Page - 92 - in The Power of Urban Water - Studies in premodern urbanism

92 ChristianeZimmermann thememory of the former importance ofwater in the sanctuarymight still have survived. Isis, linked with Mysteries in nearby Kenchreai, if we follow Apuleius (Met. 11), was venerated in Corinth already in the 1st centuryADandevenbefore.56 The sanctuary of Isis inCorinthmight havebeen located close to theHadjiMustafa fountain spring (Fig. 1) serving to supplywater.57 The famous narrative of Apuleius on the Mysteries of Isis in Kenchreai dates only from the 2nd centuryADandmightbepure fiction, but inApuleius’ description, bathingwaspart of the preparation (sueto lavacro traditum, Apul. Met. 11, 23), as was an affusion by a priest of Isis (purissime circumrorans abluit, Apul.Met. 11, 23). Additionally, the initiation ritual of travelling through the elements (per omnia vectus elementa remeavi, Apul.Met. 11, 23)might include con- tactwithwater, too.Wedonot knowabout the real practices of the Isis cult in Kenchreai nor inCorinth, but at least there are archaeological traces of theuse ofwater in the context of this cult.58But even ifwesupposean initiation ritual in connectionwithwater in theMystery cults, baptism isunique inperformingnotonlyacleansingact, but inconnecting this actwithgrant- ing theHoly spirit ofGodand transfering thebeliever under thedominionof Christ. While the cultic use of water in Corinth declined in Roman times and the use of water in the Isis cult remainshypothetical, interest inbathing facilities grewconsiderably.Anumber of public bathswere built during this period (Fig. 1), suggesting amanifold presence and impor- tanceofwater inCorinth.59 In the 2nd centuryAD,Pausanias summarises: TheCorinthians have baths (loutra) inmanyparts of the city, someput upat the public charge andoneby the emperor Hadrian. Themost famous of them is near the Poseidon. It was made by the Spartan Eurycles, who beautified itwith various kinds of stone, especially the one quarried at Croceae in Laconia. Throughout the city aremanywells (krenai), for theCorinthianshaveacopious supplyof flowingwater, besides thewaterwhich the emperorHadrianbrought fromLakeStymphalus […].60 Water was present at many places in Corinth, which was named ‘well-watered’, as springs61 andmany local aquifers broughtwater to the city.62 Apart from the possible use of water in local cults andMystery cults, the growing impor- tanceof bathing inRomanCorinth, and theobvious cleaning effects ofwater, thereweremore aspects ofwater that the local inhabitants could associatewhenexperiencing theuse ofwater in baptism. Local Corinthian traditions show thatwater places, especially fountains, not only suppliedwateroroffereda refreshingandrelaxingatmosphere,but told stories connectedwith life, death, and the idea of transformation.63 Someof the Corinthianwater places thus offered amental background for the belief in the transformative character ofwater and baptism. One 56 Brown2018, 141;Concannon2016,90f.Paus. 2, 4, 7knowsof twosanctuariesof Isis and twoofSarapis. Ebner 2012, 32,mentionsan inscription fromCorinthdedicated to Isis (AD50)andrefers toapossiblemysterycult in the areaof the Isthmic games. 57 Brown2018, 141. 58 In the Isis cult inKenchreai, ahydria symbolisingOsirisapparentlyhadacentral cultic function;cf.Apul.Met. 11, 11;Nagel 2013, 167; Rife 2010. The locationof the Isaeum inKenchreai is still disputed;Rothaus 2000, 69–71. 59 Concannon2016,97.Examplesare theRomanBathson theLechaionRoadandtheGreatBath, seeBrown2018, 60–62; Fouquet 2019, 51–53. TheGreat Bathwas themajor bathing complexof third-centuryCorinth, Brown2018, 62. Another impressive bath dates from the end of the 2nd or early 3rd century AD: Biers 1985. Baths from the 5th and 6th centuries AD arementioned by Brown 2018, 62–64, aswell as springswhichwere tapped in the Roman era (Brown2018, 131). 60 Paus.2, 3, 5 (translationby Jones 1979). Cf. Str. 8, 6, 21. 61 Cf. theHadjiMustafa fountain spring on the roadup toAcrocorinth and theKakavi spring to the east; Brown 2018, 63; Landon2003, 46–48. 62 Concannon 2016, 97; Brown 2018, 58–70; Landon 2003; Fouquet 2019, 104–106, assumes that the Fountain of theLamps,aHellenistic loutron, close to theAsclepieion,was renovated inRomantimes, too.On thewater supply system inCorinth, seeFouquet 2019, 39f. Fromthe 2nd centuryADonwards, around80,000cubicmeters ofwater were transferred from the lakeof Stymphalia toCorinth via theHadrianicAqueduct. 63 Robinson 2011, 30.