Corinth

BLP:

Driving along the Saronic Gulf, we enjoy a quick photo stop at the historic Corinth Canal. Continue to Corinth archaeological site (Acts 18:1-18) where the Apostle Paul lived and worked, establishing a thriving church, subsequently sending two of his epistles, now part of the New Testament. Here, we see all of the sites associated with his ministry: the Agora, the Temple of Apollo, the Roman Odeon, the Bema and Gallio’s Seat. The small local archaeological museum is an absolute must!

• Bible:
  • Acts 18:1, 19:1
  • 1 Corinthians
  • 2 Corinthians
  • 2 Timothy 4:20
• Travel:
  • Turkey & Greece 2019
    • Thu 3/14
      • 7:00 — Breakfast
      • 8:00 — Depart Hotel for Corinth
      • 9:00 — Brief Visit at the Canal
      • 10:00 — Tour Corinth
        • the Agora
        • the Temple of Apollo
        • the Roman Odeon
        • the Bema;
        • Gallio’s Seat;
        • archaeological museum
      • 1:00 — Lunch
      • 2:30 — Depart for Cenchrea
• Resources:
  • Wikipedia
  • Wikimedia
  • Web
  • Map

Background

Corinth The Greek city of Corinth was founded in the Neolithic Period sometime between 5000-3000 BC. It became a major city in the 8th century BC and was known for its architectural and artistic innovations including the invention of black-figure pottery. The city was known for its wealth and commerce, self indulgence, immorality, and as a worship center of the Greek god Aphrodite and others.

The apostle Paul first visited the city in AD 49 or 50. He resided there for eighteen months (see Acts 18:11). Here he first became acquainted with Priscilla and Aquila, with whom he later traveled.

The chief source of Corinth’s wealth remained its possession of the isthmus, which controlled not only the land traffic between Attica and the Peloponnese but also the traffic between the Aegean and Ionian seas by way of the Corinthian and Saronic gulfs.

What destroyed Corinth?

Once in Corinth, the Romans killed all men and enslaved the women and the children, after which the city was sacked and utterly destroyed by the victorious Roman army and saw all of her treasures and art plundered. According to Polybius, Lucius Mummius was unable to resist the pressure of those around him.

Corinth Canal

The Corinth Canal is an artificial canal in Greece that connects the Gulf of Corinth in the Ionian Sea with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. The canal has great economic and tourist importance because it converts a 435 mile trip into a 20,810 foot trip from one side to another of the Isthmus.

Corinth archaeological site

Corinth was a Greek, Hellenistic and Roman city located on the isthmus which connects mainland Greece with the Peloponnese. Surrounded by fertile plains and blessed with natural springs, ancient Corinth was a center of trade, had a naval fleet and participated in various Greek wars.

Paul’s letters to the church in Corinth show that the problems of the city also affected the Christian community. Among the myriad problems in the Corinthian church were: claims of spiritual superiority over one another, suing one another in public courts, abusing the communal meal, and sexual misbehavior.

Agora

The Agora or Roman Forum, was the heart of the ancient city of Corinth. It is located south of the Temple of Apollo. In the background, the Acrocorinth, a monolithic rock overseeing the city in Greece.

Temple of Apollo

In the Byzantine era a basilica was built on the northeast part of the temple Hill, whereas in the Ottoman period, the eastern part of the Temple was demolished and a new residence of the local Turkish Bey (bey means chieftain) was built on top of its crest.

Roman Odeon

The Odeon (meaning singing place) of Ancient Corinth - the Odeon is the name for several ancient Greek and Roman Buildings built for musical activities such as singing, musical shows, and poetry competitions.

Bema

The word bema is a Greek word that means alter or “raised part.”

A bema was an elevated platform used as an orator’s podium in ancient Athens. The term can refer to the raised area in a sanctuary.

According to tradition, the site of Paul’s trial was the Bema, a large elevated rostrum standing prominently in the center of the Roman Forum of ancient Corinth and from where the city’s officials addressed the public.

Gallio’s Seat

Lucius Junius Gallio Annaeanus or Gallio was a Roman senator and brother of the famous writer Seneca. He is best known for dismissing an accusation brought against Paul the Apostle in Corinth. Acts 18:12-17

Archaeological Museum

The Archaeological Museum of Ancient Corinth houses an extensive collection of artifacts from the local archaeological site and the general area of Corinth. The artifacts cover the history of Ancient Corinth through Greek, Roman, and Byzantine rule.

Title image credit

More to come...