Editing Nemea

{{Short description|Ancient site in Greece}}
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{{Infobox ancient site
  |name = Nemea 
  |native_name = Νεμέα {{in lang|el}}
  |alternate_name = 
  |image = Nemea Stadion 2008-09-12.jpg
  |alt = 
  |caption = The [[Stadion (running race)|stadion]] of Nemea
  |map_type = Greece
  |map_alt = 
  |map_size =
  |coordinates = {{coord|37|48|32|N|22|42|37|E|display=inline,title}}
  |location = [[Archaia Nemea]], [[Corinthia]], [[Greece]]
  |region = [[Regions of ancient Greece#Argolis|Argolis (ancient Greece)]]
  |type = Settlement
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  |material = 
  |built = 
  |abandoned = 
  |epochs = <!-- actually displays as "Periods" -->
  |cultures = 
  |dependency_of = 
  |occupants = 
  |event = [[Battle of Nemea]]
  |excavations = 
  |archaeologists = 
  |condition = 
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}}

'''Nemea''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|n|iː|m|i|ə}}; {{langx|grc|Νεμέα}}; {{langx|grc-x-ionic|Νεμέη}}) is an ancient site in the northeastern part of the [[Peloponnese]], in [[Greece]]. Formerly part of the territory of [[Cleonae (Argolis)|Cleonae]] in [[ancient Argolis]], it is today situated in the [[regional units of Greece|regional unit]] of [[Corinthia]]. The small village of Archaia Nemea (formerly known as "Iraklion") is immediately southwest of the archaeological site, while the new town of [[Nemea (town)|Nemea]] lies to the west.

Here, in [[Greek mythology]], [[Heracles]] overcame the [[Nemean Lion]], and here, during [[Classical Antiquity|Antiquity]], the [[Nemean Games]] were held (ending c. 235 BC) and were celebrated in the eleven Nemean odes of [[Pindar]].

==Myth, legend and history==
[[File:Nemea - Apodyteria.jpg|thumb|The [[apodyterium]] near the stadion]]
[[File:Nemea - Temple of Zeus.jpg|thumb|Temple of Zeus]]
In [[Greek mythology]], Nemea was ruled by king [[Lycurgus (of Nemea)|Lycurgus]] and queen Eurydice. Nemea was famous in Greek myth as the home of the [[Nemean Lion]], which was killed by the hero [[Heracles]],<ref name=Pausanias>In the late 2nd century CE, the traveller [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] was shown the lion's cave, fifteen [[furlong]]s from the sanctuary (Pausanias, ''Description of Greece'', II.15.2–.4).</ref>  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 [[Ancient Argos|Argos]] to [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]]. The Seven founded the [[Nemean Games]] in his memory, according to its [[Aition|''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 Nemean Games were documented from 573&nbsp;BC, or earlier, at the sanctuary of [[Zeus]] at Nemea.<ref>They were informally revived in 1996 (Miller 2000, below)</ref>

At the ''[[temenos]]'', the grave of Opheltes was surrounded by open-air altars and enclosed within a stone wall.<ref name=Pausanias/> The sanctuary's necessary spring was named [[Adrasteia]]: [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] wondered whether it had the name  because an "Adrastos" had "discovered" it,<ref name=Pausanias/> but Adrasteia, the "inescapable one", was a nurse of the infant Zeus in Crete. The [[tumulus]] nearby was credited as the burial mound of his father, and the men of [[Ancient Argos|Argos]] had the privilege of naming the priest of Nemean Zeus, Pausanias was informed when he visited in the late 2nd century CE. In his time the temple, which he noted was "worth seeing", stood in a [[Sacred grove|grove of cypresses]]; its roof had fallen in and there was no [[cult image]] within the temple. Three [[limestone]] columns of the Temple of Nemean Zeus of about 330&nbsp;BC have stood since their construction, and two more were reconstructed in 2002.<ref>[http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/uchistory/pubs_resources/journals/chronicle/issue4/Miller1.pdf Stephen G. Miller, "The Temple of Nemean Zeus: a California landmark", ''Chronicle of the University of California'', Fall 2000:127ff]</ref>  As of late 2007, four more are being re-erected.<ref>The re-erection of some columns by the [[University of California at Berkeley]] is described in Miller 2000.</ref> Three orders of architecture were employed at this temple, which stands at the end of the Classic period and presages this and other developments of [[Ancient Greek architecture|Hellenistic architecture]], such as the slenderness (a height of 6.34 column diameters) of the [[Doric order|Doric columns]] of the exterior.<ref>Miller 2000.</ref> The site around the temple has been excavated in annual campaigns since 1973: the great open-air altar, [[Thermae|baths]], and ancient accommodations for visitors have been unearthed. The temple stands on the site of an [[Archaic period in Greece|Archaic period]] temple, of which only a foundation wall is still visible. The [[Stadion (ancient sports)|stadion]] has recently been discovered. It is notable for its well-preserved vaulted entrance tunnel, dated to about 320&nbsp;BC, with ancient graffiti on the walls.

