Nemea

Nemea

Νεμέα (Greek)
The stadion of Nemea
Shown within Greece
Location	Archaia Nemea, Corinthia, Greece
Region	Argolis
Coordinates	37°48′32″N 22°42′37″E / 37.80889°N 22.71028°E / 37.80889; 22.71028Coordinates: 37°48′32″N 22°42′37″E / 37.80889°N 22.71028°E / 37.80889; 22.71028
Type	Settlement
History
Events	Battle of Nemea

Nemea (/ˈniːmiə/; Greek: Νεμέα) is an ancient site in the northeastern part of the Peloponnese, in Greece. Formerly part of the territory of Cleonae in Argolis, it is today situated in the regional unit of Corinthia. The small village of Archaia Nemea (formerly known as "Koutsoumadi" and then "Iraklion") is immediately southwest of the archaeological site, while the new town of Nemea lies to the west.

Here in Greek mythology Heracles overcame the Nemean Lion of the Lady Hera, and here during Antiquity the Nemean Games were played, in three sequence, ending about 235 BCE, celebrated in the eleven Nemean odes of Pindar.

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 fetched water for the Seven 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 Nemean Games were documented from 573 BC, or earlier, at the sanctuary of Zeus at Nemea.