Nemea is depicted in history as the birthplace of the Nemea Games, and in mythology as the place where Heracles performed one of his feats.
In the Peloponnese, every corner is steeped in history and there are places that are truly legendary. For example, Nemea, the ancient city where Heracles performed one of his feats. Here the mythological hero killed a lion that was keeping the whole city in fear. Nemea was also famous for the competitions held in honor of Zeus in the valley of Nemea. Nemea is also one of those regions where you can combine a cultural vacation with a gastronomic adventure and the local wine is a constant component.
The Nemea Games have attracted participants from all over the Greek world. The local stadium could once hold 50,000 spectators. Even today it is the main venue for the revived Nemean Games. In ancient times the stadium hosted competitions in javelin throwing, pentathlon, boxing and chariot races. In the Hellenistic period, singing, lyre and flute competitions were included in the program. Looking around the stadium now, you can imagine what it was like in the days of the games.
Next to the stadium is the sanctuary of Zeus, the main temple of Nemea and one of the most impressive in the Peloponnese. During the first excavations only three columns were discovered. They have never fallen down since the temple was erected. With time and new discoveries the temple began to look much more imposing, some of the columns were able to be put back in their original place, using the fragments that had been scattered. Systematic excavations at the site of the sanctuary of Zeus have not ceased since 1973. And perhaps soon they will reveal to the world new valuable findings.
The temple of Zeus had an unusually long altar - its length was 41 meters. Of it only the base is extant. The altar was used for sacrifices. Near the temple a number of rectangular buildings were discovered - probably they were used as storehouses for treasures or banquet halls.
On the territory of Nemea remained unique Greek baths with an established system of water supply. Walking through the ruins, you can even see the remains of washbasins. Another find made by archaeologists at Nemea is the tomb of Ophelles, the son of Eurydice and Lycurgus. According to popular legend, the boy died as a result of a snake bite. It happened in a cypress grove that still exists in Nemea today. It was in honor of Ophelt that the Nemean Games were founded.
Nemea Museum is rightly considered one of the most valuable repositories of ancient artifacts in Greece. Its exposition includes fragments of the sanctuary of Zeus, a large collection of copper and silver coins, sports equipment. The time period is quite broad: the earliest objects date back to the Copper Age, the latest to the Byzantine era. In the exhibition halls the lighting is set so that the light falls on the exhibits themselves, not on the showcases.
Among the most interesting objects in the collection of the Nemea Museum are a female figurine, an early Hellenistic clay vessel, Mycenaean statuettes of a bird goddess, gold rings with reliefs and a child figurine found in one of the shrines. The latter, historians speculate, depicts Ophelt. Large windows in the museum allow visitors to compare the ruins of Nemea, which can be seen on the other side of the glass, with restored models of the ancient city. A collection of photographs taken during excavations completes the exhibit.
The successor of Ancient Nemea is Archea-Nemea. There are not more than 350 inhabitants in this village, but they welcome guests of the region. And, of course, one cannot leave Nemea without tasting its famous wine - strong, aged, or young, with light fruity notes.
It is better to buy a ticket for all the sites of Nemea, including the museum. It's cheaper to get in that way.
By bus: From Athens, you must first take a bus to Corinth, where you will change to a bus to Nemea. The ancient city is located half an hour from Corinth.
