**Acrocorinth** ([[Greek language|Greek]]: Ακροκόρινθος, lit. 'Upper Corinth' or 'the [[Acropolis|acropolis]] of [[Ancient Corinth|ancient Corinth]]') is a monolithic rock overlooking the ancient city of Corinth, [[Ancient Greece|Greece]]. In the estimation of George Forrest, "It is the most impressive of the [[Acropolis|acropolis]] of mainland Greece."[^1]

With its secure water supply, Acrocorinth's [[Fortress|fortress]] was repeatedly used as a last line of defense in southern Greece because it commanded the [[Isthmus of Corinth]], repelling foes from entry by land into the [[Peloponnese]] peninsula.

## History

The Acrocorinth was continuously occupied from archaic times to the early 19th Century. Along with [[Demetrias]] and [[Chalcis]], the Acrocorinth during the [[Hellenistic period]] formed one of the so-called “*Fetters of Greece*” – three fortresses garrisoned by the [[Macedon|Macedonians]] to secure their control of the Greek city-states.

The city's archaic acropolis was already an easily defensible position due to its geomorphology; it was further heavily fortified during the [[Byzantine Empire]] as it became the seat of the *[[Strategos|strategos]]* of the *[[Theme (Byzantine district)|thema]]* of [[Hellas (theme)|Hellas]] and later of the [[Peloponnese (theme)|Peloponnese]]. It was defended against the [[Fourth Crusade|Crusaders]] for three years by [[Leo Sgouros]]. Afterwards it became a fortress of the [[Frangokratia|Frankish]] [[Principality of Achaea]], the Venetians, and the Ottoman Turks.

Three [[Defensive wall|circuit walls]] formed the man-made defense of the hill. The highest peak on the site was home to a [[Temple of Aphrodite at Acrocorinth|temple to Aphrodite]]. The temple was converted to a church, which in turn was converted to a [[Mosque|mosque]].

The [[American School of Classical Studies at Athens|American School's]] [[Corinth Excavations]] began excavations on the Acrocorinth in 1929. Currently, it is one of the most important medieval castle sites of [[Greece]].

## Myths and legends

In a Corinthian myth related in the 2nd century CE to [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], [[Briareus]], one of the [[Hecatoncheires]], was the arbitrator in a dispute between [[Poseidon]] (the sea) and [[Helios]] (the sun): His verdict was that the Isthmus of Corinth belonged to Poseidon and the acropolis of Corinth (Acrocorinth) to [[Helios]].[^2]

The [[Pirene (fountain)|Upper Pirene]] spring is located within the encircling walls. "The spring, which is behind the temple, they say was the gift of [[Asopus]] to [[Sisyphus]]. The latter knew, so runs the legend, that Zeus had ravished [[Aegina (mythology)|Aegina]], the daughter of Asopus, but refused to give information to the seeker before he had a spring given him on the Acrocorinthus."[^3]

## Notes

[^1]: Forrest, George (1988). Boardman, John; Griffin, Jasper; Murray, Oswyn (eds.). *Greece and the Hellenistic World*. Oxford History of the Classical World. Vol. I. Oxford University Press. p. 31.
[^2]: [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]]. *Description of Greece*. 2.1.6, 2.4.7.
[^3]: Pausanias. *Description of Greece*. 2.5.1.