Corinth was one of the leading cities, not only of Greece, but of the world. Situated upon a narrow neck of land between two seas, it commanded the trade of both the east and the west. Its position was almost impregnable. A vast citadel of rock, rising abruptly and perpendicularly from the plain to the height of two thousand feet above the level of the sea, was a strong natural defense to the city and its two sea-ports. Corinth was now more prosperous than Athens, which had once taken the lead. Both had experienced severe vicissitudes; but the former had risen from her ruins, and was far in advance of her former prosperity, while the latter had not reached to her past magnificence. Athens was the acknowledged center of art and learning; Corinth, the seat of government and trade.{LP 98.2}

Korint var en af de førende byer, ikke kun i Grækenland, men for verden. Placeret på en smal landtange mellem to have, bød den på handel for både øst og vest. Dens placering var næsten uindtagelig. En umådelig klippeborg, rejste sig brat og lodret op fra sletten til en højde mod to tusinde fod (tres meter) over havets overflade, var et stærkt naturlig forsvar for byen og dens to havne. Den gang var Korint mere velstående end Athen, som havde taget føringen. Begge havde erfaret hårde forandringer; men førstnævnte havde rejst sig fra sine ruiner, og var langt fremme i end sin tidligere velstand, medens sidstnævnte ikke havde nået sin tidligere storhed. Athen var et anerkendt center for kunst og lærdom; Korint, var hovedsæde for regering og handel.