Corinth - Ancient Coin Stories

Corinth, Peloponnesos
ca 350-306 BCE
AR Stater 22mm 8.59g
Pegasos flying left /
Helmeted head of Athena left, helmet decorated with laurel wreath; A P flanking neck truncation, aegis behind
Ravel Period V, 1009; Pegasi 427; BCD Corinth –; HGC 4, 1848; Cf. CNG 112 lot 207 (same obv + rev dies)

Corinth Corinthia
ca. 248 – 243 BCE
Ae 15.0mm, 2.8gms
Obv: Laureate head of Apollo right
Rev: Zeus advancing right holding thunderbolt and filleted transverse scepter; torch behind
BCD 305, SNG Cop. 164

Corinth was among the most well-known and powerful cities of ancient Greece. Standing in the way between the Peloponnese and the rest of Greece, Corinth was always a major player. During the Peloponnesian War, they sided with Sparta against Athens, but as with most Greek cities their alliances changed over time.

In 337 BCE, Philip II created the League of Corinth to, in effect, marshal all of the Greek cities under his command. Each city had a number of delegates in proportion to its power. Decisions by the League included declaring war on Persia (which Alexander would later make use of) and agreeing to the destruction of Thebes.

The League meetings took place in Corinth (naturally) and Philip II was initially voted its head. The agreement stated that the hegemony would pass to his heirs, so after Philip’s murder the following year, Alexander took over. The League of Corinth was disbanded shortly after Alexander died.

The majority of Corinthian coins depict Pegasos. This was due to one of their first kings, Bellerophon, who per legend tamed it. Many of Corinth’s colonies also depict Pegasos.

Corinthia. Corinth
circa 300 BCE
Æ 13mm, 1,93g
Pegasos flying r.
R/ Trident head downwards; K to l., ivy leaf (?) to r.
Cf. BCD Corinth 217ff

I had the opportunity to visit the ruins of Corinth during my trip to Greece. Here are several photos I took.

1073 BCE

Aletes, first Bacchiad king of Corinth, takes control of the city from the Sisyphids.

747 BCE

Telestes, the last Bacchiad king of Corinth, is killed.

700 BCE

Foundation of Leukas as a colony of Corinth.

657 BCE

The remaining Bacchiads in Corinth are expelled by the tyrant Kypselos. They flee throughout Magnia Grecia and found Syracuse and Korkyra.

650 BCE

A channel that separates the island from the mainland is constructed by Corinthian settlers at Leukas to aid in navigation.

627 BCE

Death of the tyrant Kypselos in Corinth. He is succeeded by his son Periander.

625 BCE

Anaktorion founded by settlers from Corinth.

585 BCE

Death of the tyrant Periander of Corinth, who had built the city into a major trading center. After Periander supposedly defiles the corpse of his wife, his son Lykophron departs for Korkyra. When Periander offers him the rule of Corinth, the inhabitants of Korkyra kill Lykophron rather than let him depart. Periander dies of grief.

582 BCE

Death of Psammetichos, the last of the Kypselid tyrants of Corinth.

581 BCE

The Isthmian Games are established in Corinth.

550 BCE

Construction of the Temple of Apollo at Corinth.

480 BCE

The Battle of Thermopylae. Soldiers from Sparta, Mantinea, Tegea, Orchomenos (Arkadia), Corinth, Phlious, Thespiai, Phokis, Opuntian Lokris, and other cities are overrun by the Persians at a huge cost.

480 BCE
August 7

The Greek allies are forced to withdraw against the Persians in the Battle of Artemisium. Afterwards the Persians occup Histaia. The Greek fleet is supplied by Athens, Chalkis, Sparta, Troizen, Opuntian Lokris, Corinth, Megara, Epidauros, Aegina, Sikyon, and Kios.

479 BCE

The Greek alliance, consisting of Aegina, Athens, Corinth, Megara, Thespiai, Orchomenos, Epidauros, Troizen, Halieis, Elis, Hermione, and Sparta defeate the Persians at the Battle of Plataea.

479 BCE
August 27

The Persians are defeated at the Battle of Mykale. An alliance of Athens, Sparta, and Corinth. As a result, Chios, Kos, and Ephesos are liberated from Persian rule. The Greek fleet sets sail from Knidos.

