Images in this photo gallery are from ancient Nemea, the old stamping ground of Heracles and a precinct or sanctuary sacred and dedicated to the god Zeus, a place of pilgrimage for all ancient Greeks. Nemea is situated on the north-eastern part of the Peloponnese in the prefecture of Corinthia.
Situated amongst gentle rolling hills overflowing with Greece's premier vineyards lays Nemea, famous in Greek mythology as the place where Heracles slew the ferocious Nemean Lion, as the...
more »Images in this photo gallery are from ancient Nemea, the old stamping ground of Heracles and a precinct or sanctuary sacred and dedicated to the god Zeus, a place of pilgrimage for all ancient Greeks. Nemea is situated on the north-eastern part of the Peloponnese in the prefecture of Corinthia.
Situated amongst gentle rolling hills overflowing with Greece's premier vineyards lays Nemea, famous in Greek mythology as the place where Heracles slew the ferocious Nemean Lion, as the first of his 12 seemingly impossible labours or tasks given to him as punishment for killing his wife and children in a fit of madness.
There's no sign of Heracles these days, but the local red wine is known as the 'blood of Heracles' and among the cypress trees at Nemea's sanctuary of Zeus, the timeless 4th century BC Temple of Zeus currently endures as the proud witness to the legendary feats of antiquities greatest hero.
Nemea was not actually an inhabited city, but one of four famous ancient Greek PanHellenic sanctuaries (Olympia, Delphi and Isthmia) where festivals took place in the late summer every two years, which were celebrated by Pindar in his odes.
The Temple of Zeus, in the centre of the Sanctuary of Zeus was built in 330 BC on the site of earlier temple. The Temple, currently under restoration, is a Doric (with Ionic and Corinthian elements) peripteral temple originally consisting of 32 limestone outer columns (6 by 12 columns).
The excavated and restored ancient Greek stadium, dates from 330 BC, and is located 400 meters southeast of the Temple of Zeus amidst scenic landscape. The stadium is partly cut into the hill and the 13 lane 600 ancient feet long running track still has its original starting lines marked with stones. The competitor's limestone barrel vaulted tunnel entrance was built in 320 BC, is 36 meters long and its walls contain ancient graffiti including athletes names.
Recommended websites:
http://nemeangames.org/
http://nemeacenter.berkeley.edu/nemea-center/« less
