Nemea

Ancient Nemea was an important site in antiquity because of the well-known myth of Heracles and the Nemean lion. In the first of its twelve labours, Heracles fought and killed the Nemean lion. In one version of the legend, Herakles established athletic games in honour of his father, Zeus. Another legend is that the games were instituted by Adrastos of Argos in honour of the infant Opheltes who was bitten by a snake and died at Nemea.

Coordinates: 37° 48′ 32″ N, 22° 42′ 37″ E

Nemea was not a city but, like Olympia, both a sanctuary to Zeus and a panhellenic games venue where the Nemean Games were held every two years. The first of the panhellenic festivals was established at Olympia in 776 BC. Delphi followed in 582 BC, then Isthmia in 580 BC and finally Nemea from 573 BC until 271 BC. The athletes competed over various distances in the stadium, and there were also competitions in boxing and wrestling. The horse and chariot races took place in the hippodrome, which has not been discovered. Following the definitive movement of the Games to Argos, the site was largely abandoned.

According to Pausanias, Hadrian restored the Winter Games at Nemea in AD 124 and presided over the horse racing of boys. Later on, during the 5th and 6th centuries AD, early Christians gathered within the area of Nemea and established an agricultural settlement. The foundations of an early Christian Basilica are still visible today, approximately 100 meters south of the Temple of Zeus.

The ancient stadion was the centre of the games and forms, with the impressive remains of the Temple of Zeus, the heart of the archaeological park. The museum covers the archaeology of the site in depth and houses, apart from interesting finds, a beautiful model of the site.

PORTFOLIO

The Ancient Stadium of Nemea with the starting line in the foreground. It was built ca. 330 - 300 BC.
The Ancient Stadium of Nemea with the starting line in the foreground. It was constructed circa 330 BC when the games returned from Argos. The length of the track was 600 ancient feet, approximately 178 m.
The Ancient Stadium of Nemea could accommodate 30,000-40,000 spectators. There were no seats but a stand was provided for the judges.
The Ancient Stadium of Nemea could accommodate 30,000-40,000 spectators. There were no proper seats (only rough ledges were carved into the soft bedrock of the hillside) but the judges, called Hellenodikai, had a special platform on the east side of the stadium.
Vaulted entrance tunnel of the Ancient Stadium of Nemea measuring over 36 m in length and nearly 2.5 m in height.
The vaulted entrance tunnel of the Ancient Stadium of Nemea measuring over 36m in length.
The Apodyterium ("undressing room"), where the athletes got undressed, oiled their skin and prepared for the games.
The Apodyterium (“undressing room”), where the athletes got undressed, oiled their skin and prepared for the games.
The Apodyterium ("undressing room") was a small building to the west of the stadium where the athletes undressed and prepared for competition.
The Apodyterium (“undressing room”) was a small building to the west of the stadium where the athletes undressed and prepared for competition.
The Temple of Zeus, constructed during the last third of the 4th century BC (ca . 330 BC).
The Temple of Zeus was built ca. 330 BC over the remains of an earlier temple. It was before this Temple that, prior to the Games, the athletes would pay homage to the father of their gods, Zeus.
The Temple of Zeus was constructed of limestone. It had a peristyle of 6 by 12 columns.
The Temple of Zeus was prostyle, peripteral with 6 x 12 columns and uses the three architectural types, the Doric, the Corinthian, and the Ionic.
The Temple of Zeus was used for a period of fewer than 70 years. When the games were moved to Argos, the area was abandoned. Pausanias, who visited Nemea in the 2nd century AD, found the temple roof in collapse and the cult statue missing.
32 limestone columns, each standing 42 feet tall and composed of 13 cylindrical stones called “drums”, each weighing approximately 2.5 tons, surrounded the Temple of Zeus.
The bath house with a large central pool flanked by two tub rooms, each with four stone wash basins still in situ.
The bathhouse with a large central pool flanked by two tub rooms, each with four stone wash basins still in situ.
The Baths dating from the last third of the 4th century BC, used by athletes for washing and bathing during the games, a large central pool is flanked by two tub rooms with wash basins.
The bathhouse dates from the end of the 4th century BC and was used by athletes for washing and bathing during the games.
Nemea.
Nemea.

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