459 BCE

Megara and Corinth go to war. Athens supports Megara and obtains access to the Isthmus of Corinth.

433 BCE

The Battle of Sybota takes place between Corinth and Korkyra over control of the latter. Korkyra was aided by Athens, while Corinth was joined by Ambrakia. Corinth was forced to withdraw.

433 BCE

Corinth obtains control over Anaktorion through fraud after the city had been joinly occupied by Corinth and Korkyra.

432 BCE

Athens instructs Potidai to tear down its walls. Corinth persuades them to revolt.

430 BCE-
429 BCE

Athens defeats Potidaia and Corinth at the Battle of Potidaia, then places Potidaia under siege. Due to the costs of maintaining it, it is eventually removed.

421 BCE

Argos organizes an alliance with Mantinea, Corinth, Elis, and Thebes against Athens and Sparta.

394 BCE
July

Sparta and their allies defeat Athens and their allies at the Battle of Nemea. On Athens side are Thebes, Lokris Opuntii, and Corinth. With Sparta are Halieis, Sikyon, Epidauros, Troizen, and Hermione. Phlious remains neutral.

394 BCE

Sparta, Orchomenos, and Phokis defeat Argos, Athens, Lokris, Euboia, Corinth, the Ainianes, and Thebes at the Battle of Koroneia (the sequel).

338 BCE

Ambrakia is besieged by Philip II of Macedon. Although Corinth and Athens come to its aid and prevent its complete destruction, Ambrakia is forced to accept a Macedonian garrison.

338 BCE

Alexander III and Philip II defeat Thebes at the Battle of Chaeronea. Argos fights on the side of Philip, while Corinth, Megara, Epidauros, and Troizen participate with Thebes. Chares is one of the Athenian commanders, but escapes blame.

333 BCE

Kleopatra organizes a shipment of grain to Corinth via Leukas.

304 BCE

Demetrios Poliorketes re-establishes the Corinthian League while at Athens.

304 BCE

Demetrios Poliorketes seizes Epidauros, Sikyon, Corinth, Bura, Argos, and Orchomenos.

245 BCE

Antigonos II regains control over Corinth.

243 BCE

Aratos of Sikyon takes Acrocorinth. The inhabitants of Corinth rise up against Antigonos II.

229 BCE

Romans are allowed to take part in the Isthmian Games of Corinth.

228 BCE

Aratos of Sikyon takes the Acrocorinth and frees Argos. Xenon steps down in Hermione.

220 BCE

The Social War begins, pitting members of the Achaian League, including Aegira, Patrai, Dyme, Bura, Sikyon, Corinth, Megalopolis, Messenia, Argos, Elis, and Macedon, against Sparta under King Kleomenes III, who were supported by the Aetolian League and Athens.

200 BCE-
197 BCE

During the Second Macedonian War between Rome and Philip V of Macedon, Aegira, the Aetolian League, Corinth, Sikyon, Patrai, Athens, Pergamon, and Rhodes support Rome.

196 BCE

The Roman Titus Quinctius Flamininus declares the freedom of all Greek states from Macedon at the Isthmian Games in Corinth. This includes Histaia.

146 BCE

The Achaian League is defeated by Rome. Corinth is destroyed and Dyme, Patrai, Sikyon, Bura, and Aegira come under the control of Rome.

44 BCE

Julius Caesar refounds Corinth as a Roman colony, Colonia Laus Iulia Corinthiensis. Dyme is also refounded as a colony.

27 BCE

Corinth becomes the capital of the Roman province of Achaia under Augustus.

51 CE

The Apostle Paul visits Corinth and stays for 18 months during his second missionary journey, preaching and establishing a Christian community. He later writes at least two letters (First and Second Corinthians) to the community, which become part of the New Testament.

67 CE

Emperor Nero visits Corinth and begins construction on a canal across the Isthmus of Corinth, intending to connect the Aegean and Ionian Seas. The project is abandoned after Nero’s death in 68 CE.

96 CE

Emperor Domitian strengthens Corinth’s defenses and invests in infrastructure, enhancing the city’s prosperity and its standing within the Roman Empire.

165 CE

Corinth suffers a major earthquake that causes extensive damage to the city.