The material discovered in the excavations is on display in an on-site museum constructed as a part of the [[University of California]]'s [[Excavation (archaeology)|excavation]]s.

In 2018, archaeologists discovered  a large, intact tomb dating to the early [[Mycenaean era]] (1650–1400 B.C.).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.archaeology.org/news/7013-181004-nemea-mycenaean-tomb|title=Intact Mycenaean Tomb Discovered in Greece|work=Archaeology|date=4 October 2018}}</ref>

===The Battle of the Nemea River===
In 394&nbsp;BC the [[Battle of Nemea|Battle of the Nemea River]] was fought between [[History of Sparta|Sparta]] and her [[Achaia]]n, [[Ancient Elis|Elean]], [[Mantinea]]n, and the [[Tegea]]te allies  against a coalition of Boeotians, Euboeans, Athenians, Corinthians, and Argives. This was to be the last clear-cut victory that Sparta enjoyed. The tactics were similar to all other Greek [[hoplite]] battles, except that when the armies were arrayed, with the Spartans having the customary honour of being on the right, the army drifted right as it advanced. This was not good for the Spartan allies, as it exposed the soldiers to a flanking attack, but it gave the Spartans the opportunity to use their superior coordination and discipline to roll up the flank of the Athenians, who were stationed opposite.

The result of the battle was a victory for Sparta, even though her allies on the left suffered significant losses. This willingness to accept losses on the left flank for flanking position on the right was a dramatic change from typical conservative hoplite military tactics.

== Features of the Site ==

=== Temple of Zeus ===
The Temple of Zeus at Nemea is the most popular feature of the ancient Nemea site. The temple is located within a large sacred area with many buildings and features. The Temple remains today date back to the 4th century BC (~330 BC) but the temple was built on top of an earlier version dating back to the 6th century BC. The older version of the Temple of Zeus was destroyed in fire, so the people of ancient Nemea built the current temple on top of the site.

The current temple is 9,240 feet large and mostly made of limestone. It had 32 columns along the perimeter, only three of which remain standing today. Six columns have been reconstructed for reference when visiting the site. The temple was partially reconstructed to give visitors a clearer idea its magnitude and greatness. The Temple of Zeus uses three of the architectural orders: Doric, Corinthian, and Ionic. The doric peristyle is used on the exterior of the Temple, the corinthian style for the colonnade, and the ionic order for the second story of the Temple. The finished Temple of Zeus did not have any sculpted decoration. The design is traditional and displays precision and care.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Miller |first1=Stephen |title=Nemea: A Guide to the Site and Museum |publisher=University of California Press |pages=132}}</ref>

=== The Hellenistic Stadium ===
The Nemean Stadium was excavated from 1974 to 1981. The natural earth where the stadium was built was perfect for the construction. Two ridges extending north from Evangelistria Hill created a natural space for an amphitheater. The track originally was 600 feet long. The eastern side of the track has a water channel, water basin, and a 300-foot marker, all of which correspond to the western side of the track. There are also thought to be "front row seats" in the Nemean Stadium. These "seats" are scattered limestone blocks parallel to the water channel.

The stadium includes a tunnel that is 36 meter long. The tunnel serves to prove that Ancient Greek architects understood how to create the complex architectural form. Along the walls of the tunnel, there is graffiti from the Ancient Greeks. The name "Telestas", who is a known ancient olympic victor, was carved into the wall. There is also the apodyterion, or locker room. Athletes would use this space to prepare for the competitions by removing their clothing and rubbing their body with olive oil. The apodyterion has stamps on the roof-tiles that reveal the architects name, Sosikles.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Miller |first1=Stephen |title=Nemea: A Guide to the Site and Museum |publisher=University of California Press |pages=171, 174}}</ref>

The Nemean Games were held at the Stadium every two years. Nemea was one of the four sites for the competitions, the other sites were Delphi, Isthmia, and Olympia. All Greeks gathered for the celebration, and there was established a sacred truce to suspend all wars and hostilities so everyone could come see the competition. The track of the stadium had to be dug up, leveled, and rolled over every two years to keep its level below the water channel on the sides. Found in the excavation of the site are two black marble bases that may have been where the victors of the games stood.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Miller |first1=Stephen |title=Nemea: A Guide to the Site and Museum |publisher=University of California Press |pages=175, 177}}</ref>

