Corinth

(korinth.) [Gr. Korinthos.) A renowned Grecian city, in the Morea, near the isthmus of same name, bet. the gulfs of Ægin a and Lepanto, 50 m. from Athens, at the northern foot of the A croc or in thus, an isolated hill 1,886ft. high, on which was the citadel. According to its legendary history, C. was founded by Sisyphus the Æol ian, and was conquered by the Heraclidæ, who were expelled, B. c. 657, by Crypselus, the father of Per i an der, with the help of the populace. C. was the close ally of Sparta in the Peloponnesian war, -but afterwards became jealous of the Lacedæmonian power, and was induced to league against it with other Grecian states, B. c. 395. The war which ensued is known as the Corinthian war, and lasted till the peace of Ant alcid us, B. c. 387. Later, C. became the centre of theAchæan league formed against the Romans, and in revenge was utterly destroyed by L. Mummius, B. c. 146. Julius Cæsar rebuilt it, and made it the C. of Achaia. St. Paul planted a Christian church there, to which he also addre ed two epistles. At a later epoch, it pa ed into the hands of the Venetians; was conquered by the Turks in 1458; recovered by the Venetians in 1687; and retaken by the Turks in 1715, who held it till 1823. It is now a small town, with abt. 2,500 inhabitants.-C. (ISTHMUS OF), a narrow neck of land that divides the gulfs of Ægin a and Lepanto, and connects the More a with the mainland of Greece. Length, 20 m.; breadth, from 4 to 8 m. [s. 229]