ABSTRACT
The oldest settlement in the vicinity of Corinth dates to perhaps 4000 BC. This is probably closer to the place that Homer knew as Corinth, which he called Ephyra; its legendary kings were Sisyphus and Bellerophon. At times Corinth rivalled Athens for commercial dominance in Greece, and initially sided with Sparta against Athens in the Peloponnesian War, helping to defeat her in the Sicilian expedition. The decline of Corinth seems ultimately to be the result of being caught in the middle of political situations between Athens and Sparta, and inciting wars that she was incapable of winning. Destroyed by the Roman general Mummius in 146 BC, Corinth was re-established as a Roman colony by Julius Caesar and became the capital of Roman Greece. Corinth was famous for the abundance of prostitutes and lust for life shared by its citizenry. Symposium (drinking party) scenes are popular on Corinthian pottery, and the Acrocorinth was a popular symposium site.
