Archaeological Sites
Archaeological Park
… “In the entrance of the archaeological site, which is an arcade with carved rocks and remarkable rocks leading us from the light of the twilight, suddenly appears before us the stadium. It is like hearing the footsteps and the shouts of thousands of people competing or cheering for the winners. Nearby, there is the Temple of Zeus with columns around, but mainly with those columns resisting time, standing bright white, shedding their light to the area…”
A nice surprise awaits the visitor of Ancient Nemea. Care, organization, politeness and modern facilities constitute the archaeological site a model of development.
The Temple of Zeus in Nemea develops in the beginning of the 6th BC century, when Nemea Panhellenic games were established, in an area where human action was traced since the prehistoric years.
The first Temple of Zeus and the first two phases of the Heroon (war memorial) date back to the archaic years. In the 5th BC century the nine domestic treasures are constructed. Near the end of the 4th BC century, during a great construction project, the latest Temple of Zeus, the bathroom, the guest-room, the Stadium and the third part of the Heroon are built.
Protector of the games, as in Olympia, was Zeus, who, being the God of the sky and rain, was already worshipped by the Dorians, since their settlement on the summit of mount Apesa (today’s Fouka), which dominates the plain.
The most important part of the sanctuary was the Temple of Zeus, which was built after the mid 4th BC century and was a Doric pavilion with 6 columns in its narrow sides and 12 in its long ones. One of them and two of the front building still remain standing.
There still exist vertebras of the columns, many parts of the roof, triglyph parts and metopes. On the east of the Temple lies a big altar from which an inclined level led to the Temple. The roof of the cella was supported by a line of columns of Corinthian style, which covered the three sides of it.
Nearby, there have also been found traces of the ancient town on Flious, where the sanctuaries of Ivy, Demeter and Persephone lie, as well as a Temple of Asklepios, on which they have nowadays constructed the Church of Zoodochos Pighi.
The Cemetery of the Nightingales
One of the most important Mycenaean cemeteries of Peloponnesus some km west of Nemea, near the small village of Nightingales, Mycenaean graves were excavated between 1978-1980, mostly robbed, belonging to the Mycenaean town Arethirea.
The Museum
The Museum was founded during the excavating project of the University of California in Berkeley, thanks to the generosity of Mr. Rudolph Peterson. The Museum was donated to the Greek Government and was inaugurated in 1984.
The Collections include:
- Collections of views about Nemea by sightseers-visitors of the 18th and 20th century.
- Collections of coins of ancient visitors of Nemea.
- Collections of objects relating to sporting activities of Nemea.
- Prehistoric findings (pottery, tools, weapons, etc) from prehistoric positions in the area of Nemea.
- Collections of pots and jewellery from the Mycenaean cemetery in Nightingales and from the settlement in Saint Irene.
- Collection of architectonic pieces of monuments of archaeological sites and other positions.
- Collection of Carvings (of Nemea, Fliounta,Petri).
Museum Phone: 27460-22739
Churches
- Saint George’s Chapel
In Koutsomodis’ settlement of Ancient Nemea you find the chapel of Saint George, already related to the religious history of the area. It consists of one room with an ecclesiastical tiled roof, a wooden screen and marvellous icons, painted in 1932, and constitutes the jewel and pride of the settlement.
- Virgin Mary of the Rock
In the entrance of Nemea, on the left, on the steep rock, which rises impressively, lies, in harmony with the stone, Virgin Mary of the rock, whose history is connected with the older and legendary Monastery and Episcopate Polyfegous, built according to its stamp around 1633.
The entrance of the Monastery is stone-built, proud, with its west side touching the rock and the left supported on a wall. It is worth mentioning the hermit’s cell of Polyfegous, situated stuck inside the cave on the summit of the mountain, with murals of the Lord’s Ipapanti and of Saint George, which date to the 11th-12th century.
Routes
The Routes-roads of the Wine of Peloponnesus
The roads of the wine of Peloponnesus invite you to memorable experiences of images, perfumes and tastes. They invite you to wineries, which will guide you to the enchanting world of wine and famous vineyards that produce a great variety of quality wines.
www.enoap.gr