Temple of Apollo, Corinth
Location
About
The Temple of Apollo at ancient Corinth, built around 550 BCE in the monolithic Doric style, is one of the oldest surviving Greek temples in the world. Its seven remaining columns of solid limestone monoliths — unusual in a period when columns were typically built from stacked drums — rise dramatically against the backdrop of the Acrocorinth citadel, visible across the vast city ruins. Corinth's position on the narrow isthmus between mainland Greece and the Peloponnese made it one of antiquity's greatest commercial cities, and Apollo's temple dominated its skyline.
Significance
As patron of Corinth alongside Aphrodite, Apollo's temple anchored the religious and commercial city that Paul of Tarsus would later address in two of the New Testament's most important epistles. Corinth hosted the Isthmian Games, held in honor of Poseidon at the nearby Isthmia sanctuary, making the city a major pan-Hellenic festival center. The city's wealth from controlling trans-isthmus trade was reflected in the magnificence of its religious architecture.
History & Historical Arc
Corinth was one of the most prosperous Greek cities from the 8th century BCE, known for its bronze-working, pottery (Cor…
Archaeological Notes
The seven surviving columns (of an original 38) date to c. 550 BCE and remain among the oldest standing Greek columns. T…
Key Features & Structures
- Seven monolithic Doric columns (c. 550 BCE)
- Ancient forum (agora)
Visitor Information
Ancient Corinth is an active UNESCO-recognized archaeological site open daily, located 80 km southwest of Athens near th…
Related Figures
In the Bible
Source References
- Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.2–5
- Strabo, Geography 8.6.20–23
- 1 Corinthians 1:2