TOUR TO THE ANCIENT PORT OF LECHAION (09.10.2016)

Panos Athanasopoulos presented the site and our results to a HUGE group of visitors related to the ‘BRIDGE’ program of the Environment Museum of Stymphalia, the Historical and Folklore Museum of Corinth.

Around 100 people participated in the tour, and Dr. Simosi, Director of the Ephorate of Underwater Archaeology; Dr. Mexia, Director of the Historical and Folklore Museum of Corinth; representative, the Environment Museum of Stymphalia; representative of the Piraeus Bank; Dr. James Wright, Director of the American School of Classical Studies, Dr. Papafotiou, Regional Executive Consultant were present.

THE DIOLKOS AND THE LOCAL HARBORS:

“Thus the transportation of goods in the two directions takes place easily, although the initial destinations are far apart.”

(Strabo, 8, VII, 20 4-5)

Corinth “on the two seas” had two large harbors at its disposal, one on each gulf, Lechaion on the Corinthian and Kenchreae on the Saronic, as well as a small harbor Schoinous, at the exit of the Diolkos on the Saronic Gulf. It is logical to suppose that they were built in about the same epoch, on the basis of a single unified plan which besides the easy and safe transport of goods, also provided wealth to Corinth. This is what Strabo so aptly states in his work on geography.

1)”For it was desirable for the merchants of both Italy and Asia to avoid the voyage around Cape Maleas and to unload their cargoes in Corinth, as well as the duties on the merchants entering and leaving the Peloponnese, which fell to those who had the keys”.

(Strabo 8, VII, 20, 10-12)

2)”Corinth now is said to be rich from trade, lies on the Isthmus and has two harbors. The one which is closer [gives access to] Asia and the other to Italy”.

(Strabo 8, VII, 20, 10-12)

On the Corinthian Gulf, a harbor did not develop at the end of the Diolkos, as happened with Schoinous on the Saronic, because Lechaeum, which was close to the west end, was on the course of the ships and provided for all the needs of the voyage. On the other gulf, the harbor of Kenchreae was off the route of the voyage to Peiraeus and Athens, so that there was seen to be a need for building the harbor of Schoinous

Lechaeum:

“Since today we see in many countries and cities ports and harbors cleverly situated near the city, so that they lie neither very close nor too far from it, but are enclosed with the city by walls and other such fortifications…”

(Aristotle, Politics 1327a, 31-36 or §1327a)

Lechaeum was the big harbor of Corinth on the Corinthian Gulf. It consisted chiefly of a port, with very extensive harbor installations, but without the development of an independent settlement for dwelling.

Two separate harbors, an inner and an outer one, can be discerned here.

The inner harbor was a characteristic example of the “kothón” [“goblet”, “bottle”, “jug”, ”tumbler”] type. The mouth of an older, pre-existing stream had been dug out, and corresponding paired basins created. Then these basins were connected to the sea and constituted the inner harbor, which had a surface of about 100 stremmata [100,00m³] and was encircled by quays all around the basins. The total length was up to about 4km.

The outer harbor had been built on the sea, with engineering structures both parallel and perpendicular to the shore, such as breakwaters, jetties and moles. It was one of the largest harbors of the ancient world. It was repaired and rebuilt many times. It was connected with Corinth, protected by the Long Walls and by intermediate fortification. The Long Walls began from the harbor and extended to the city’s circumvallation, forming a single unified fortification.

In whatever epoch the construction took place in this area, the variously developed techniques and measures were adapted. Thus in the Archaїc and Classical epochs, the harbor works were built with natural blocks of large size, set on vertical posts or piles, which were not interlinked. In the Roman epoch artificial blocks (onkolithoi:concrete) were used; these were made up of small and medium stones and hydraulic [waterproof] cement in successive layers. The hydraulic cement was a bonding mixture of Theran or volcanic earth (tufa, tuff), lime and a small amount of water.

The stones were placed in wooden frames with the desired dimensions. They were surrounded by liquid hydraulic cement, which cured and hardened in the sea, so that composite stone blocks of large size were finally produced. This technique was adapted to the places in which we are interested here, and the various breakwaters, quays, moles, etc were thus built. This harbor was in operation for many centuries, facilitating trade with the West. Parts of this so-called outer harbor were still in use in the 15^th century AD.

It is a quote from the book of Apostolos E. Papafotiou "THE DIOLKOS ON THE ISTHMUS OF CORINTH" (2006).

Dr. Apostolos E. Papafotiou

Regional Councillor of  Peloponnese in charge of International Affairs and European Programmes

Civil Engineer