Коринт у Страбоновој Географији: грчки или римски град?
Corinth in Strabo’s Geography: A Greek or a Roman City?

Summary/Abstract: The paper deals with Strabo’s account of Corinth, one of the most interesting places in the Greek world, and the Roman as well. Strategically situated on the isthmus which bears its name and connects the Greek mainland to the Peloponnese, Corinth was a city with a rich and turbulent history, but also a centre of trade and economic prosperity, which is why it attracted Strabo’s attention. Strabo’s long and detailed account of Corinth in the eighth book of Geography, of which the first translation from Ancient Greek into Serbian has been added here, provides information on the unique location of the city and the whole region of Corinthia and its natural advantages, which is characteristic of a geographer who correctly perceives the importance of such matters, but also provides valuable historical data since Corinth’s contribution to Greek history and civilization was considerable. Corinth is certainly the city which Strabo knows on the basis of autopsy. Strabo’s description shows that he was a good observer. He climbed the Acrocorinth, the acropolis of ancient Corinth, to enjoy the magnificent view. He mentions the remains of the ancient fortifications, gives a description of two harbours and other surroundings of Corinth. Nevertheless, he is not very interested in the state of contemporary Corinth, which had only recently been re-founded by Julius Caesar as a Roman settlement, in 44 BC. He is far more interested in the ancient city of Corinth that was destroyed in 146 BC. That is why the Roman destruction of Corinth is told without much emotion. In this regard, the plundering and pillaging of works of art from Corinth attracted much more Strabo’s attention than the fate of the Corinthians themselves, relying on the historian Polybius in that matter; some of the works of art he himself had the opportunity to see were on display in Rome. He is also interested in the trade in antiquities looted from the city’s cemeteries, the so-called “necrocorinthia”. However, he is most interested in the history and mythical past of the ancient city of Corinth and some of its sanctuaries. Since there is little left to see of this ancient Corinth, Strabo readily turns to tradition, myths, citations of ancient authors, anecdotes and proverbs. It seems that more than it is the case with descriptions of other cities, Strabo incorporates proverbs which reflect some historical events or refer to local characteristics of ancient Corinth and the whole region of Corinthia. Strabo does it to the extent that, the impression is, it can rightly be said that he actually described the ancient Greek city of Corinth, adding, only here and there, information on the contemporary Roman Corinth. It all makes Strabo’s description of Corinth unique.

• Details
• Contents