Ancient Corinth

Corinth, the glorious commercial city of ancient times, owes its wealth and power to its geographical location. Strategically positioned on the Isthmos was controlling the communications of the mainland and sea routes. It founded its economy on the exploitation of the Aegean and Ionian Seas and on the exchange of merchandise from commercial centers that are so far distant from each other from the East to the West. Corinth was the innovator and master builder of commercial and was ships. In the harbor of Lecheon, was first built “triiris” in the 7^th century B.C, a war ship that dominated over the Mediterranean Sea for about 1.000 years.

The wealthy Corinth, was from the first Greek cities that established a series of colonies in Italy and South France carrying elements from Greek civilization, such as religious beliefs, art and architecture and a general way of life.

Acrokorinthos

The citadel of ancient Corinth was fortified in 7^th century and was occupied by Romans, Franks, Venetians, the Knights of Malta and Turks because of its strategic position.

The ancient port of Lechaio

The northern port of ancient Corinth, Lechaio flourished in Corinth during the pre-classical period by reason of its closeness to the city and the direction of the trade of ancient Corinth, towards to west. The whole conception and construction of the port was a technological miracle in ancient times that made it extremely safe.

The ancient port of Kehreou

Ancient Kehries port, at the deep blue waters of the Saronic Sea, was one of the most well known ports of the ancient world, where goods were brought from and sent to the Eastern Mediterranean.

THE ANCIENT DIOLKOS

The archaic Diolkos served ships, throughout antiquity, that wished to cross the Isthmus by land. It was joining the eastern port of Kechreae in the Saronic gulf. The Diolkos was a stone paved road upon which moved the olkos, a construction of great length upon which the ships were carried. It was more than 6 km long. Parts of the stone road on which wheeled platforms carried the ships were found during excavations on both sides of the canal.

The Canal

The Isthmus, a distinctive “strip” of land, was a principal strategic point from the archaic times and one of the most important in the eastern Mediterranean. The opening up of the Isthmus has been a main topic since antiquity, since the construction of a canal would solve many problems and aid shipping and commerce. There followed studies and attempts at the opening of the Isthmus by Dimitrios Poliorkitis, Julius Ceasar, Caligula, Nero, Herodus Atticus, the Byzantiansand the Venetians, each in his turn undertaking this greatly inspired task, however all the attempts were abandoned. The Canal was opened after the Greek independence and between the years 1882-1893. On the 25^th of July 1893 the task was completed and the first ship passed through the canal blowing its horn jubilantly. It is 6.346 m long and its width of the sea is 8 m.

Ancient Nemea

It is one of the four sacred places in the ancient Greece. Its history gets lost in the depths of time and archeological findings show that it has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The Nemean Games were celebrated every two years in summer. The Nemean Games became known from the famed labor of Heracles: the killing of the fearsome lion that terrorized the region. Here the temple of Zeus is to be found the most important building of the archeological site, today as in ancient times (4^th century B.C)

STYMPHALIA

Stymphalia is the only highland lake side town in the Peloponnese with an ancient city and acropolis surrounded by mountains, to the south mount Oligyrtos and to the west the birth place of Hermes, mount Cyllene. The municipality of Stymphalia lies between the slopes of the mount Cyllene Apellantos and Oligyrtos. Its villages of Kastania (with its settlements of karteri, Mikros Machalas and Kastania), Lafka, Drosopigi, Stymphalia (with its settlements of Stymphalia, Kionia and Matsiza), Kyllini, Kalliani, Psari, Asrokampos, Kefalari and Kaisari radiate magnificence , distinction and beauty awakening memories and feelings of euphoria in the wayfarer.

The journey to Stymphalia can start from either Nemea or kiato and it is 70 Km away from Corinth.

The history of Stymphalia loses itself in the depths of time, making it a sacred place in the pages of Greek history.

Myths and legends surround Stymphalia, in the thick rushes that still grow on the shores of the lake, the mythical hero Heracles˙ carried out his sixth labour, with his bow and poisoned arrows he killed the Stymphalian Birds that ravaged the area. The fearsome birds brazen feathers and claws that nested in the marsh and caused catastrophe when they rose up in flight.

Up there, as Mythology refers, Hermes, the messenger of the Gods, was born, whereas Pan, the god of flocks and sepherds used to play his pipes, dancing with woodland Nymphs. During that period Stymfalus, son of Elatus and Laodice, a queen of Arcadia, founded Stymphalus a city-state in the district of Stymphalia.

Stymphalians were very brave warriors and they took part in the Trojan War, in the Persian Wars as well as in the Peloponnesian War. During excavations there were excellent archaeological findings while ancient remains of the city are still visible semi-submerged in the lake.

The Roman emperor Adrianus constructed an aqueduct, a huge project in those times, to bring water to Corinth from the lake of stymphalia.

During the Turkish occupation the whole area organised resistance forces and many of the larger villages were initiated into the “Friendly Society” and were of notable help with the preparation for the uprising.

The charm of the area is its double personality˙ on the one hand the beguiling charm of the unknown past based on myths and fantasy, collections of memories offered to each romantic visitor, on the other hand a living organism, a rare hydro-ecosystem offering wild life and natural beauty enriching the quality of life of everyone in the area.

Monastery of St George

Feneou – Doksa barrier

Altimeter 1100m

We are at an altimeter of 1100m, at the borders of two municipalities; the one of Stymfalia and the one of Feneos. Two of the highest mountains of Peloponnisos, Ziria and Aroania, stand the one opposite to the other and create the tableland of Feneos. The lake that used to exist there up until the previous century was said to have subway corridors by the historians. According to the myth, goddess Dimitra went down to Ades from there, seeking her daughter Persephone.The lake that we currently see with Paliomonastiro is artificial.

The first monastery was the nowadays “Paliomonastiro” of Byzantine rhythm, built in the 14th century and abandoned later during the 17th century, when the lake Feneou flooded the whole field.Today’s monastery, having three floors, was built in 1693, but was renovated from its shelters in 1754, due to a fire. The temple lies in the middle of the yard, combining basilica type with a dome. It is divided in three parts. The narthex, the main temple and the sanctuary. Its whole inside is covered by murals, created between 1762 and 1768. They illustrate saints, Madonna and her life and Jesus Christ’s life experiences from his childhood and his torture. At the west side of the temple, behind the narthex, there is a secret school (which is where the priests used to teach the Greek language to children without the Turks knowing it. It was taking place for as long as Greece was under Turkey’s possession, until 1821).