Ancient Coin Stories

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

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

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

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

Anaktorion founded by settlers from Corinth.

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.

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

The Isthmian Games are established in Corinth.

Construction of the Temple of Apollo at Corinth.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Antigonos II regains control over Corinth.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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