ISTHMUS OF CORINTH (region in Corinthia)
Isthmus in Peloponnese, Greece
- Also called
- Isthmus
- Kind of place
- Region
- Region
- Corinthia
- Landmarks
- Sanctuary of Poseidon Pausanias 2.1.7; Temple of Poseidon Pausanias 2.1.7; Temple of Palaemon Pausanias 2.2.1; Altar of the Cyclopes Pausanias 2.2.1; Altar of Melicertes Pausanias 2.1.3; White-marble race-course Pausanias 2.1.7; Bronze Tritons Pausanias 2.1.7; Two images of Poseidon Pausanias 2.1.7; Image of Amphitrite Pausanias 2.1.7; Bronze image of Thalassa Pausanias 2.1.7; Two Tritons Pausanias 2.1.8; Poseidon and Amphitrite on the Chariot Pausanias 2.1.8; Palaemon on a Dolphin Pausanias 2.1.8; Thalassa Holding Aphrodite (Thalassa and Aphrodite) Pausanias 2.1.8; Nereids Pausanias 2.1.8; Statue of Poseidon Pausanias 2.1.9; Image of Galene Pausanias 2.1.9; Image of Thalassa Pausanias 2.1.9; Image of a sea-horse Pausanias 2.1.9; Image of Ino Pausanias 2.1.9; Image of Bellerophontes Pausanias 2.1.9; Image of Pegasus Pausanias 2.1.9; Image of Poseidon Pausanias 2.2.1; Image of Leucothea Pausanias 2.2.1; Image of Palaemon Pausanias 2.2.1; Pines of Sinis Pausanias 2.1.4; Row of pine trees Pausanias 2.1.7; Pine of Melicertes Pausanias 2.1.3
- People of myth here
- Perigune, Sinis the Pine-Bender
- Where
- 37.93° N, 22.98° E
The Isthmus of Corinth is the only part of the Peloponnese not surrounded by sea. Pausanias 3.21.6 The Isthmus of Corinth is the location of the altar of Poseidon. Diodorus 4.73 Sinis forced travelers to bend pine trees in the Isthmus of Corinth, where they died miserably when the trees released them. Apollodorus 3.16.2
Described in the sources
The chariot race for Hippodameia's hand ended at the altar on the Isthmus. Apollodorus, Epitome 2.5 +1 Sinis lived in the Isthmus of Corinth. Apollodorus 3.16.2 The Isthmus of Corinth is located 177 miles from Scyllæum. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.9 ¶2 The town of Cenchreæ is situated on the side of the Isthmus of Corinth. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.9 ¶2 The Dorians were defeated by the Achaeans at this location during their return attempt. Pausanias 8.5.1
Stories and history
Pelops was the first person to arrive at the altar on the Isthmus. Diodorus 4.73 The proposed passage through the isthmus was considered to be of little value. Strabo 1.3.11 Cutting the isthmus would have submerged Aegina and nearby islands according to engineers. Strabo 1.3.11 The pillar's inscription on the Megaris side declared the area was Ionia, not Peloponnesus. Strabo 3.5.5 The pillar's inscription on the opposite side declared the area was Peloponnesus, not Ionia. Strabo 3.5.5 Ionians and Peloponnesian settlers erected a pillar on the Isthmus as a shared boundary marker. Strabo 3.5.5 Demetrius planned to cut a canal through the isthmus to allow his fleet to pass, but engineers stopped him after measuring the sea levels. Strabo 1.3.11