Peloponnese Peninsula

            The ancient Archaeological site of Nemea, located in the Peloponnese region of Greece, south west of Corinth is known as a stadium and sanctuary (Cartwright 2012, par 1-2). Nemea was settled around the beginning of the Neolithic time (6000 to 5000 BCE) (Cartwright, 2012, par 2). It has been documented around the 6th century BC is when the site was constructed, but in more recent studies and excavation it seems to show proof of construction in the later part of the 4th century BC (Romano 1977, 30).

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            The site known as Nemea as mentioned early was known as a stadium which hosted a series of Pan-Hellenic games which frequently occurred every two years for an entire month (Cartwright, 2012, par 2).  Many games were played during the Nemean Games, they included long jump, discuss and a various of other track and field events that occur in today’s Olympic games, the winners were awarded a lifetime supply of food (Cartwright 2012, par 4).

Researchers have noted after excavating the Sanctuary of Zeus that evidence shown that a violent deconstruction occurred around the 5th century BC. (Miller 1994, 85). Stephen Miller noted that Nemea was abandoned for three fourths of a century or longer, in 330 BC the games returned and the rebuilding of old and new structures started to be built. Some of the new structures included the Temple of Zeus, the Xenon and the Bath (Miller 1994, 85).

             The area Nemea is known to many due to mythical basis of Hercules and his quest in killing the Nemean lion, and sequentially starting the games in the honor of Zeus, and the building of the Temple of Zeus (Cartwright 2012, par 4-6).