A Golden Age of Wealth and Power
In the golden age of Greece, about four hundred years before Christ, Corinth stood as one of the most splendid and powerful cities in the ancient world. It was not only wealthy and luxurious but also famous for its frivolous lifestyle and reputation for immorality. Among all the Greek cities, Corinth shone brightest in terms of trade, influence, and extravagance. It became the commercial heart of Greece, much like Chicago became a great financial center in modern times.
Corinth was built on a plateau, about six miles from the sea, along the side of a great hill called the Acro-Corinth. From this position, the city looked down upon a narrow and beautiful inlet of deep blue water, framed by two mountain ranges. The Gulf of Corinth is often compared to the majestic fjords of Norway. However, while Norway’s fjords are rugged and dramatic, Corinth’s gulf is softer and calmer in its beauty. In many ways, it resembles the Bosphorus in Turkey or even the Inland Sea of Japan, with their graceful and serene landscapes Corinth a Town of Beauty History and Myth.
The Road to the Ancient Ruins
Today, travelers who journey from the railway station in New Corinth to the ruins of the old city will find themselves on one of the best roads in Greece. The road climbs gently upward, leading toward a remarkable group of ancient columns that immediately capture attention. These columns are part of the earliest known examples of the Doric school of architecture, one of the most important styles in Greek history.
The Temple of Apollo
The seven columns that stand today are the remains of the once-great Temple of Apollo. This temple was considered one of the finest creations of Doric architecture, admired for its strength, simplicity, and natural proportions. The columns themselves are extraordinary. Each one is a single block of stone, deeply fluted and perfectly shaped. They measure about twenty-three and a half feet high. At the base, they are five feet and eight inches in diameter, narrowing slightly to four feet and three inches at the top. Above them rests a heavy stone entablature, supported by projecting capitals Bulgaria Holidays.
Originally, the columns were covered in enamel, which must have made them shine brilliantly in the sunlight. Of the seven columns that remain, five are still nearly perfect, while two were broken and later repaired with iron bands. Time has left its mark on all of them. They are scarred and worn, showing curious cuts and wounds as though they had been shaped by a chisel.
A Legacy of Art and Culture
Though only seven columns remain, they continue to speak of Corinth’s golden age. The Temple of Apollo once represented the highest ideals of Greek religion, scholarship, and artistry. Even in ruins, these majestic stones stand as a noble reminder of the city’s greatness and of the enduring power of Doric architecture—the simplest and most natural of all the Greek styles.
