Kechries

Welcome to Kechries, or Keh-khree-es, the ancient eastern harbor of the mighty city-state of Corinth. As we stand here on the shores of the Saronic Gulf, you are looking at what was once one of the busiest maritime hubs in the…

As we walk closer to the water's edge, we find ourselves above the commercial heart of the port. Archaeologists have discovered massive storage complexes here, designed to hold the vast quantities of grain, oil, and luxury goods…

Moving toward the southern promontory of the harbor, we reach the site traditionally associated with the Temple of Aphrodite. In the ancient world, Aphrodite was not only the goddess of love but also the protector of sailors,…

Behind the immediate harbor front lies the administrative and social center of the ancient port town. Just as Corinth had its grand Agora, Kechries had a smaller-scale version—a forum where merchants negotiated contracts,…

Turning to the spiritual history of the site, we come to the area believed to have housed one of the earliest Christian meeting places in Greece. As mentioned, the Apostle Paul spent significant time in Corinth (nearly 18…

To truly understand Kechries, we must look at its connection to the rest of the Isthmus. Just a short distance from here lay the start of the Diolkos—the paved trackway that allowed ships to be moved by land across the…

In our final stop, we look at the current state of Kechries as a protected archaeological park. For many years, this area was neglected, with ruins partially covered by modern debris or overgrown with vegetation. …

As we conclude our journey through the ancient port of Kechries, I hope you have gained an appreciation for the sheer scale of ambition that this site represents. From the engineering marvel of the harbor moles to the spiritual…