Diolkos, Archaeological site at Isthmus of Corinth, Greece
Diolkos is an ancient transport system at the Isthmus of Corinth, made up of parallel limestone-carved grooves running across the narrow land. The tracks show where heavy wheeled platforms once carried entire vessels across the landscape, linking the Ionian and Aegean seas.
Built under Periander around 600 BCE, it was one of antiquity's greatest engineering feats and served trade for over 600 years. The system fell into disuse during the 1st century CE as maritime routes changed and the Roman conquest altered regional commerce.
The name comes from the Greek word meaning "passage through," reflecting how it served as a vital commercial route for transporting ships overland. Walking the path today, you can sense how central this crossing was to ancient Greek trade and communication between distant ports.
The site is mostly open ground that can be walked on foot, though some sections are buried or faint and take effort to locate. Wearing sturdy shoes and allowing plenty of time helps you follow the ancient route and spot the grooves where they remain visible.
Ships were not simply dragged across the land but rather placed on wheeled platforms that rolled along the stone grooves like modern railway tracks. The system was so efficient that Roman emperors considered building a canal instead, yet the engineering challenges proved insurmountable.
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