Korinther

Korinther refers to a person from the ancient Greek city of Corinth, known in Greek as Korinthos. The term functions as a demonym for inhabitants of Corinth in antiquity and, in modern German usage, can designate residents of the contemporary city of Corinth in Greece. In German, a male is a Korinther, a female a Korintherin; in English, Corinthian is the corresponding adjective.

Historically, Corinth occupied a strategic position on the Isthmus of Corinth, controlling land routes between the Greek mainland and the Peloponnese and sea routes between the Aegean and Ionian seas. This helped the city become wealthy and influential in the Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods. It was destroyed by Rome in 146 BCE and rebuilt later as a Roman colony, rising again as an important center in the province of Achaia. The city is associated with the Corinthian order in classical architecture and with religious and commercial activity, including the famous temple of Aphrodite.

In the Christian tradition, Korinther denotes the church in Corinth; the Epistles to the Korinther, or First and Second Corinthians, are among Paul the Apostle’s letters and address issues such as division, ethics, and theological concerns within the community.

Today, Corinth is a town in the Peloponnese, Greece, with archaeological sites and a modern population that reflects its long urban history. The term Korinther is primarily encountered in historical, biblical, or linguistic contexts.