ABSTRACT
Corinth is called wealthy because of its commerce, since it is situated on the Isthmus and is master of two harbors, of which one leads straight to Asia and the other to Italy; and it makes easy the exchange of merchandise from both countries that are so far distant from each other and also the duties on what by land was exported from the Peloponnesos and what was imported to it fell to those who held the keys. Corinth was a passageway for numerous people and thus also cultures. Corinth's wealth is frequently ascribed to its ability to capitalize on its location and to serve the needs of those passing through. At a very basic level, the homology of Corinthians to hetairai effeminizes them. The characterization of all Corinthians as courtesans implicitly affirms the Athenian's phallic agency and their ability to dominate Corinth. But there is more to the courtesan than gender. For courtesans were women who worked.
