Ancient Corinth

Κόρινθος

Greece · Peloponnese, Corinthia

Ancient cityExcavation ongoing
Approximate period6,500 BCE — 2,026 CEMultilayered site extending from the Early Neolithic to the Byzantine and later periods See on the map ↓

In brief

Corinth is a multilayered excavation site preserving buildings from the Greek, Roman and Byzantine periods together. Excavations by the American School of Classical Studies, which began in 1896, have continued in areas north and northeast of the theatre since 2018.

What was found?

  • 1Temple of Apollon

    The standing columns and foundation traces of the Archaic temple allow its plan to be studied. It is one of the principal examples of the city's monumental architecture before the Roman period.

  • 2Roman forum

    The forum in the city center was created by cutting into and filling the sloping terrain. The remains show that the topography was substantially altered during the Roman period.

  • 3Racetrack remains

    Phases of Classical and Hellenistic racetracks were identified beneath the Roman forum. They show that the same area was used for different public activities before the Roman redevelopment.

  • 4South Stoa

    The Hellenistic colonnaded building was retained as the forum's southern boundary during the Roman redevelopment. It shows how older buildings were incorporated into the new city plan.

What does it point to?

Korinthos reveals a city center reshaped over generations. The temple, racetracks, and forum document the changing arrangements of religious life, sport, and public administration within the same area.

What did it teach us?

  1. Showed that the level ground of the Roman forum was largely created by human intervention.
  2. Revealed older racetracks beneath the forum.
  3. Documented that the Roman city plan retained and reused some Hellenistic buildings.

Images

The remains of the Archaic Doric Temple of Apollo in Corinth on 6 April 2019
George E. Koronaios · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
View of the historical seat of the Metropolis of Corinth in the Roman Forum of Ancient Cor
George E. Koronaios · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Record

Culture
Ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine
First modern dig
1896
Team / historical
American School of Classical Studies at Athens; Christopher Pfaff
Coordinates
37.9054°, 22.8802°

Sources

  1. en.wikipedia.org
  2. ascsa.org
  3. ascsa.org
  4. American School of Classical Studies at Athens — About the Excavations
  5. Hesperia — Corinth: Excavations of 1980

Nearby excavations


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12.000

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