Climbing Acrocorinth
Dr. Amelia Brown and I made the hike to the top of Acrocorinth (acropolis of ancient Corinth) in October. What a spectacular site. It gives an endless view in 360 degrees around this area of the Peloponnese at a height of 575 meters. A trip to Ancient Corinth can only be enhanced by the views offered from this mountain top.
Approaching the gates at Acrocorinth
This mountain top has a strategic location, looking over the Isthmus and ancient Corinth. For that reason it was occupied from the archaic period to the early 19th century. It was heavily fortified during the Byzantine period with three successive walls and saw many battles including repelling the Crusaders and the Ottomans.
Map of the remains of Acrocorinth - by Nicolas von Kospoth (2006)
Ahmed III Mosque
The shell of this mosque is still magnificent, even in ruins. It was built on the site of an earlier 16th-century mosque, having been commissioned by Sultan Ahmed III after the Ottoman reconquest of 1715.[1] I plan to write a separate post about Ottoman Corinth and will further cover this mosque there.
Ahmed III Mosque
It is also known as the Ahmed Pasha Mosque, and is located about halfway up the peak, inside the fortress walls on Acrocorinth.
The Temple of Aphrodite
There isn’t really much left, the temple had been later converted to a church and then a mosque, and now there are only a few large blocks scattered across the peak. The view from the top however is absolutely amazing, well worth the hike.
“The remains still in situ are very scant indeed, but they represent no fewer than seven successive structures: a small building of the sixth or even the seventh century B.C.; a larger edifice, doubtless the Temple of Aphrodite, probably of the fifth century and later; an early Christian Church; a large mediaeval Tower; a Turkish Mosque surrounded by a cloister; a paved platform, presumably of Venetian times; and a small hut of miserable construction, dating perhaps from the early nineteenth century.”
North view from one of the walls
View of the Monastery of Panagia Faneromeni in the southern hills.
Excavation site
There appeared to be a recent excavation which exposed an interesting hexagonal tiled floor.
Not only a really wonderful hike, but also extraordinary natural and cultural heritage. I definitely recommend visiting this site.
[1] Ahmed III Mosque - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_III_Mosque
[2] Temple of Aphrodite at Acrocorinth - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Aphrodite_at_Acrocorinth
References
Blegen, Carl William, Broneer, O., Stillwell, R., & Bellinger, A. R. (1930) Acrocorinth: excavations in 1926. Corinth: Results of Excavations Conducted by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. Volume III, Part 1.
You can see a couple of videos from Acrocorinth on my YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnp72_uGjqY
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