=== The Oikoi ===
[[File:Nemea Oikoi in 1991 from W.jpg|alt=Image of the remains of the first oikos taken in 1991. The west wall is in the foreground and the limestone walls are very short and damaged. Only the rectangular walls remain around the soil and grass, there are also hills and trees in the background.|thumb|Remains of the first oikos.]]
South of the Temple of Zeus, there are nine poorly preserved buildings, now commonly called oikoi. The Greek word “[[oikos]]”, usually meaning “house”, is used since the purpose of these buildings is unclear. These buildings face north along an east–west line and resemble the position of the [[treasuries at Olympia]], and possibly served a similar purpose as both a treasury and meeting hall, as at [[Delos]].

The fourth, fifth, and sixth oikos have been dated to the first half of the 5th century BC, following the [[Greco-Persian Wars|Persian Wars]], which suggest a general date for the others. The first oikoi were discovered during the 1920s but were not completely excavated until the 1970s. Farming activity and robbing of the building materials in the [[Post-classical history|post-classical period]] has caused extensive damage to the site, so that only the limestone foundations of the oikoi remain.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Miller |first=Stephen |title=Nemea: A Guide to the Site and Museum |publisher=University of California Press |pages=118–127, 161–168}}</ref>

The first oikos is the largest and measures 22.40 by 13.15 meters. It lies just east of the modern path to the Temple of Zeus. The eighth oikos, which is located much farther east, features a well in its back room that could have been used in association with preparing and eating meals.  It was later remodeled as a bronze sculpting workshop. The ninth oikos was used as a cooking area for the conjoined dining establishment but suffered early destruction. The dining establishment connected to the eighth and ninth oikos measured 9.82 by 7.44 meters and had a sacrificial pit 6.20 meters west of it. The establishment allowed up to eleven [[Klinē|dining couches]] and the ash and pig bones located in the pit suggest the use of [[Animal sacrifice|ritual dining]]. Located just southwest of the dining establishment, there were four kilns that used to produce roof tiles most likely during the later years of the 4th century BC when the site was renovated with funding from the [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedonian kings]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Miller |first=Stephen |title=Nemea: A Guide to the Site and Museum |publisher=University of California Press |pages=64–67}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of ancient Greek cities]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book |title=The Spartan Army  |last=Lazenby |first=John|year=1985|publisher=Aris & Phillips Ltd |isbn=0-86516-115-1}}
*[[Carl Blegen]], "The American Excavation at Nemea, Season of 1924", ''Art and Archaeology'' 9, 1925
*B. H. Hill, ''The Temple of Zeus at Nemea'' (Princeton 1966)
*Darice E. Birge, Lynn H. Kraynak, and [[Stephen G. Miller]], ''Nemea I: Topographical and Architectural Studies: The Sacred Square, the Xenon, and the Bath'' (Berkeley and Los Angeles 1992)
*[[Stephen G. Miller]], ''Nemea II: The Early Hellenistic Stadium'' (Berkeley and Los Angeles 2001)
*[[Stephen G. Miller]], ed. [http://ark.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/ft1q2nb0x1/ ''Nemea: A Guide to the Site and the Museum''] (Berkeley and Los Angeles 1989)
*[[Stephen G. Miller]], ''Nemea: A Guide to the Site and the Museum'', 2nd ed. (Athens 2004)
*Robert C. Knapp and John D. Mac Isaac, ''Nemea III: The Coins'' (Berkeley and Los Angeles 2005)

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://nemeacenter.berkeley.edu/ Nemea Center for Classical Archaeology page]
*[http://www.brynmawr.edu/archaeology/NVAP/Index.htm Nemea Valley Archaeological Project, with pictures] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070331212651/http://www.brynmawr.edu/archaeology/NVAP/Index.htm |date=2007-03-31 }}
*[http://www.escholarship.org/editions/view?docId=ft1q2nb0x1&chunk.id=0&toc.depth=100&brand=eschol Nemea. A Guide to the Site and Museum]
*[http://www.theoi.com/Nymphe/NympheNemea.html Nemea, Naiad Nymph of the springs of the town of Nemea]

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[[Category:Nemea| ]]
[[Category:Corinthia]]
[[Category:Populated places in ancient Argolis]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek sanctuaries in Greece]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek archaeological sites in Peloponnese (region)]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Greece]]
[[Category:Locations in Greek mythology]]