Acrocorinth

Acrocorinth is a monolithic rock overlooking the ancient city of Corinth, Greece. It is one of the most impressive acropolis of mainland Greece.

The Acrocorinth was continuously occupied from archaic times to the early 19th century. Along with Demetrias and Chalcis, the Acrocorinth during the Hellenistic period formed one of the so-called “Fetters of Greece” – three fortresses garrisoned by the Macedonians to secure their control of the Greek city-states.

Corinth continued to thrive through the Roman period and during the early Christian era. The Apostle Paul visited Corinth in the 1st century CE and established a Christian community there. It was said he arrived in Corinth in 49 or 50 AD and created the first Church of Corinth, where he met Priscilla and Aquila, who became two of the Seventy Disciples.

The city's archaic acropolis was already an easily defensible position due to its geomorphology; it was further heavily fortified during the Byzantine Empire as it became the seat of the strategos of the thema of Hellas and later of the Peloponnese. It was defended against the Crusaders for three years by Leo Sgouros. Afterwards it became a fortress of the Frankish Principality of Achaea, the Venetians, and the Ottoman Turks.

Three circuit walls formed the man-made defense of the hill. The highest peak on the site was home to a temple to Aphrodite. The temple was converted to a church, which in turn was converted to a mosque.

Currently, it is one of the most important medieval castle sites of Greece. The interior contains the ruins of the temple of Aphrodite (5th-4th century BC), the spring of Ano Peirini, several Christian churches, a Byzantine underground cistern, mosques, fountains etc.

Address

Corinth, Greece

Details

Founded: 7th century BCE
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Greece