Isthmia is a genitive noun with the meaning 'of the Isthmus.' It generally refers to the site that held the famous Isthmian Games near Corinth on the Isthmus. A natural assembly place for many Greeks and travellers. Isthmia in Antiquity was one of Greece's large Panhellenic sanctuaries and played host to the Isthmian Games (founded in 584 BCE) and hence held a special importance throughout the Greek and Roman periods, with its athletic and religious festivals coming second in significance only to Olympia.
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Definition
Timeline
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c. 700 BCESanctuary of Poseidon built at Isthmia.
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c. 584 BCEIsthmian Games founded as a Panhellenic games and festival.
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465 BCENew Temple to Poseidon built at Isthmia.
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225 BCEMacedonians bring an army across the Isthmus to face another Achaian force trying to take Corinth.
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c. 150 CERoman Bath built at Isthmia.
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c. 600 CE - c. 1000 CEIsthmia abandoned.
