Theater of Corinth
Roman theater beside the Erastus pavement, seat of the city's public life
Found 1896 — American School of Classical Studies at Athens (located 1896; systematically excavated by T. Leslie Shear 1925–1929; published by Richard Stillwell, Corinth II, 1952)
Where Ancient Corinth (Greece)
Dates from late 5th century BCE; rebuilt late 1st century BCE–1st century CE, remodelled under Hadrian · Greek and Roman · Paul's ministry at Corinth
Now at In situ at Ancient Corinth, Greece
How Theater of Corinth was found
The cavea and stage were dug in the American School's campaigns; the Erastus pavement was found in the plaza just to the east.
What it is
A large hillside theater seating around 15,000, rebuilt in Roman style in the 1st century CE with a stone stage building. Later it was adapted for gladiator and animal shows, and painted scenes of such contests survive on its arena wall.
Why it matters for the Bible
Paul's Corinthian letters are full of arena and stage images: apostles 'made a spectacle (theatron) to the world' (1 Cor 4:9), and fighting 'wild beasts at Ephesus' (1 Cor 15:32). Corinth's theater, a short walk from the forum and the Erastus pavement, is the kind of building his readers pictured. It anchors the social world of the letters in a real place.
The Hebrew word: teh-aht-RON
תֵּאַטְרוֹן
תֵּאַטְרוֹן is pronounced teh-aht-RON and means theater, spectacle (Greek theatron) (Strong's G2302).
People this discovery connects to
- Paul — שָׁאוּל (Shah-OOL) — asked for (Greek Paulos)
Places
- Corinth — קוֹרִינְתּוֹס (ko-REEN-tos) — Greek Korinthos
Events
Paul's stay and letters to Corinth
Theater of Corinth in Scripture
Acts 18:1 First mention of Corinth in Scripture.
1 Corinthians 4:9 Apostles as a 'spectacle' (theatron) — an image drawn from theaters like Corinth's.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 Athletic contests; Corinth hosted the Isthmian Games nearby.
Questions people ask
What is Theater of Corinth?
A large hillside theater seating around 15,000, rebuilt in Roman style in the 1st century CE with a stone stage building. Later it was adapted for gladiator and animal shows, and painted scenes of such contests survive on its arena wall.
When was Theater of Corinth discovered?
It was found in 1896 by American School of Classical Studies at Athens (located 1896; systematically excavated by T. Leslie Shear 1925–1929; published by Richard Stillwell, Corinth II, 1952), at Ancient Corinth.
Where is Theater of Corinth today?
In situ at Ancient Corinth, Greece.
Which Bible verses does Theater of Corinth relate to?
Acts 18:1, 1 Corinthians 4:9, 1 Corinthians 9:24-25.
Related discoveries
- שׁוּקCorinth Meat Market (Macellum) InscriptionLatin stone naming the market where meat 'sold in the shambles' came from
- סוֹכֵןErastus Inscription (Corinth)Pavement laid by an aedile named Erastus — possibly Paul's friend the city treasurer
- עִבְרִים'Synagogue of the Hebrews' Lintel (Corinth)Marble doorway block from a Jewish meeting house in Paul's Corinth
- בֵּימָהGallio Inscription (Delphi)Letter of Emperor Claudius naming Gallio proconsul of Achaia — the anchor date for Paul's ministry
- בֵּימָהThe Bema at CorinthThe judgment platform in the forum where Paul stood before Gallio
- תֵּאַטְרוֹןGreat Theater of EphesusThe 24,000-seat theater where the silversmiths' riot shouted 'Great is Artemis'
Sources
- R. Stillwell, Corinth II: The Theatre (1952)
- American School of Classical Studies at Athens, Corinth Excavations
- Diazoma, "Theater of ancient Corinth" (excavation and building phases)