Corinth Monument: East of Theater
Collection:   Corinth
Type:   Monument
Name:   East of Theater
Description:   A series of buildings flanking the street descending the terrace immediately to the east of the theater was excavated in the 1980’s by C. K. Williams II. Two of the buildings (Buildings 1 and 3) were food shops catering to the theater goers. The north room of both buildings contained domed ovens and large quantities of animal bone were found in the south room of Building 3. They were built in the 1st century A.D. and were destroyed by an earthquake sometime between A.D. 125 and A.D. 150. Buildings 5 and 7, higher up to the south, were supported by a buttressed wall separating them from the caterers. These buildings were related to religious activity including worship of the gods Aphrodite, Isis, Serapis and Cybele. The walls of Building 7 Room 2 were decorated with wall painting. This was of white panels framed by tall Corinthian columns, each containing a small figure of a deity including Hercules, Juno, Jupiter, Minerva and Venus.
Built in 1st century, Buildings 5 and 7 suffered the same fate as Buildings 1 and 3 but were refurbished and continued in use until they were destroyed by earthquake in the later 4th century. The debris from this quake was cleared from the street, and it was open to traffic through the 5th century.
East Theater Street and a broad decumanus (an east-west street) terminated at an open paved court east of the theater scene building. The courtyard has an inscription reused in the floor. The letter cuttings were designed to receive cast bronze letters. It reads "ERASTUS PRO AEDILITATE S P STRAVIT" or "Paved by Erastus at his own expense in return for his aedileship.” A chamberlain (oikonomos) of Corinth called Erastus was mentioned by the Apostle Paul in Romans 16.23. Many believe the inscription and Paul’s letter refer to the same person.
Site:   Corinth
City:   Ancient Corinth
Country:   Greece
References:   Images (191)
Objects (269)