger of the Pankorinthian Football Club (''Παγκορινθιακός'') and the Corinth Football Club (''Π.Α.E. Κόρινθος''). ==Gallery== <gallery> Image:DSCN0429.JPG| Image:Corinth2.jpg| Image:Corinth3.jpg| </gallery> == Sister cities == *{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]], [[Sicily]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.libertasicilia.com/press/more.php?id=2477_0_1_0_M|publisher=Liberta Sicilia|title=Gemellaggio tra Siracusa e Corinto|date=[[8 January]] [[2008]]}}</ref> *{{flagicon|SRB}} [[Jagodina]], [[Serbia]] ==See also== [[List of traditional Greek place names]] == Notable people == *[[Euphranor]] (4th century BC) sculptor and painter ==Notes== ''Partial text from Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897'' ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.korinthos.gr/ City of Corinth official website] {{el icon}} *[http://corinth.sas.upenn.edu/hist.html History timeline] *[http://www.paskorinthos.gr Kórinthos FC official website] {{el icon}} {{Geographic Location |Centre = Corinth |North = [[Gulf of Corinth]] |Northeast = [[Loutraki-Perachoras]] |East = [[Saronic Gulf]] and [[Isthmia]] |Southeast = [[Kechries]] |South = [[Oneia mountains]] and [[Examilia]] |Southwest = [[Ancient Corinth]] |West = [[Vocha (plain of)|Vocha]] and [[Lechaio]] |Northwest = }} {{Corinth}} {{Prefectural capitals of Greece}} {{Ancient Greece topics}} {{Second Journey of Paul of Tarsus}} {{Third Journey of Paul of Tarsus}} [[Category:Corinth|*]] [[Category:Cities and towns in Greece]] [[Category:Coastal cities]] [[Category:Principality of Achaea]] [[Category:Corinthia]] [[Category:Greek prefectural capitals]] [[Category:Port cities and towns in Greece]] [[Category:Ports and harbours of Greece]] [[Category:City-states]] [[Category:Ancient Greek archaeological sites in Greece]] [[Category:Roman archaeological sites in Greece]] [[Category:Ancient settlements in Greece]] [[ar:كورنث]] [[ca:Corint]] [[cs:Korint]] [[da:Korinth]] [[de:Korinth]] [[el:Κόρινθος]] [[es:Corinto]] [[eo:Korinto]] [[fr:Corinthe]] [[ko:코린토스]] [[id:Korintus]] [[it:Corinto]] [[he:קורינתוס (עיר)]] [[la:Corinthus]] [[lt:Korintas]] [[hu:Korinthosz]] [[nl:Korinthe (stad)]] [[ja:コリントス]] [[no:Korint]] [[nn:Korint]] [[pl:Korynt]] [[pt:Corinto]] [[ro:Corint]] [[ru:Коринф]] [[simple:Corinth]] [[sk:Korint]] [[cu:Ко́рїнѳъ]] [[sr:Коринт (град)]] [[fi:Korintti]] [[sv:Korinth]] [[tr:Korint]] [[uk:Корінф]] [[zh:科林斯]]