Isthmia (sanctuary)

Isthmia

Ἴσθμια
Shown within Greece
Location	Kyras Vrysi, Corinthia, Greece
Region	Corinthia
Coordinates	37°54′57.3372″N 22°59′35.4084″E
Type	Sanctuary
History
Founded	690 to 650 BC
Periods	Archaic period-Late Antiquity
Satellite of	Corinth
Site notes
Archaeologists	Oscar Broneer; Elizabeth Gebhard; Timothy Gregory

Isthmia is an ancient sanctuary of Poseidon and important archaeological site and museum located on the Isthmus of Corinth in Greece. Situated on the territory of the ancient city-state of Corinth, it was famous in antiquity for the Isthmian Games and its Temple of Poseidon.

Location

Isthmia is located on the key land route connecting Athens and central Greece with Corinth and the Peloponnese. Its location on the Isthmus, between the major Corinthian ports of Lechaeum on the Gulf of Corinth and Cenchreae on the Saronic Gulf, made Isthmia a natural site for the worship of Poseidon, god of the sea and also of mariners. Isthmia sits on a very active fault line, and Poseidon's role as "Earth-holder" in causing and averting earthquakes is another reason Isthmia became the center of athletic and religious festivals in his honor. The Games at Isthmia were second in significance only to those at Olympia.

History

Prehistoric times

Stone artifacts found on the site have been dated to show that humans have inhabited Corinthia since the Neolithic Era. Small samples of pottery dating to the last era of the Bronze Age (1600-1200 BC) show that people were still living in Isthmia during this time. During the Greek Dark Ages, the population declined throughout Greece, and with it came a deterioration of material wealth in Isthmia.

Archaic period

As Greece moved into the Archaic period, writing, material culture, and population all increased. The people of Isthmia began constructing large stone monuments and religious sanctuaries. In the year 481 BC, the Persian Empire attempted to invade Greece. Isthmia was not a major battlefield, but its central location made it a preferred site for Greek conferences and pre–battle meetings. The Archaic-style temple at Isthmia was badly burned in a fire in 480 BC, and the Doric-style temple remains were repaired using Classical architecture style elements.

Classical period

In the years 431–404 BC, Isthmia was caught in the middle of the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. A second war between the two city-states occurred in the years 395–387 BC and the archaic temple for Poseidon was burned down in 390 BC. It is unclear whether the destruction of the temple was a result of the dispute, but the lack of pottery found at the site after the fire indicates that Isthmia entered a period of decreased prosperity at this time.

The Classical period also saw the rise of Philip II, King of Macedon. He united the Greek city–states, including Isthmia, in the 4th century BC, only to be assassinated in 336 BC. His successor, Alexander the Great called a meeting in Isthmia between the Greek city–states to discuss war with Persia.

Roman control

In 196 BC, following the Second Macedonian War and the defeat of Macedon, the Roman Republic declared the "Freedom of the Greeks" from Macedonian hegemony. The decision to hold the political conference at Isthmia cemented its status as a symbol of Greek unity and freedom.

In 146 BC, rising tensions between the Greek states and the increasingly hegemonic Romans resulted in a last attempt by the Achaean League to maintain its independence. The Achaean War ended in a quick Roman victory, and consul Lucius Mummius Achaicus ordered the complete destruction of Corinth as an example to all Greeks. The Altar of Poseidon was destroyed and control of the Isthmian Games was taken away from the city. It is not until 44 BC that Julius Caesar restored the stadium and temple to their original state.

Late Roman, medieval, and early modern periods

In the 4th century AD, Emperor Constantine the Great banned all pagan religions and artifacts from Isthmia. The Temple of Poseidon fell into disuse and its material was partly re-used for the building of the Hexamilion wall which was used as protection against invading barbarians in the 5th century.

The Ottoman Empire captured Isthmia in 1423, and permanently in 1458. Isthmia was fought over by the Turks, Venetians, and local potentates for over three centuries. In 1715, the Venetians were expelled, and the Ottoman Empire controlled southern Greece for a hundred years until the Greek War of Independence.

Oscar Broneer rediscovered the site at Isthmia in 1952. He excavated the temple, theater, two caves used for dining, and the two stadia used for the Isthmian Games.

Monuments

Site Plan of Sanctuary of Poseidon at Isthmia

Temples

The ancient site of Isthmia houses many massive structures. The Archaic Temple of Poseidon, which was excavated in 1952 by Oscar Broneer, was built in the Doric style in 700 BC. The temple was constructed on a plateau, surrounded by valleys and considered the center of the Isthmian sanctuaries. The temple also housed shrines to gods related to Poseidon such as his son, Cyclopes, and the goddess Demeter. A multitude of other named divinities said to have been worshipped within the confines of the temple have links to Demeter, suggesting the Isthmian people's devotion to fertility and harvest. Evidence including plates, bowls, and animal bones discovered within the ash on the plateau suggest that animal sacrifices of sheep, cattle, and goats took place at the temple on a regular basis and were often a cause for feasting and celebration.

When it burned down in 480 BC, the roof, Sima (architecture), and columns were replaced using Classical style building elements. There was also a temple built for the god Apollo. Because of the similarities in construction style and building materials between these temples, it can be concluded that they were completed within two generations of building. Isthmia was also home to a Roman temple that was built for the worship of Palaimon. The Temple to Palaimon was decorated with roof ornaments of the Ionic Order.

Stadiums

When the Isthmian Games were founded in 582 BC, the people of Isthmia built a stadium for the sporting activities. The stadium was rebuilt in the Hellenistic period and featured a racetrack. The new stadium was built in the valley because the slope allowed for the accommodation of the mass quantities of spectators traveling to Isthmia for the festival.

The East Field

On the eastern side of the temple there is a field with excavated remains of small buildings, most likely houses, that had water facilities and food preparation areas.

Culture

Isthmia's temples and stadiums highlight its religious, athletic, and political past. The first evidence of religious rituals, however, comes before the erection of the monumental sanctuary. In the Early Iron Age, cup and bowl fragments were found on the south-east side of the central plateau. They dated to the proto–geometric period and were surrounded by burnt bones that belonged to goats, sheep, and other animals sacrificed to Poseidon. Beginning in the late 8th century, evidence of a more defined sanctuary space is made with the construction of an altar and Temenos walls. Vessels made of both cheap and luxurious materials were found at this site. This suggests that the common people of Isthmia, not just the rich, were worshiping at the temple. The differences in the material quality of the vessels found at the site also suggests societal separation based on rank.

The first appearance of religious pots date to the 11th century BC. Vessels and pots from different time periods continued to be found at the site, suggesting that religious rituals for the people of Isthmia were continuous and long-lasting.

In other archaeological excavations, 30 graves containing the remains of 69 people were found. The bodies have been dated to come from different time periods and are spread throughout the areas of excavation, suggesting that habitation in Isthmia was widespread and deep-rooted. The bodies are also buried using a variety of mortuary ritual processes, showing that Isthmia was an enduring, developing community.