Isthmia, on the Isthmus of Corinth, was an ancient sanctuary dedicated to Poseidon and the site of the Isthmian Games, one of the four Panhellenic athletic festivals of ancient Greece (along with the Olympic, Pythian, and Nemean Games). Founded in the Archaic period (7th century BC), the sanctuary included a Temple of Poseidon, a theater, and a stadium. The games were traditionally said to have been founded by either Sisyphus, in honor of the drowned Melicertes (also called Palaimon), or by Theseus, who reorganized them in Poseidon’s honor. [Editor’s note: no descriptive text or photos for this page were found on the original site. This paragraph was drafted as a placeholder using general reference sources and should be reviewed/expanded by Dr. Siegel.]