Corinthian Matters

Category: Isthmus

  • The Diolkos of Corinth – A New View

    Over the last week, I have been working frantically on the revisions of an article called the “Diolkos of Corinth,” about the famous paved portage road across the Corinthian Isthmus. I submitted the paper last August and it was provisionally accepted for publication providing that some minor modifications were made.  When I hear that the…

  • Corinthian Scholarship (March 2011)

    I stumbled upon a good number of Corinthian papers, presentations, and publications this month that cover topics from Isthmia, Kenchreai, Aphrodite and prostitute, and Paul’s ascent in 2 Cor. 12. First, Corinthian archaeology and history: Anne Pippin Burnett has a piece in GRBS 51 (2011) on Pindar and prostitution at Corinth: “Servants of Peitho: Pindar fr.122 S”…

  • Maps of the Corinthia

    Maps of the Corinthia are surprisingly rare via the internet, let alone maps of the ancient Corinthia. A google image search on “Korinthia” or “Corinthia” turns up two dozen very coarse road maps of the northeastern Peloponnese mainly produced or posted by tourist agencies. I have added a new section of this website, Maps of…

  • Corinthiaka

    The latest Corinthiaka for this cold Monday morning: (via Matt Malcolm’s blog) A conference on May 14 at Macquarie University on the theme of “Corinth – Paul, People and Politics,” sponsored by the Society for the Study of Early Christianity.  A seminar (May 12) in advance of the conference on the theme of “The Economy…

  • Three new papers on the Roman Corinthia and Isthmus

    A new book on Hellenistic to Roman Corinth called Corinth in Contrast: Studies in Inequality is now in the works.  The volume is edited by Friesen, James, and Schowalter and is based on the conference in Austin in early October which brought together archaeologists, historians, and New Testament scholars to discuss the topic of inequality and contrast…

  • The Most Excellent Strategem of Niketas Ooryphas (Part IV)

    Today I deliver the final segment of this interpretation of Niketas Ooryphas , the clever and mighty Byzantine admiral who shocked Aegean pirates in the Corinthian Gulf.  As Basil’s thunderbolt, he certainly did not drag his feet in 872 AD, but did he actually drag his fleet?  On Friday, I presented a series of arguments…

  • Did Niketas Drag His Fleet? The Ooryphas Saga, Part III

    Probably not. Over the last day or two, I’ve been telling the conquests of Niketas Ooryphas, the terrifying Byzantine admiral who delivered the shocking attack on the menacing Cretan pirates in the Corinthian Gulf in the late 9th century AD.  The Cretan pirates: from the Madrid Skylitzes manuscript The story is based on several…

  • Basil’s Thunderbolt: Niketas Ooryphas, Part II

    Today we continue the story of Niketas Ooryphas, a shadowy Byzantine admiral who appears on three occasions in the 10th century Life of Basil, a document praising the Emperor Basil I as  a restorer of order after the disastrous reign of the immoral and diabolical Michael III.  Niketas’ exploits, as I suggested yesterday, create real…

  • The Corinthia at the AIA 2011

    A great weekend in San Antonio at the annual meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America, which included some good (and bad) Tex-Mex fare, a trip to the Alamo (which triggered some deep nostalgia for Texas history and 7th grade Texas history classes), the annual Isthmia reunion dinner, and numerous strolls with Kate and baby…

  • Intro to Corinth Educational Video (with diolkos)

    Thanks to Will Rutherford who pointed me to this Intro to Corinth educational video created by St. Paul enthusiast Russ Wessley to set the scene for St. Paul in Corinth. The video called “Introduction to Corinth – Part 1” is the first of a series designed to establish the relationship of Paul to Corinth.  The…