Corinth and Mycenae

Tour day 12 - 8th April

Disembarkation was the first order of the day, but the process started the night before when we had to place our suitcases outside the cabin door before midnight. That meant everything we might need for the following day had to be in hand luggage. Not my favourite way to get organised, but that’s how they do it on this cruise anyway.

Another early wake-up call, then breakfast, during which we met a couple of Melbournians at whose table we were randomly seated. We discovered a mutual acquaintance (as you do when you’re on the other side of the world). Then we waited in the Muses lounge until our disembarkation call. Tagging off the ship and into the terminal, we were reunited with our luggage and herded onto a new bus with our new tour guide, James. But not before our tour director, Tasos, got into a heated discussion with a taxi driver, who (we learned later) was insisting on “black market” payment to take another customer to a hotel. The coast guard appeared to handle things and Tasos rejoined us at the bus.

Our first stop was the Corinth Canal, for a quick photo opportunity, toilet stop and coffee. The construction of the canal began in 1881 (and was completed in 1893), in order to connect the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf, allowing sea vessels to pass between the Ionian Sea in the west and the Aegean Sea in the east, without having to travel around the Peloponnese peninsula. It was dug at sea level, so has no locks, but the original builders encountered many problems in the building, and were eventually bankrupted. Although the canal is around 6km long, it is less than 25 metres wide, making it impassable for most modern ships. Therefore, these days it has little economic importance and is mainly a tourist attraction.

The rain had started as we headed west, and by the time we got to our next stop of Ancient Korinthos (Corinth), it was wet and cold. So it was coats on, umbrellas up, and try to avoid getting wet feet at the start of the day. Not so easy, but two out of three is okay, and my toes only got a little damp. Thankfully we were inside the museum for part of the time.

When we emerged the rain had stopped and the recent wet and the overcast and misty day made for beautiful photos as we walked around the ancient site.

Corinth was an imperial colony that experienced great prosperity during the Roman era. The apostle Paul arrived in the city in the mid 1st century AD, and took up his trade with Jewish tent makers Priscilla and Aquila. He also preached the gospel to the Jews of the city, being confronted with strong opposition from several members of the city’s large Jewish community. In fact, during his stay he was brought before the proconsul Gallio on the accusation of conducting illegal teaching, however Gallio refused to judge what he considered to be a mere religious dispute among the Jews.

The “bema” where Paul likely appeared before Gallio to be judged for his “crime”

Paul then resolved to devote his full attention to the conversion of the Gentiles, a decision which proved to be highly successful. After a year and a half in Corinth, he left for Ephesus, having established a strong and well-organised church in Corinth.  Even though he was no longer living among the community at Corinth, he kept in contact, addressing some of his most famous letters to its leaders (1 & 2 Corinthians).

Our guide was fabulous, so knowledgeable, and his English was very good. He talked about how some scholars dispute that Paul could have earned his living as a tent maker in Corinth, but that this actually would be a perfectly valid occupation, given that the Isthmian games were held in the region every two years, to which hordes of people would have flocked, all needing temporary accommodation. What an opportunity to spread the gospel to a “captive” audience!! James also explained that a tent maker would also be skilled at making sails, curtains, mending and making sandals, bags and anything else made of leather, therefore Corinth would be a perfect place for Paul to live.

We lunched at a Greek restaurant, before heading to our next destination, the ruins of the ancient Mycenaean civilisation which has been dated to 3000 years before the birth of Christ. First stop was the Tomb of Agamemnon, also known as the Treasury of Atreus, a large beehive tomb built into the hillside near Mycenae, built during the Bronze Age around 1250 BC. The lintel stone above the doorway weighs over 100 tonnes, and the inside design of the tomb - like the inside of an egg - is amazing when you think about what would have been required to build it.

Inside the tomb 

Next stop was the archaeological site at Mycenae. We walked through the Lion Gate, the only known remaining monumental structure of Bronze Age Greece, again with a hefty lintel stone above the doorway. According to the information plaques, the citadel of Mycenae was not deserted after the destruction of the Mycenaean palace. Archeologists have confirmed continuity of habitation from the assortment of items such as pottery, graves, and buildings, including evidence of temple foundations dated to the 3rd century BC.

The overcast day made the view from the top of the citadel well worth the climb, and the ancient stones sprouted an assortment of pretty wildflowers.

It was hard to comprehend that some of what we were seeing and walking through had been constructed more than 5000 years ago. James regaled us firstly with the mythology - think Zeus, Hera, Athena, Helen of Troy, Paris and Aphrodite - and then tied it to history, as well as elucidating connections to the Biblical truth. It’s so complex, and we were all in awe of the level of knowledge that our guide not only has but is able to convey to us!!

We had a little more rain as we headed back to Athens, but nobody cared, we were all warm and dry on the bus! Another great day of seeing, experiencing and learning.