Corinth was a city-state (polis) on the Isthmus of Corinth, the narrow stretch of land that joins the Peloponnese to the mainland of Greece, roughly halfway between Athens and Sparta. It was one of the largest and most important cities of Greece, with a population of 90,000 in 400 BC.
Corinth was first inhabited in the Neolithic period (c. 5000 BCE) and became more populated around the 10th century BCE. The aristocratic Bacchiadae ruled from c. 750 BCE until the tyrant Cypselus took over in c. 657 BCE, succeeded by his son Periander. Cypselus founded colonies and built a treasury at Delphi, while Corinth's high-quality pottery dominated the market until the 6th century BCE. The city also developed the diolkos, a stone track for transporting ships across the Isthmus of Corinth.
Corinth administered the Panhellenic games from the early 6th century BCE and allied with Sparta around 550 BCE. It participated in the Persian Wars and fought in both the Peloponnesian Wars, suffering heavy losses. Disillusioned with Sparta, Corinth joined an alliance against it in the Corinthian Wars (395-386 BCE).
After losing to Philip II of Macedon in 338 BCE, Corinth became part of the Macedonian Empire and later joined the Achaean League. The city was sacked by the Romans in 146 BCE but revived when Julius Caesar re-founded it in 44 BCE, making it an important trade and administrative center. St. Paul visited Corinth between 51 and 52 CE, establishing it as an early Christian hub. The city declined from the 3rd century CE, suffering attacks by Germanic tribes.
In ancient Corinth there were cults to Aphrodite (protectress of the city), Apollo, Demeter Thesmophoros, Hera, Poseidon, and Helios and various buildings to cult heroes, the founders of the city. In addition, there were several sacred springs, the most famous being Peirene. Unfortunately, the destruction in 146 BCE obliterated much of this religious past.
The site today is dominated by the Doric peripteral Temple of Apollo (c. 550-530 BCE), originally with 6 columns on the façades and fifteen on the long sides. A particular feature of the temple is the use of monolithic columns rather than the more commonly used column drums. Seven columns remain standing today.
Stobi was an ancient town of Paeonia located near Gradsko. It is considered by many to be the most famous archaeological site in North Macedonia. Stobi was built where the Erigon (Crna River) joins the Axios (Vardar), making it strategically important as a center for both trade and warfare.
Stobi developed from a Paeonian settlement established in the Archaic period. It is believed that in 217 BCE, Philip V annexed Paionia during his campaign against the Dardani who had entered Bylazora, the largest Paeonian town.
The city was first mentioned in writing by the historian Livy, in connection with a victory of Philip V of Macedon over the Dardani in 197 BC. In 168 BC, the Romans defeated Perseus and Macedonia was divided into four nominally independent republics. In 148 BC, the four areas of Macedonia were brought together in a unified Roman province. In the reign of Augustus the city grew in size and population.