Corinth, next to Athens, demands our notice, as one of the most commercial cities of Greece.  The Corinthian dominions were extremely small, their extent from east to west being about half a degree, and from north to south about half that space:  according to the geographer Scylax, a vessel might sail from one extremity to the other in a day.  It had no rivers of any note, and few rich plains, being in general uneven, and but moderately fertile.  The situation of Corinth itself, however, amply compensated for all these disadvantages:  it was built on the middle of the isthmus of the same name, at the distance of about 60 stadia on either side from the sea; on one side was the Saronic Gulf, on the other the sea of Crissa.  On the former was the port of Lechaeum, which was joined to the city by a double wall, 12 stadia in length; on the latter sea, was the port of Cinchraea, distant from Corinth 70 stadia.  There was, besides, the port and castle of Cromyon, about 120 stadia distant from the capital.  Hence, it will appear that Corinth commanded the trade of all the eastern part of the Mediterranean by the port of Cinchraea; and of the Ionian sea, by that of Lechaeum.  But the Corinthians possessed other advantages; for their citadel was almost impregnable, commanded from its situation both these seas, and stood exactly in the way of communication by land between one part of Greece and the other.  The other states, however, would not permit the Corinthians to interdict them the passage of the Isthmus; but they could not prevent them from taking advantage of their situation, by carrying on an extensive and lucrative commerce.  The Isthmian games, which were celebrated at Corinth, also contributed very much to its splendour and opulence, and drew additional crowds to it, who, as usual, mingled commerce with religion.  According to Thucydides, Corinth had been a city of great traffic, even when the Greeks confined their trade to land:  at this period, the Corinthians imposed a transit duty on all commodities, which entered or left the Peloponnessus by the Isthmus.  But the extended knowledge and enterprise of the Greeks, and, above all, the destruction of the pirates which infested the narrow seas, led them to prefer sea carriage part of the way.  The reason why they did not transport their goods the whole passage by sea, may be found in their ignorance and fears:  their inexperienced mariners and frail ships could not succeed in doubling Cape Malea in Laconia; off which, and between it and Crete, the sea was frequently very boisterous.  Hence, the merchants were under the necessity of transporting, by land carriage, their goods to the seas which formed the Isthmus.  Such as came from Italy, Sicily, and the countries to the west, were landed at Lechaeum; while the merchandize from Asia Minor, Phoenicia, and the islands in the Egean Sea, were landed at the port of Cinchraea.  The breadth of the Isthmus was so small that the goods were easily and quickly conveyed from one harbour to the other; and afterwards the Corinthians succeeded in transporting the ships themselves.