Corinth

Corinth (pop. 22,500), ancient city of Greece situated on the isthmus between the mainland and Peloponnesus. The old city is dominated by the Acrocorinthus, a rock that rises to 1,886 ft (575 m).

Corinth was conquered by the Dorians c. 1100 B.C. By the 6th century B.C. it was the leading mercantile city of Greece, a center of culture, commerce, and entertainment. It fought against Athens during the Peloponnesian War and emerged a weaker power. Later it was controlled by Macedonia. Corinth was destroyed by Rome in 146 B.C., but was rebuilt under Julius Caesar in 44 B.C. and became the capital of the Roman province of Achaea. St. Paul founded a Christian community there, to which he wrote his Epistles to the Corinthians. New Corinth was built 3.5 mi (5.6 km) from its ancient site, after the Hellenic city was destroyed by an earthquake. The modern town exports currants, olive oil, and silk.

See also: Greece.