Rev. Dr. Albert Barnes, former pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, states in the Introduction to his famous Commentary on First Corinthians: “The merchandise of Italy, Sicily and the western nations “was landed at Lechaeum on the west; and the islands of the Aegean Sea, of Asia Minor, and of the Phoenicians and other oriental nations at Cenchrea on the east. The city of Corinth thus became the mart of Asia and Europe….
“Its population and its wealth was thus increased by the influx of foreigners…. Public prostitutes…were supported chiefly by foreigners…. Individuals — in order to ensure success in their undertakings — vowed to present to Venus a certain numbers of courtesans, which they obtained by sending to distant countries [for shipment to Corinth]… Foreign merchants were attracted in this way to Corinth.”
