Nemea
Previous visits to Nemea in our Photo Gallery
The Sanctuary of Zeus at Nemea developed in the beginning of the 6th century B.C., with the institution of the Panhellenic Nemean Games in a region where human activity had been present since prehistoric times. The first temple of Zeus and the first two phases of the Heroon were constructed during the Archaic period while nine "Oikoi-Treasuries" were erected in the 5th century B.C. At the end of the 4th century B.C, a new temple of Zeus, baths, a hostel, a Stadium and the 3rd phase of the Heraion were built as part of a large construction project. After the transfer of the games to Argos, in 270 B.C., the sanctuary fell into decline. During the 5th and the 6th centuries A.D., a small community grew in the vicinity and a basilica was erected on the ruins of the hostel. This community was dissolved during the raids of the Slavs in 580-590 A.D.
In 1984, restoration work began on the temple of Zeus. A year later, in 1985, blocks from the foundations were put back in their place (42 blocks) and the spaces were filled with modern material.
The first, small-scale excavations were carried out in 1766 by the mission of the Dilettanti and were continued in 1884-1912 by the French School of Archaeology at Athens. Between 1924 and 1926, investigations on the site were undertaken by the Americal School of Classical Studies, with the excavations of the Sanctuary and the hill of Tsoungiza by H. Hill and C. Blegen. Following a long interruption, C. Williams, brought to light in 1964 part of the "Oikoi-Treasuries", of the hostel and a kiln. Extensive and systematic excavations on the site were carried out from 1973 to 1986 by the University of Berkeley at California, under the direction of S. Miller.
The finds are exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Nemea.