Isthmia ( el, Ισθμία) is a Greek village and community 7.5 km southeast of
Corinth
Corinth ( ; el, Κόρινθος, Kórinthos, ) is the successor to an ancient city, and is a former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, which is located in south-central Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it has been part o ...
.
It is located in the south entry of
Corinth Canal
The Corinth Canal ( el, Διώρυγα της Κορίνθου, translit=Dhioryga tis Korinthou) is an artificial canal in Greece, that connects the Gulf of Corinth in the Ionian Sea with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the ...
. The community spreads in the place where the
Isthmian Games
Isthmian Games or Isthmia (Ancient Greek: Ἴσθμια) were one of the Panhellenic Games of Ancient Greece, and were named after the Isthmus of Corinth, where they were held. As with the Nemean Games, the Isthmian Games were held both the year ...
were held in antiquity. So, near the village important ruins of the archaeological site are kept including the
Temple of Poseidon, the ancient stadium and the ancient theatre.
[ Administravely, Isthmia belongs to ]Loutraki-Perachora-Agioi Theodoroi
Loutraki-Perachora-Agioi Theodoroi ( el, Λουτράκι-Περαχώρα-Άγιοι Θεόδωροι) is a municipality in the Corinthia regional unit, Peloponnese, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Loutraki. The municipality has ...
municipality and Loutraki-Perachora
Loutraki-Perachora (Greek: Λουτράκι-Περαχώρα) is a former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local governmental reform it is part of the municipality Loutraki-Perachora-Agioi Theodoroi, of which it is a ...
municipal unit.
Description
Isthmia is located in an area where the Isthmian Games
Isthmian Games or Isthmia (Ancient Greek: Ἴσθμια) were one of the Panhellenic Games of Ancient Greece, and were named after the Isthmus of Corinth, where they were held. As with the Nemean Games, the Isthmian Games were held both the year ...
were held. The Isthmian Games started in 582 BC and finished during 5th century AD. In modern times, Isthmia was a small village. But after the digging of Corinth Canal
The Corinth Canal ( el, Διώρυγα της Κορίνθου, translit=Dhioryga tis Korinthou) is an artificial canal in Greece, that connects the Gulf of Corinth in the Ionian Sea with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the ...
between 1880 and 1893 the village developed. Today it is a community, including five settlements Isthmia, Kyras Vrysi, Kalamaki, Paradeisos, Agios Charalampos and Kavos. The population of the village Isthmia is 1,134 inhabitants and the population of the community is 2,760 according to the 2011 census.
Historical population
Sights
*Corinth Canal
The Corinth Canal ( el, Διώρυγα της Κορίνθου, translit=Dhioryga tis Korinthou) is an artificial canal in Greece, that connects the Gulf of Corinth in the Ionian Sea with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the ...
, the large artificial canal that connects Saronic and Gulf of Corinth.
*Archaeological site of Isthmia, the place where the ancient Isthmian Games
Isthmian Games or Isthmia (Ancient Greek: Ἴσθμια) were one of the Panhellenic Games of Ancient Greece, and were named after the Isthmus of Corinth, where they were held. As with the Nemean Games, the Isthmian Games were held both the year ...
were held. It includes the ruins of Temple of Poseidon, the ancient stadium and the ancient theatre
*Archaeological museum of Isthmia. museum with exhibits from archaeological site.
References
{{Authority control
Populated places in Corinthia