Corinth
placeCorinth was a wealthy trading city on the narrow isthmus connecting mainland Greece to the Peloponnese, associated with Sisyphus, Medea, Bellerophon, and Pegasus.
The Myth
Sisyphus founded and ruled Corinth (then called Ephyra), outwitting Death himself twice before Zeus condemned him to roll his boulder eternally. The Pegasus spring on Acrocorinth was where Bellerophon tamed the winged horse with Athena's golden bridle. Medea took refuge in Corinth with Jason after their flight from Colchis; when Jason abandoned her for the Corinthian princess, Medea murdered their children and the bride in one of mythology's most horrifying acts of vengeance. The historical city was famed for its wealth, its temple of Aphrodite, and the biennial Isthmian Games.
Parents
Founded by Sisyphus (or Ephyra)
Children
N/A
Symbols
Fun Fact
The phrase "Corinthian column" in architecture comes from this city — the most ornate of the three Greek column orders, matching Corinth's reputation for luxury.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth: