Recent from talks
Nemea
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Nemea
Nemea (/ˈniːmiə/; Ancient Greek: Νεμέα; Ionic Greek: Νεμέη) was an ancient sanctuary situated in the northeastern part of the Peloponnese, today in the regional unit of Corinthia, Greece. Formerly part of the territory of Cleonae in ancient Argolis, its location on neutral ground on the borders of ancient Archaia, Arcadia, Argolis and Corinth was ideal for the creation of a panhellenic religious centre and one of the four prestigious Panhellenic games along with Delphi, Isthmia and Olympia. The Nemean Games were celebrated in the eleven Nemean odes of Pindar.
The small village of Archaia Nemea (formerly known as "Iraklion") is immediately southwest of the archaeological site, while the new town of Nemea lies to the west.
In Greek mythology, Nemea was ruled by king Lycurgus and queen Eurydice. Nemea was famous in Greek myth as the home of the Nemean Lion, which was killed by the hero Heracles, and as the place where the infant Opheltes, lying on a bed of parsley, was killed by a serpent while his nurse Hypsipyle fetched water for the Seven against Thebes on their way from Argos to Thebes. The Seven founded the Nemean Games in his memory, according to its aition, or founding myth, accounting for the crown of victory being made of parsley or the wild form of celery and for the black robes of the judges, interpreted as a sign of mourning.
The near area was wealthy in the Bronze Age as shown by the rich Mycenaean tombs found in the Nemea valley dating from the 16th c. BC at Ayia Sotira, Barnavos and Aidonia, many finds from which are in the Nemea museum. An early Bronze Age village was also built on nearby Tsoungiza Hill.
The Nemean Games were documented from 573 BC, or earlier, at the sanctuary of Zeus at Nemea. The original stadium was located near to the temple. The Games were held every two years in July. Greeks gathered for the celebration and a sacred truce was declared to suspend all wars and hostilities for a month in advance so athletes could travel here.
In 394 BC the Battle of the Nemea River was fought nearby.
In 330 BC, the games returned to Nemea. At that time Argos constructed great new monuments including the Temple of Zeus and several other buildings. A new stadium was built further away from the temple, uniquely accessed by the athletes via a tunnel that still survives.
Pausanias described the site on his visit at the end of the 2nd c. AD: at the temenos the grave of Opheltes was surrounded by open-air altars and enclosed within a stone wall. In his time the temple, which he noted was "worth seeing", stood in a grove of cypresses; its roof had fallen in and there was no cult image within the temple.
Hub AI
Nemea AI simulator
(@Nemea_simulator)
Nemea
Nemea (/ˈniːmiə/; Ancient Greek: Νεμέα; Ionic Greek: Νεμέη) was an ancient sanctuary situated in the northeastern part of the Peloponnese, today in the regional unit of Corinthia, Greece. Formerly part of the territory of Cleonae in ancient Argolis, its location on neutral ground on the borders of ancient Archaia, Arcadia, Argolis and Corinth was ideal for the creation of a panhellenic religious centre and one of the four prestigious Panhellenic games along with Delphi, Isthmia and Olympia. The Nemean Games were celebrated in the eleven Nemean odes of Pindar.
The small village of Archaia Nemea (formerly known as "Iraklion") is immediately southwest of the archaeological site, while the new town of Nemea lies to the west.
In Greek mythology, Nemea was ruled by king Lycurgus and queen Eurydice. Nemea was famous in Greek myth as the home of the Nemean Lion, which was killed by the hero Heracles, and as the place where the infant Opheltes, lying on a bed of parsley, was killed by a serpent while his nurse Hypsipyle fetched water for the Seven against Thebes on their way from Argos to Thebes. The Seven founded the Nemean Games in his memory, according to its aition, or founding myth, accounting for the crown of victory being made of parsley or the wild form of celery and for the black robes of the judges, interpreted as a sign of mourning.
The near area was wealthy in the Bronze Age as shown by the rich Mycenaean tombs found in the Nemea valley dating from the 16th c. BC at Ayia Sotira, Barnavos and Aidonia, many finds from which are in the Nemea museum. An early Bronze Age village was also built on nearby Tsoungiza Hill.
The Nemean Games were documented from 573 BC, or earlier, at the sanctuary of Zeus at Nemea. The original stadium was located near to the temple. The Games were held every two years in July. Greeks gathered for the celebration and a sacred truce was declared to suspend all wars and hostilities for a month in advance so athletes could travel here.
In 394 BC the Battle of the Nemea River was fought nearby.
In 330 BC, the games returned to Nemea. At that time Argos constructed great new monuments including the Temple of Zeus and several other buildings. A new stadium was built further away from the temple, uniquely accessed by the athletes via a tunnel that still survives.
Pausanias described the site on his visit at the end of the 2nd c. AD: at the temenos the grave of Opheltes was surrounded by open-air altars and enclosed within a stone wall. In his time the temple, which he noted was "worth seeing", stood in a grove of cypresses; its roof had fallen in and there was no cult image within the temple.
Recent media