Corinth

1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri.

Corinth or Cornatho, as it's now called, a Town of Greece in Morea, situate near the Isthmus, that is, the narrow neck of Land that joins the Morea to Greece, between the Gulf of Lepanto and that of Engia. Corinth has formerly been very powerfull, and is thought to have been first built by Sisyphus, a Son of Aeolus, about An. Mund. and then it was called Corcyra and Ephyrus, untill being demolished, and then repeopled again by one Corinthus, it took the name of this second Founder. This place was also called Heliopolis, or the Town of the Sun, and was considerable for its Cittadel called Acro Corinthe, built upon a very high Mountain, as also for the wealth of the Inhabitants, and for the celebration of the Isthmique Plays. The Corinthians establish'd divers Colonies, and built the Town of Concyra, after Corfou, in the Island of this name, and were deeply engaged in most of the Gracian Wars. Leocrates, General of the Athenians, defeated them in the 295th year of Rome. In 315 the War of Corinth was as it were the Praeludium of that of Peloponnesus, so famous in the Greek History. In 511, Aratus, Commander of the Achaians, surpriz'd the Cittadel, and forc'd the Garrison away, that Antigonus Gonatas King of Macedonia had left in it. This Town shar'd also in the Misfortunes of Greece under the Reigns of Philip of Macedon and his Son Alexander. Before this, Sisyphus and his Descendants were Kings of Corinth, about 317 years, untill the Heraclides, descended of Hercules, becoming Masters of Peloponnesus under the Conduct of Temenus, Ctesephontes and Aristodemus, about 80 years after the taking of Troy, Alethes beat Dorides and Hiantidas out, and settled in their place An. Mund. 2951; he reigned 35 years, and was succeeded by Ixion. There were twelve Kings of this Family, during 324 years, that it reigned until Automenes, who reign'd but a year; and being dead or depos'd about A. M. 3275, two or three years before the first Olympiad, they substituted a yearly Magistrate in his place, and called him Pritanes; but about the 96th of Rome, Cypselus and his Son Periander begun a new kind of Tyranny over the Corinthians, and held it, one 30 and the other 44 years. Corinth has produc'd excellent Workmen, especially Painters, Architects and Carvers, but was utterly destroy'd by the Romans under Lucius Mummius, who subdued all Achaia, and got himself the Title of Achaicus the 607th year of Rome. It cannot well be imagined what Wealth was spoiled and consumed by Fire at the taking of Corinth. It is enough to observe, that the famous Metal called the Brass of Corinth, and so much esteem'd, was but the remains of that great Conflagration. Julius Caesar rebuilt and peopled it anew. St. Paul preach'd and liv'd a year and half here; and afterwards writ the two Letters we have of his to the Corinthians; so that Corinth became somewhat considerable. It belong'd for some time to the Venetians, but was taken by Mahomet II. in 1418.