“So … where exactly is Corinth?” you might be wondering.
I took a screenshot of my map app on my phone so you could see where Corinth is in relation to Athens.
Corinth is basically due west of Athens, at a slightly southwest angle.
As Paul left Athens, headed to Corinth, he would have at first traveled along this smaller Gulf of Elefsina just to the west of Athens.
Then it would have opened up with beautiful blue waters stretching far away to distant hills. (apologies for the poor quality of the photo, but it gives you a basic idea)
This is what Paul would have seen as he traveled from Athens to Corinth.
Here is another screenshot of my map app. As you can see, Corinth is situated at a very narrow isthmus which connects the Peloponnesian Peninsula (to the south) with the rest of mainland Greece (to the north).
This is a very strategic location!
Corinth is the main “gateway” (so to speak) to and from the Peloponnesian Peninsula. Not only that, Corinth is at a place where it is possible for boats to cross the isthmus from the Saronic Gulf on the east, over to the Gulf of Corinth on the west … thereby saving days’ worth of traveling all the way round the bottom of the Peloponnesian Peninsula on voyages to Rome, etc. … .
Of course, back in the first century it was not possible yet to cut a canal through the isthmus. Several powerful rulers had attempted to do so … without success.
However, this did not stop clever creative people from figuring out a way to accomplish the impossible. A special “roadway” of sorts was constructed by which boats could be hauled across land the relatively short distance across the isthmus.
Boats would first be unloaded of their cargo … then hauled out of the water up onto the land. The hard labor of dragging the boats across the isthmus was done either by animals or (sadly) by slaves. Upon reaching the other side, the boat would be slid back into the water, the cargo would be re-loaded … and, in the process, the city of Corinth made a lot of money!
The city of Corinth was a very wealthy city!
In the late 1800’s, thanks to the invention of dynamite, a canal was finally completed across the isthmus.
Here you can see the Corinth Canal looking west towards the Gulf of Corinth.
And here you can see the other direction, looking east towards the Saronic Gulf. As you can tell, it really isn’t that far from one side to the other.
The journey from Athens to Corinth is not far. It only takes about an hour or so by car. It would not have taken Paul that long to reach Corinth. Perhaps he made it there within a day … or maybe two.
This view across the Saronic Gulf towards the Peloponnesian Peninsula is what Paul would have seen as he neared the isthmus.
This was Paul’s journey to Corinth.
