IV INTRODUCTION.

last fallen to the lot of Corinth. It became the chief city of Greece, not only in authority but in wealth, magnificence, literature, the arts, and in luxury. It was characteristic of the place, that while the temple of Minerva crowned the Acropolis of Athens, the Acrocorinthus was the site of the temple of Venus. Of all the cities of the ancient world it was most notorious for licentiousness. It was entirely destroyed by the Roman consul Mummius, 120 years B. C, its inhabi- tants were dispersed, and the conqueror carried with him to Rome the richest spoils that ever graced the triumph of a Roman General. For a century after this event it lay in ruins, serving only as a quarry whence the Roman patricians gath- ered marble for their palaces. Julius Cassar, recognizing the military and commercial importance of the position, deter- mined to rebuild it, and for that purpose sent thither a colony consisting" principally of freed men. This accounts for the predominance of Latin names which we meet with in connec- tion with the Christians of this city. Erastus, Phoebe and Sosthenes are Greek names ; but Gains, Quintus, Fortunatus, Crispus, Justus, Achaicus are of Roman origin. This colony, however, was little more than the nucleus of the new city. Merchants flocked thither from all parts of Greece ; Jews also were attracted by the facilities of commerce; wealth, art, literature and luxury revived. The Isthmian games were again celebrated under the presidency of the city. It was made the capital of Achaia, which, as a Roman province, in- cluded the greater part of Greece. Under the fostering cape of Augustus, Corinth regained much of its ancient splendour, and during the century which had nearly elapsed since its restora- tion, before it was visited by the apostle Paul, it had reached a preeminence which made it the glory of Greece. It was at this time under the rule of the Proconsul Gallio, the brother of Seneca ; — a man distinguished for integrity and mildness. His brother says of him : Nemo enim mortalium uni tarn duU cis est, quam hie omnibus. His refusal to entertain the frivo- lous charges brought by the Jews against Paul (Acts 18, 14-16),