The city of Corinth was originally founded around 6000 BC, during the Neolithic Age, by Corinthos, a descendant of the sun god Helios. Other myths claim the city was founded by Ephyra, daughter of the Titan Oceanus. The city is known both as Corinth and as Ephyra.

During the Mycenaean period Corinth may have also been the site of a Bronze Age palace-city, and was eventually settled by the Dorians before the end of the period.

In the Classical Era, Corinth equaled Athens and Thebes in terms of wealth, fed by its steady trade including the export of black-figure pottery.

Corinth was ruled during the 7th century BC by Cypelus and his son Periander, who was considered one of the Seven Wise Men of Greece. Both men were tyrants, and under their rule citizens of Corinth were sent out to colonize new communities. They were responsible for founding such places as Apollonia, Potidaea, m modern-day Corfu, and modern-day Albania. Corinth was one of nine Greek cities to sponsor colonization of Naukratis in Egypt.

Periander was the first to mint Corinthian coins, and was the first to attempt to create passage for ships across the Isthmus between the Corinthian Gulf and the Saronic Gulf. Unable to cut through, he created a stone ramp, called a Diolkos, instead. The time spent under Periander’s rule is considered to be the Golden Age of Corinth.

Corinth flourished and became a center for wealth and luxury. Architecture of the time was the most intricate in Corinth, reflecting the prosperity of the people. Living standards were very high, and not everyone was able to afford to live there.

Two major ports, one in each gulf, fed the wealth of trade that flowed through Corinth. In addition to trade, the port cities also housed Corinth’s fleet of war ships. Corinth provided 40 of its ships to fight in the Persian Wars, in the Battle of Salamis and the Battle of Plataea. Afterwards, Corinth became an ally of Sparta and frequently was at odds with Athens, which eventually led to the Peloponnesian War in 431 BC.

Following the conclusion of the Peloponnesian War, Corinth turned on Sparta and declared war on it. The constant warring of the Peloponnesian city-states allowed the Macedonians to invade their lands, forming the Corinthian League under Philip II of Macedon.

In 146 BC Corinth was destroyed by Lucius Mummius, who killed the men, sold the women and children as slaves, and torched the entire city. Corinth was rebuilt by Julius Caesar in 44 BC and settled by Romans. Despite the city’s destruction by Mummius, it was once again known under Roman rule for its outrageous luxury and rampant immoral behavior.

The city was plundered many more times, with its citizens sold off as slaves. Such events occurred during Alaraic’s invasion of Greece in 395-396, and again in 1147 by the Sicilian Normans under Roger of Sicily.

Corinth was devastated many times and had to be completely rebuilt. Earthquakes ravaged Corinth in 375 and in 551. It was destroyed by earthquakes again in 1858.

Corinth had many temples, the most famous of which was dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite, which employed over one thousand prostitutes. Corinth was also the site of the Temple of Apollo.

Paul the Apostle was a resident of Corinth for a short time in AD 51 or 52, and returned again for a short visit in AD 58. During his stay he wrote the First Epistle to the Corinthians and the Second Epistle to the Corinthians.

Turkish forces completely destroyed Corinth during the Greek War of Independence. The city was finally liberated after the Treaty of London in 1832 and was considered for the site of the capital of the new Kingdom of Greece, but Athens prevailed.

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