Corinth

Corinth was the wealthiest city until the 5th century BC, much of which was generated by trade. They also had the largest navy. In 146 BC Corinth was leveled by the Romans and remained dead for a century.

Canal

Before making our upward journey to the fortress, we passed over a canal. Like the Panama Canal it was built by the French, in 1882 (however they actually finished this one). The isthmus of Corinth is 6.6 km.

Akrocorinth (High Corinth Fortress)

This ancient fortress has changed hands many times since its establishment and few of the original pieces remain in place. This is illustrated by the wall (below) where only one segment is ancient (4th century BC). The rest is Venetian and/or Turkish.

Corinth's location was important because you could not go from Greece to the Peloponnese without passing through here. This made Corinth particularly strategic. Philip II, via the Corinthian League, had everything under his control. The league's purpose: to defeat Persia.

Sacred prostitution took place upon the high point of the fortress. We do not know much about this ordeal, but we know that sailors were frequent visitors. It is curious why the prostitutes would set up shop on the top of a mountain (then make their customers walk all the way up there). What made these particular prostitutes sacred in comparison to other ones is questionable. 

Forum 

The forum was a gathering place similar to the Agora, but differed in that it was for political purposes and the Agora was for social purposes. After the Romans took charge in the Aegean Corinth became a Roman colony.

How did Greeks and Romans live together?

There was an array of ethnicities, religion, and social statuses co-existing. The social hierarchy was as follows:

1) Roman citizens

2) Latins

3) Greeks

4) Former Slaves

5) Slaves

Temple of Apollo

This is the oldest, mostly standing temple in Greece, built in the mid 6th century BC. Columns are Doric order and are solid:

It is of the very old Doric style which features pancake-like flattened capitals. This temple is actually on the verge of falling over, and subsequently is also the most fragile temple in Greece.