The Acrocorinth fortifications refer to the defensive structures built to protect the upper Corinth or the acropolis of ancient Corinth. These fortification structures, built in successive phases, exhibit remarkable engineering and ingenuity of ancient Corintians. The site's archaic acropolis, initially a defensible position due to its geomorphology, underwent extensive fortification during the Byzantine Empire.
Acrocorinth, a monolithic rock overseeing ancient Corinth, Greece, boasts formidable ancient fortifications that have witnessed centuries of historical events. The fortifications were systematically inhabited since the 13th century, as evidenced by archaeological finds such as pottery, indicating the enduring strategic importance of Acrocorinth. In 146 BCE, after Mummius destroyed the lower city and the acropolis, sections of ancient Acrocorinth's fortifications were reconstructed and expanded using the same materials. George Forrest, an observer, described Acrocorinth as the most impressive monolith in terms of its fortifications.
The fortifications of Acrocorinth form a wide circle on the edge of the rocky outcrop, offering visitors the opportunity to walk along well-preserved walls and experience the strategic layout of the site. The mountain castle's location, close to the Isthmus, contributed to its strategic importance, making it a secure and influential fortress in the Peloponnese region of ancient Greece. The layers of history embedded in Acrocorinth's fortifications make it an archaeological and historical treasure, showcasing the resilience and adaptability of ancient structures.
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Third Monumental Gate
The third, largest of all, gate is located between and protected by the two central towers. Its opening features a rectangular frame of ancient blocks and fragments of monolithic columns. The alrge blind arch above it gives it a monumental aspect. Wooden door panels sheathed with metal plaques sealed the opening.
Inside the gate, a vaulted passage leads to a second opening also framed with ancient blocks. Fragments of wall paintings are visible on the drum above the entrance. Halfway along the vaulted passage is the slot for the iron portcullis that blocked the entrance. The portcullisdoes not belong to the original construction phase, but was added during the Frankish period (thirteenth to fourteenth centuries CE).
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First Gate
The first gate of Acrocorinth, also known as the Gate A, featured a ditch-like structure in front of it. This gate was part of the ancient defenses of Acrocorinth and was associated with a two-story construction. It was part of the southern enclosure wall that surrounded the extended upper acropolis of ancient Corinth. The chronological details and historical significance of Gate A contribute to our understanding of the evolving defensive structures on Acrocorinth over time.
Sieges played a central role in many conflicts of the ancient world and generals, including Darius, Alexander the Great, Hannibal and Scipio Africanus successfully used siegecraft to gain their objectives. As siege tactics became integral to success in war, generals employed the minds of engineers and scientists to develop tactics which ranged from penetrating the defences or blockading the city through to tricks and deception.
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“Travels around the Isthmus: Corinthia and the Argolid" is a compilation of one hundred and forty-five extracts from the accounts of fifty-six writers of their visits to Corinthia and the Argolid over the period from 1160 to 1914. It is illustrated with thirty-two contemporaneous works of art.
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The ancient Greeks invented democracy, theater, rational science, and philosophy. They built the Parthenon and the Library of Alexandria. They wrote down the timeless myths of Odysseus and Oedipus, and the histories of Leonidas’s three hundred Spartans and Alexander the Great. But understanding these uniquely influential people has been hampered by their diffusion across the entire Mediterranean.
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Lord Byron described Greece as great, fallen, and immortal, a characterization more apt than he knew. Through most of its long history, Greece was poor. But in the classical era, Greece was densely populated and highly urbanized. Many surprisingly healthy Greeks lived in remarkably big houses and worked for high wages at specialized occupations.
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The Madain Project is an online archive of Abrahamic History and Archaeology.
Abrahamic History & Archaeology is the study of history and archaeology with respect to the three Abrahamic Faiths without considering the religious and theological aspects. The goal of Abrahamic History is to understand how and why the religious doctrines and behaviours have evlovled and changed over time. Searching for patterns in the evolution of significant cultural events such as the development of farming, the emergence of cities, or the collapse of major civilizations for clues of why and how these have influenced the three major Abrahamic religions.
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