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Corinth 218 pictures 7.1 minutes HQ video The excavations at Corinth, one of the largest cities of ancient Greece, are accessed by a road from the modern city on the Corinthian Gulf, towards the very high acropolis, known as the Akrokorinthos. The almost total destruction of the city by the Romans led by Lucius Mummius in 146 B.C., followed by reconstruction and the huge number of refurbishment projects by successive Roman emperors from Julius Caesar to Hadrian, have all but erased the architectural and artistic traces of the ancient city that, since the 8^th century B.C., was a vital center for the crafts as well as the metallurgical and ceramic industries. At the same time, ancient Corinth was deeply involved in all the main events of Greek history and dominated Mediterranean maritime trade in the Archaic period. It rose to become a colonial power and was governed by an alternating series of oligarchies and tyrannies. Capitolium A Corinthian peripteral temple hexastyle, dates to the 1^st century A.D., dedicated to Octavia The temple was built on a podium surrounded by stoas. The Temple of Apollo Doric peripteral temple hexastyle of Apollo. Built between 550 and 540 B.C., the temple is a precious example of Archaic Greek architecture, featuring monolithic columns with pronounced entasis that surrounded a double tripartite cella opening onto a pronaos and opisthodomos. Some scholars believe that the smaller cella was used as an adyton, either related to the oracular powers inspired by the god or serving as a small chapel dedicated to the cult of the god's sister, Artemis. Lechaion Way A few steps from the gateway, on the south side of the agora, lead to the paved Lechaion road. On either side of it there were narrow pavements edged with gutters that collected the rainwater. A number of stoas ran parallel on either side of the road. Through one of these stoas, at the beginning of the east side of the road, one came into a series of shops. Peirene Fountain The present layout of the fountain dates to the reconstruction by Herodes Atticus during the Antonine period. With a large basin in the center of the courtyard, the fountain featured a facade interrupted by arches framed by Ionic pillars in a combination of rustic ashlar and smooth marble. The facade was decorated by niches and statues of Atticus and his family. The spring, still flowing today, used to provide water to the metallurgical workshop of the city. Odeon The odeon was built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Nero, but was renovated in the Antonine period by Herodes Atticus and further modified in Severan times. The building could accommodate 7,000 spectators and features structural and decorative aspects that are well in compliance with the architectural canons of the time. The Theater On the north of the odeon lies the devastated theater, with its Classical foundations and circular orchestra. It was refurbished in the Hellenistic period to accommodate 18,000 spectators. A sector in the theater was reserved for the priestess-prostitutes of the Akrocorinthos, as indicated by an inscription on one of the seats. Glauke Fountain Located on the entrance of the site, besides the temple of Hera. Sanctuary of the Lechaion The remains of the sanctuary and the basilica lie along the Lechaion road. Bouleuterion North Portico On the north side of the square hold the modest remains of the north Portico. West Portico Back to Greece Index